January 30, 1919: The First Semester of Coeducation Comes to a Close

Final exams for the first semester of co-education at the College of William and Mary came to end on January 30, 1919. Students did not have much time for a break as students had to register for the next semester's courses on January 31 with the new semester beginning the following day. Talk about needing a break!

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.

January 29, 1919: The Flat Hat Returns

An unexpected hiatus of The Flat Hat during fall 1918 was due to confusion at The Gazette Co. after the death of the owner of the plant. Publication of the College of William and Mary's student newspaper was able to resume in time for the new semester. The first issue back included a recap of the Cotillion Club's two Mid-winter dances the previous Friday and Saturday and an article about the YMCA on the front page. A brief explanation of the newspaper's printer problems as well as a small article about how the end of World War I was impacting the College with the removal of the SATC can be found on page 2.

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.

January 28, 1919: A Concerned Citizen Speaks out for the Marys

Coeducation at the College of William and Mary was once again a topic for debate in late January 1919 - this time on the campus itself. A debate took place between the College's literary societies on the topic of coeducation, discussing the reasonings behind it and the impact of women attending classes with men. Though not members of the literary societies, the women students were invited to attend the debate. Janet Coleman Kimbrough opted not to go, but remembered in an interview in the 1970s the attitudes on coeducation and controversy the event created:

"There was a certain resentment [toward coeducation] among the alumni and there were a lot of the students -- it would not have been fashionable for them to say that they approved of coeducation, but they weren't at all unfriendly to the girls. But it was fashionable to feel that this was a man's world and that William and Mary was a man's college, and they were possibly a little condescending in their attitude toward us, but as I remember, the students who were actually in college were very friendly. As I told you the other day, the war [World War I] was on, and everyone was thinking of the war so much more than they were of women's rights and coeducation that we didn't run into -- I don't remember any unpleasant attitude on the part of the men in general. I'm sure you read this little write-up they had this year -- "The Petticoat Invasion" or something like that. The only thing I really remember: there was this one preministerial student who was very much opposed -- I don't exactly remember why -- a young man named Wicker. He went on and studied for the ministry; I don't know what his attitude in later life was, but at that time he felt that this was just all wrong. He felt quite intensely on the subject that women should not go to William and Mary. And at that time they had two literary societies and debates were the big thing; just about every month they had a debate in one of the literary societies. They decided to have a debate pro and con on coeducation. And someone I think with a strong sense of humor put Mr.Wicker on to support coeducation. They just put him on that side. The two literary societies didn't have any women as members but we were invited to that particular meeting. I didn't go; I wish I had. A number of them went, and Mr. Wicker when it came his turn to give his section of the debate in favor of coeducation, stood up and said as there was nothing to be said in favor of coeducation he would have to explain why he couldn't support it, and he launched into a very violent attack on coeducation. Some of the girls were rather upset by it, others were very much amused, and the student body in general had a grand time. They just thought it was a grand, big joke, but there were a few of the girls who felt quite upset and embarrassed about having gone. This was just the age when the flapper was appearing, and he drew a terrible picture of the awful flapper and the awful influence she was on the male students and how her short dresses were disrupting the morals of the world and that the students weren't able to keep their minds on their studies because of the horrible women who were parading around in these short skirts. And the skirts actually -- they wore high shoes at the time and the skirts were actually an inch or two above the top of the high shoes, which was supposed to be just terrible. It [the debate] was a very exciting event but that is really the only incident I remember. There were a lot of students whose individual opinion was that women didn't belong in college, that they didn't need higher education, that this was sort of ridiculous -- but they didn't carry it over to being unfriendly at all. They dated the girls if they liked the girls and they didn't date them if they didn't and that was it."

Kimbrough describes a mixed reaction toward coeducation by the male students. There were some, like Wicker, who felt strongly against women attending a traditionally male college and made their opinions known. Others might have agreed with him, but did not let that prevent them from being courteous towards the female students. And, from reports and photographs of interaction between the men and women on campus, it would seem that some of the male students did not mind women being on campus at all.


News of the debate spread quickly. Within a week, alum J.E. Wilkins wrote to President Lyon G. Tyler, appalled that any student of William and Mary would "[offer] insults and [speak] in derision of the fair women of our state who are endeavoring to receive and education." Moreover, he found it disgraceful that the women might behave in such a manner to provoke criticism and yet go unchecked by the faculty. From this perspective, coeducation was degrading the rules of conduct between men and women, leading to a break down of society on campus. What Wilkins had in mind to fix the situation is open to interpretation - whether ending the experiment in coeducation or simply enforcing common courtesy between the sexes. No other major incidents were reported and "that act remain[ed] on the Statute books."

