University of Pennsylvania. College of Liberal Arts for Women records, 1878-1978 (bulk: 1933-1975).

Format:

Archive

Author/Creator:

University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal Arts for Women, creator.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

University of Pennsylvania.

Women in higher education.

Women college students.

Women college administrators.

Deans (Education).

Continuing education.

Genre:

correspondence

reports

minutes (administrative records)

agendas (administrative records)

Penn Provenance:

The Faculty minutes (UPB 3.1) were transferred in two accessions in 1960 and 1978 by Dean R. Jean Brownlee and Dean Karl G. Miller respectively. The Office of the Dean records (UPB 3.2) were transferred in three accessions in 1972, 1978, and 1980 by Dr. Leonidas Dodson and Dean R. Jean Brownlee respectively. The Advisory Board of the Dean of Women records (UPB 3.3) were transferred in 1980 by Dean R. Jean Brownlee. The Continuing Education for Women records (UPB 3.6) were transferred in 1979 by that office.

Physical Description:

5 boxes (6.42 cubic feet)

Arrangement:

The College of Liberal Arts for Women records are arranged into seven series. Series I: Faculty minutes Series II: Ad Hoc Committee on the Nomination of a Dean Series III: Office of the Dean Series IV: Advisory Board to the Dean of Women Series V: Office of Continuing Education for Women Series VI. Student records [Closed for research until 2050] Series VII. Registration forms [Closed for research until 2055].

Place of Publication:

1878-1978

Biography/History:

Prior to 1933, women who wished to earn a degree at the University of Pennsylvania were limited to attending either the School of Education or taking evening and weekend classes through programs that preceded the present-day College of Liberal and Professional Studies. (College Courses for Teachers and College Collateral Courses.) Growing interest by women for greater educational opportunities prompted the Dean of the School of Education to lobby the Trustees to provide more degree options for women students. The Trustees considered making the College of Arts and Sciences coeducational, but students, faculty, and alumni of that College protested the idea of admitting women. Consequently, the Trustees decided to create the College of Liberal Arts for Women, which opened its doors in September, 1933. (Sometimes referred to as simply, "The College for Women.") The College had its own administration, but courses were taught by the University's existing liberal arts departments, although in separate women only classes. During the Second World War, the decline in enrollment by men led to some liberal arts classes becoming integrated - a process that gradually continued into the 1950s. Alumni began expressing interest in a continuing education program in 1961, and after an initial experimental program it became a permanent part of the College in 1965. Following the commencement of May of 1970, the College of Liberal Arts for Women had graduated a total of 7,178 women. By the early 1970s, many colleges and universities across the United States were transitioning to a coeducation model and Penn was no exception. A proposal to merge the College of Liberal Arts for Women with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences was adopted by the Trustees in 1974, over the objections of a significant portion of the College's faculty, administration, and alumni, who feared that the special needs and interests of women would no longer be served. This merger took effect in 1975.

Summary:

The College of Liberal Arts for Women records document the history of the College's administration, primarily through the records of the Office of the Dean. While much of the material concerns the immediate oversight of the College, it also covers its relationship to the University at large. Of particular interest are materials that cover the history of the College, as well as letters, reports, and statements concerning the College's merger into the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in 1975. This collection is organized into seven series, two of which are closed for research. Series I: Faculty minutes This series contains meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and related correspondence. It is arranged chronologically. Series II: Ad Hoc Committee on the Nomination of a Dean This series contains meeting minutes, agendas, reports, candidate bios, and related correspondence concerning the search for a new Dean in 1959. It is arranged alphabetically. Series III: Office of the Dean This series contains meeting minutes, agendas, reports, correspondence, program information, a history of the college, statistics, surveys, and other materials. It is arranged alphabetically. Series IV: Advisory Board to the Dean of Women The Dean of the College served on the Advisory Board to the Dean of Women. For additional information on the Dean of Women, see the Related Materials note. This series contains meeting minutes, agendas, reports, and related correspondence. It is arranged alphabetically. Series V: Office of Continuing Education for Women This series contains meeting minutes, agendas, reports, program information, surveys, and related correspondence. It is arranged alphabetically. Series VI. Student records [Closed for research until 2050] Series VII. Registration forms [Closed for research until 2055].

OCLC:

1593411738