PREFACE

Recently, the College of William and Mary has been cited in several studies as a university where undergraduates can receive a very good education at a reasonable price. It is often listed as one of the "public ivys," and commentators make much of its illustrious past. Granted a royal charter in 1693, William and Mary was the second college established in the English-speaking colonies of the New World. It educated several men who became leaders of the new nation of the United States. With alumni like Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Marshall, it had a plausible claim to the title "alma mater of a nation." But after the American Revolution, the College lost much of its former prestige; it became a small, provincial place whose chief pride was in its past, rather than its present.

During the early nineteenth century, the College was disrupted by attempts to move it to Richmond. Enrollment was declining, and it was thought the College would be able to attract more students if it were located in Virginia's capital city. Turmoil continued for much of the rest of the century. Classes were suspended three times: in 1848-1849 while disputes between the Board of Visitors and the faculty were resolved, during the Civil War, and from 1881 to 1888 because of financial difficulties. In addition, the main college building was twice badly damaged by fire, in 1859 and 1862.

Life for the College began to improve in 1888 when the Virginia General Assembly agreed to finance a teacher training curriculum at the school. In 1906, the College was completely transferred to state control. These were important steps in stabilizing the College's finances. By 1906 William and Mary had a greater enrollment than it had had in the past, but it faced much competition from the University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic University, and Virginia Military Institute when it tried to attract the best students.

The final step towards a new era of excellence came in the fall of 1918 with the admission of women. The educational quality did not improve overnight but resulted from a long process of building, which included new facilities, a better educated faculty, and better prepared students. Although it is impossible to know how William and Mary would have fared without women students, it is difficult to imagine that it could have become a high quality liberal arts college for men simply because there were too many other Virginia colleges competing for the male high school graduates. Speculation aside, it is significant that William and Mary was able to raise its standards for admission after women were admitted because more and more high school students were applying.

This study focuses on the early years of the women students' experience at William and Mary and on some of the changes in the college precipitated by the presence of women. The post-collegiate lives of the women are also briefly examined. The sources of information are many, and the author also developed her own by sending out a questionnaire to almost three thousand living alumnae who had attended the College between the years 1918 and 1945. Over thirteen hundred responses were received. The survey sought to discover why the women attended college, why they chose William and Mary, a little about their family background, and what they did after college. Many respondents also shared stories about favorite professors, amusing incidents, visits by famous people, and other college memories. These questionnaires have been given to the College Archives for the use of other researchers.

The author wishes to acknowledge the help she has received in making this study. Professor Cam Walker struggled through rough drafts and made them smoother. Professor James P. Whittenburg helped developed the survey and assisted me with getting the computer to do the statistical analysis of it. Professor Richard B. Sherman also graciously consented to read this thesis and made several valuable comments.

James Oberly suggested the idea that grew into this study. The staff of the College Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books Department in Swem Library patiently fulfilled my requests and listened to the stories I uncovered. Kay Domine is especially to be thanked for teaching me to use the Macintosh computer, without which this would never have been typed. Many, many other people have listened to my ideas, my complaints, my frustrations, and their patience is greatly appreciated. To one and all, a very hearty thank you, and a solemn promise to never subject you to a project like this again.

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College of William and Mary. Swem Library. Special Collections. P. O. Box 8794, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8794
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Last updated 16 February 1998