A Step Away from 1918-1919: A Lesson Plan Companion for the Blog

We believe, and hope that all of you reading this blog will agree, that history comes alive through a connection with primary sources. As a public institution, the material in the Special Collections Research Center (SCRC) in Swem Library is available to anyone wishing to use it who agrees to follow the rules established to preserve the material while still making it available to researchers. The public does not always realize that the collections in the SCRC are open to anyone and that includes pre-college students.

In an effort to share the primary sources highlighted in this blog as well as a slice of the history of the College of William and Mary, Molly Perry, a graduate student in the Department of History who has been an apprentice in the SCRC during the 2008-2009 academic year, has created a lesson plan suitable for use with grades 8-11. In the lesson, students can practice analyzing primary sources to learn about young women arriving at the College of William and Mary to better understand the lives of people in the past and the process of research. The lesson plan available via the SCRC's wiki includes an outline of the lesson, applicable U.S. and Virginia standards, and suggested instructions for how teachers may choose to carry out the lesson. Sample topics in six topical areas are available for groups of students from the historian's task wiki page. A research sheet and conclusions sheet have also been prepared.

While the SCRC cannot boast the resources for teachers that an institution as large as the Library of Congress has compiled, Ms. Perry has also prepared lesson plans for other online SCRC materials including the Richard Manning Bucktrout Daybook and Ledger and the Manuscripts and Rare Books Grab Bag. The SCRC hopes to make more lesson plans that incorporate the unique materials in our collections available for middle and high school teachers in the future. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.

A Step Away from 1918-1919: The College of William and Mary's First African American Coeds

In the Fall 1967, almost fifty years after the first women students were allowed to matriculate, the College of William and Mary welcomed its first residential African American coeds. The university had admitted its first African American student, Hulon Willis, in March 1951. After Willis, William and Mary admitted two more students of African descent in the 1950s, including one woman in 1955, who withdrew from the institution at the end of the academic year. It was sixteen years later for anything approaching a "mass" number of black students to matriculate at the College, at the same time. The three African American coeds were Karen Ely, Lynn Briley, and Janet Brown.

Images from the Colonial Echo, the College of William and Mary yearbook

When the young women came to campus, the only other African American students on campus were three undergraduate men who were attending part-time and one graduate student. The young women were interviewed by Nadia Tongour in the October 1967 issue of the student newspaper The Flat Hat. The women discussed why they applied to William and Mary, the social attitudes they encountered, and their views on the current state of black political activism. Roommates, the women mentioned their curiosity about how white people lived and realizing that there were no significant differences, Karen Ely said, "I've been surprised at how little difference there is. I expected a much more different transition from a completely segregated high school to a predominantly white college."

The Flat Hat article is an example of how socially and culturally aware African Americans were in America, particularly during the 1960s. Ms. Ely commented how surprised she was about the lack of social and class competition at the university. Many people think black Americans are only concerned with racial issues, but as this comment demonstrates that in addition to race, class was and continues to be a big issue with African Americans.

One comment that stands out in the article, which could also apply to the contemporary social atmosphere at William and Mary, is the lack of discussion about race. Janet Brown stated "I wish that people would feel freer about discussing race relations with us. They seem to shy away from the subject." If the reader did not know the article was from 1967, they might think Ms. Brown is talking about William and Mary in the twenty-first century.

The new students were from the Hampton Roads area, according to the 1968 Colonial Echo. Janet Brown was from Newport News and both Karen Ely and Lynn Briley were from Portsmouth.Their respective majors were Elementary Education (Brown), English (Briley), and Biology (Ely). As far as student organizations, an area always high on the list of interests to William and Mary students, Janet Brown was a member of the Young Democrats and the Black Students Organization. Lynn Briley was also a member of the Black Students Organization. In addition to her participation in the Black Students Organization, Karen Ely also participated in the Chorus.


This post was composed by Jeffreen Hayes.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.

February 23, 1919: From the Diary of Martha Barksdale

One of the first women students to enroll at the College of William and Mary, Martha Barksdale kept a journal during the first year of co-education. Her earlier entries for the school year were dated November 26, 1918, and February 20, 1919. Below is her entry from February 23, 1919.