Copy of letter from J.E. Wilkins to President Tyler, January 28, 1919. From the records of Lyon G. Tyler. Click to enlarge image.

The above oral history excerpt is from an interview with Emily Williams, as part of an oral history project of the College conducted between 1974 and 1976. A longer excerpt of Kimbrough's interview may be found online. Complete transcripts of the project and records of Lyon G. Tyler are available in the Special Collections Research Center.

This post was composed by Jordan Ecker and Kate Hill.

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.

January 11, 1919: "Exclusive Party at Tyler Hall"

The first month of 1919 proved to be a busy time for the first class of women at the College of William and Mary. Along with finishing coursework and exams from the previous year, there were events to attend as well.

A calendar of events in The Colonial Echo gives this enigmatic entry for January 11: "Exclusive party at Tyler Hall. Gent's suits and shoulder bars are borrowed, and the shades are drawn tight???? Skulking figures slink down Gloucester Street. Every man a girl and every girl a lady." The event? The Manless Dance. While some female students opted to wear their normal clothing, the point of the dance was for the women to dress like men. They borrowed suits and uniforms from male friends in order to look as masculine as possible. The dance was such a success that it became an annual event among the women students.

Editions of The Colonial Echo and Catherine Dennis' scrapbook are available in the Special Collections Research Center.

This post was composed by Kate Hill.

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.

January 5, 1919: New Year, Same Classes

Happy New Year! Classes resumed after the winter break on January 5, 1919. Students were not settling into a new semester yet, but instead had final exams to look forward to in the coming weeks.

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.

December 1918: Winter Break

Classes and final exams for students at the College of William and Mary in 2008 ended on December 18. In 1918, students had to wait until December 20 to break for the holidays and exams weren't taken until January, perhaps making the season a little less merry for some.

Mary Comes to the College with William is taking a break as well, but never fear, we will return in January when the students returned to campus in 1919 after what was probably a too brief break.

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.

December 6, 1918: SATC Military Ball

Less than a month after the end of World War I, the Students' Army Training Corps (SATC) at William and Mary disbanded. On December 6, 1918, family, friends, students, and faculty were invited to an open house at the Corps' barracks and then to a parade review and ceremony at the athletic field. The day ended with the SATC Final Military Ball, "commemorating the end of the World War and the victory of the American Armies." The Virginia Gazette referred to the dance as a "celebration of the S.A.T.C. [that] will long be remembered by William and Mary boys, and will will mark a unique period in the history of the old college."

The ball was a major social event on campus, attended by students and faculty of the College, residents of Williamsburg, and out-of-town guests. Taps, a booklet commemorating the experiences and achievements of the William and Mary SATC, described the details of the dance with humor, pride, and nostalgia:

[...] the greatest part of the celebration remained for the evening, when the formal military ball, the principal social affair of the military organization, was held in the Mess Hall. It had been planned a considerable time in advance, and all members of the command attended and brought partners. In addition to the young ladies of the college, many attended from Williamsburg, Richmond, Norfolk, Washington and other cities. Many of the soldiers had their sweethearts from a distance to attend. The whole affair was so well organized and conducted that a more successful one would have been rare indeed. The walls, chandeliers, trimmings, and furnishings of the large hall were lavishly decorated with the national colors in various designs of presentment, all of which was pleasingly illuminated by the brilliant colored lights.

The guests assembled at 8 o’clock, the ladies wearing the latest creations of evening dress and the men all wearing their dress military uniforms. [...]

At 10 o’clock there was an intermission of a few minutes, during which a neat little cap, called the “Liberty Cap” by the guests designed and made especially for the occasion, was issued to each lady present, and was worn by her during the remainder of the evening.

Not the least element in the evening’s jocund entertainment was the bounteous supply of punch and other refreshments. May the reader not inquire what the punch was made of. [...]

The final dance was announced by the bugle call for taps and came to a close exactly at 1:25 o’clock in the morning. The out-of-town guests were entertained by friends at the college and in Williamsburg.

Editions of The Virginia Gazette and Catherine Dennis' scrapbook are available in the Special Collections Research Center. Taps may be viewed online. Of note, page 14 is dedicated to "The Co-Ed" and her influence on the SATC.

This post was composed by Kate Hill.

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.