College Celebrate 125th Anniversary of Admission of Women
Dickinson Website
August 1, 2009

Dickinson College will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the admission of women to the campus with a series of special events, archival treasures and blogs.

The college will open the celebration of “Women at Dickinson College: 1884-2009” Friday, Sept. 25, with an exhibit and reception at the Waidner-Spahr Library from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The reception, to be held in the archives section of the library, will feature remarks by President William G. Durden at 5 p.m.

The exhibit depicts the experiences and accomplishments of female Dickinsonians, some of whom are featured at a new blog at the Archives & Special Collections Web site, http://itech.dickinson.edu/coeducation/.

The college opened its doors to women in September 1884 when it enrolled three pioneers: Zatae Longsdorff, who in 1887 became Dickinson’s first female graduate; her sister Hildegarde Longsdorff; and Elizabeth Bender.

“This year is our opportunity to celebrate achievements, raise silenced voices and develop the future of Dickinson women,” said Susannah Bartlow, director of the Women’s Center at Dickinson College. “We hope to conclude the year with a greater sense of history and community. We hope that the community will join us in our celebrations.”

Dickinson plans more events for students, employees and the public, several of which are still in the planning stage. All events are at Dickinson College unless otherwise noted. Here are some of the scheduled events:

• Monday, Sept. 28, 5 p.m.: “Local Food at the Dickinson College Farm.” Participants will depart from the college at 5 p.m. Dinner at the farm is at 6 p.m. Enjoy dinner and conversation in the barn with Jenn Halpin, director of the college farm, and Sarah Brylinsky, education coordinator at the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education. They will discuss their work providing ecofeminist models, education and leadership for Dickinson’s sustainability efforts. This event is for Dickinson students, faculty and staff. Contact women@dickinson.edu to reserve your seat.

• Thursday, Oct. 1, noon: “Women at Dickinson: Past, Present, Future.” Common Hour presentation, Rubendall Recital Hall, Weiss Center for the Arts. Since the first women enrolled at Dickinson College in 1884, the college has expanded its female student representation, sponsored diverse women’s leadership organizations, adopted a Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, and opened a full-time Women’s Center. This panel explores the past, present and future of women at Dickinson College, diversity of women’s leadership and advocacy on campus today. Presenters and their topics are: Amy Farrell, American studies professor (history of women’s studies at Dickinson); Malinda Triller, special collections librarian (discussion of women’s experiences at Dickinson exhibit); Paula Lima, director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives (expanding the stories of women at Dickinson); Caroline Radesky ’09 (student activism and women’s experiences at Dickinson exhibit); Susannah Bartlow, director of the Women’s Center (Women’s Center at Dickinson past, present and future); Andrea Alexander ’05 (Sisterhood and student organizations). A light lunch will be provided. Open to the public.

• Saturday, Oct. 10: 9 a.m.-noon: “Hands-on History,” in Archives & Special Collections, Waidner-Spahr Library, lower level; 4:30-5:30 p.m: “Women’s Experiences at Dickinson.” Reception in Archives & Special Collections. Open to the public.

• Wednesday, Oct. 14, noon to 1:30 p.m., “Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” Dickinson alumnae speak about their journeys to the top of their fields. Council for Advancement and Support of Education, 1307 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. Enjoy a catered lunch and panel discussion with other Dickinson alumnae about their careers and how they found success in traditionally male-dominated career fields. Panelists include: Nicole Willenz Gardner ’80; Beth Masters McCormick ’81; and Kelly Wolf ’82. Students welcome. Contact bartlows@dickinson.edu for more information.

• November. Date and venue to be determined. “Silent Victors: Esther Popel Shaw and Women’s Activism.” Harlem Renaissance writer and activist Esther Popel Shaw ’19 confronted Board of Trustees President Boyd Lee Spahr about Dickinson’s historic and contemporary racism and segregation in a 1945 letter exchange. This fascinating snapshot of mid-20th century American politics will serve as a jumping-off point for a discussion of Dickinson’s more difficult histories and the critical role of women activists in creating a more inclusive and intellectually coherent community. • Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. Time and venue to be determined. “Esther Popel Shaw and Literary History,” with Sharon O’Brien, professor of American studies, and Jerry Philogene, American studies instructor. Esther Popel Shaw ’19 was a forgotten leader of the early 20th century Harlem Renaissance literary movement.

• Monday, March 8, 2010, 7-9 p.m., Stern Center Great Room. “International Women’s Day: Engage Women’s Worlds.”

• Thursday, March 25, 2010, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Holland Union Building (HUB) Social Hall. Women at Dickinson Awards Celebration, sponsored by the Office of Diversity Initiatives.

• Saturday, March 27, 2010: Women’s Studies Central Pennsylvania Consortium Conference: Women in Higher Education. Franklin & Marshall College. Keynote Speaker Gloria Steinem. For information, call 717-291-4282.

• Thursday, April 15, 2010: Research on Women & Gender. Stern Center Great Room, 7 p.m.