"Up with the times at last! Last night we went to Janet's party. I had a splendid time. I borrowed Edna Reid's pink evening dress and bought myself some high heeled black pumps. Guess I was dressed up once in my life. Margaret, Ruth, and I were the only Hall girls. The other girls were Lucile Brown, Elizabeth Lee, and Miss Mard[?]. The boys were "Smitty", Ware, Rieves, Terrell, Edward Lee, "Pete" James, Bert Loraine Bennet, Tom Peyton, Armisted, and "Rat" Parish.

We danced most of the time. Rieves didn't dance as I sat out a few and fretted over his pleasure for several others. This was my first attempt to dance in public, naturally some of it was not very pleasant.

"Pete" James is a grand dancer. He took pains to instruct me in the proper steps etc. I learned something about dancing not to mention the enjoyment I got out of it. I had a very pleasant dance with Tom Peyton and we talked over Ch'ville. Loraine Bennet was very nice also tho' he can't dance much more than I can.

The refreshments were splendid.
Chicken Salad
Sandwiches
Hot chocolate
Candy
Nuts

Cokes etc. They tasted good to a hungry school girl.

We danced until twelve o'clock, and got home at 12:30, tired but happy and wonder of wonders I didn't do anything to spoil that dress.

I thought I would never find the secret of Rieves['] safety matches to get a light.

--From the diary of Martha Barksdale available in the Special Collections Research Center.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.

February 20, 1919: From the Diary of Martha Barksdale

One of the first women students to enroll at the College of William and Mary, Martha Barksdale kept a journal during the first year of co-education. Her first entry for the school year was dated November 26, 1918 and a later entry was dated February 6, 1919. Below is her entry from February 20, 1919.

"I had an engagement with Rieves to go to the movies, but we couldn't go until the second show so decided to stay on the sofa and chat. Oh! you chats."


"Miss Tupper came in with the news that I might ask Rieves to take me to Janet's turning out party. I did and he agreed to take me."

--From the diary of Martha Barksdale available in the Special Collections Research Center.











For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.

February 19, 1919: "Pres. Resigns: Dr. Lyon G. Tyler Resigns After Thirty Years of Faithful Service"

After serving as president of the College of William and Mary since 1888, the February 19, 1919, article regarding President Lyon G. Tyler's resignation appeared in the student newspaper The Flat Hat. The article chronicled the tenure of President Tyler, highlighting his most important accomplishments on behalf of William and Mary. For example, Tyler secured state funds for the College by overseeing its transfer to the Commonwealth of Virginia, transitioning its private institution status to a public institution. Another significant highlight during Tyler's tenure and the college's history is the historic admittance of women, as mentioned in the article:

"Another and more recent development in William and Mary was the establishment of the women's department. At the last legislative meeting, a bill was introduced with sympathetic support of the president, admitting women to all the courses at William and Mary. This great innovation in the higher educational field in Virginia was successfully begun this session with a promising enrollment of representative students."

The article continues to discuss the new Home Economics department established and the role of the dean of women. It ends with:

"This victory for the higher education of women by the state marks with distinction the closing session of President Tyler's thirty years of service and of the first quarter of the third century in the history of William and Mary."

Regardless of how the male and female students may have felt about their co-education, there appeared to be a consensus of the monumentality of educating women in addition to President Tyler's vision of William and Mary. What a way to end one's career, on a historic high note.

This post was composed by Jeffreen Hayes.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.

Feburary 11, 1919: President's Report to Board of Visitors

At the February 11, 1919, Board of Visitors meeting, President Lyon G. Tyler submitted his report of happenings at the College of William and Mary since his last report at the June 25, 1918 meeting.
In the president's report, he mentions the admission of women and the hiring of two women to oversee the female students:

"Another feature of the session was the admission of women to the College in pursuance of an Act passed by the legislation at its last session. There were 21 of these young ladies, who were placed under the immediate care of Miss C. F. Tupper, Dean of Women and Miss M. Gatling, Lady in Charge. These have proved fine students and I believe very little friction has resulted from their presence."

President Tyler further stated: "Miss Gatling resigned as Lady in Charge of the Women's Department and Miss Tupper, Dean of Women is trying to find another party to take her place."

This post was composed by Jeffreen Hayes.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.

February 6, 1919: From the Diary of Martha Barksdale

A member of the first group of women students to enroll at the College of William and Mary, Martha Barksdale kept a journal during the first year of co-education. Her earlier entry for the school year was dated November 26, 1918, and covered events from September through November 1918. Below is an entry from February 6, 1919, her first of 1919. At the top of the page was written "From Carroll Rieves, February 6, 1919."

This was our first night out together. We went to the last show and didn't get in until 10:40. But I had Miss Tupper's permit and Celeste was snoring when I came up. I enjoyed the evening very much and the box of candy he handed me as he left was some good and Oh! so fancy.

On Saturday night, Feb. 8, we saw the first celebration of a W&M victory! The news came of a victory over R.C. The bell started tolling and the campus simply went wild. With Capt. Oglesby's help we made a bonfire, but the boys soon got a larger one down at the end of Duke of Glouster [Gloucester] Street, so we went over and joined them.

They had a Duc parade. The Ducs with shirt tails out were bringing wood for the fire dancing jiggs [sic], singing and making speeches. Rieves was the song and cheer-leader. The boys will do anything he starts. He was very gentlemanly and nice to us. Capt. Oglesby enjoyed some of our chocolate fudge very much.

Tuesday, Feb. 11, I went to the movies again with Rieves. His throat was so sore from leading the rally for the game Wed. night with Hampton-Sidney [sic] that he could hardly talk but we had a fine time, and he is certainly a perfect gentleman. We went to Stones after the movie and had some ice cream. He tucked another box under his arm as he went out and Oh! it was good but he couldn't help me eat it because of his throat, and didn't stay long.

Miss Tupper is very much interested in this case. She likes Rieves fine and tries to make me be extra nice to him.

We won the game with Hampton Sidney and had another celebration. The bon fire [sic] got so hot that the cop came up and ordered the boys not to put any more wood on. Hudson, the basket ball forward threw a box on and the cop arrested him. The boys tried to keep him from carrying him off but he would so they decided to go to jail in a body. They went off down the street, and we came in. They finally prevented the cop from putting H. in jail and brought him back. Rieves came over and told us they had gotten him out O.K. Later they brought Hudson on their shoulders to the back window and the girls shook hands with him.

The girls got fearfully angry with me for arguing against their yelling alone and calling them in early? (11:40).

On account of Elizabeth Scott's resignation I appointed Janet as vice president and Catherine as secretary. The girls resented my having that power and went to Miss Tupper. I determined that I would not change. Miss T. agreed with me and the girls have gotten over it somewhat.

On Saturday night we had a basket ball game before the game with Richmond College. I had been in bed Friday and a part of Thurs. but at five o'clock Sat. evening I got up and dressed for the game. Contrary, to my expectation I was able to play the entire game but almost "fell out" before it ended.

The Blacks won 6 to 5: They have to win once to keep them playing so I don't mind. The boys beat R.C. by one point too. We had quite a time celebrating. Rieves bossed a crowd of Ducs while they hauled the boxes and crates out of Miss Tupper's cellar for the bonfire. We danced and rested until the boys came back from the show, they helped themselves to at eleven o'clock. They had the fire at the corner of our lawn since they couldn't have it at the head of D.of G. Street, and nearly set the adjacent houses on fire. Rieves came over after wards [sic] for the candy I saved him.

Sunday evening Day came up again my! but he is boring to me now that the novelty has worn off.

I don't think I shall allow him to come again. He staid [sic] until the supper bell rang. I went to supper without even combing my hair. Rieves and Ferguson joined Pal and I coming home from supper. We occupied the sofa and had quite a time but my hair did slip so!! The girls have certainly tried to tease me since. Louise said it was a case of "Believe me if all those endearing young charms," and "Drink to me only with thine eyes," also that she never envied any one more than she did me that night. Funny, but it doesn't appeal to me like it does to them.

--From the diary of Martha Barksdale available in the Special Collections Research Center.

For additional information about the first women students at the College of William and Mary see: When Mary Entered with her Brother William: Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945 by Laura F. Parrish; "The Petticoat Invasion": Women at the College of William and Mary, 1918-1945; The Martha Barksdale Papers; and the Women at the College of William and Mary page on the Special Collections Research Center Wiki.