- Repository
-
Chatham University
- Title
- Chatham College Coeducation Debate Collection
- Creator
-
Chatham University.
- Collection Number
- MSS.2016.001
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1989-1990
- Date [inclusive]
- 1890-1990
- Extent
-
1.9 linear feet
-
- Abstract
- This artificial collection documents the process by which coeducation was proposed, researched, debated, and ultimately defeated in the late 1960s and in the early 1990s. The bulk of the records originate from the office of President Stafford. Coeducation in graduate programs and move to coeducation in 2016 are not included in this collection.
Preferred Citation:
Chatham College Coeducation Debate Collection, 1890-1990, MSS.2016.001, Chatham University Archives & Special Collections
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Administrative History:
In the late 1960s, Chatham College explored options to improve the enrollment and financial stability of the school, which included a discussion of opening admission to men. A series of committees were assembled to analyze the potential for coeducation at Chatham. Research focused mainly on contemporary national debates regarding the future of women’s colleges and the trend towards coeducation. A vote on November 6, 1970 ruled in favor of remaining strictly a women’s college. On February 12, 1990, the Board of Trustees voted to consider major changes to the college, including coeducation. The vote came after Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chair of the Committee on the Future of the College, Louise Brown, recommended to the Board that the Charter of the College be amended to offer the B.A. and B.S. degrees to both women and men beginning in the 1991-1992 academic year. The vote initiated widespread debate among faculty, students, and alumnae, who were formally petitioned to share their opinions through both correspondence and public forums. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of preserving Chatham’s status as a college for women. Rebecca Stafford, Chatham president since 1983, officially resigned on June 30, 1991.
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Scope and Contents
This collection documents the first formal consideration of coeducation at Chatham in the late 1960s and provides a historical context for the reinauguration of the debate in 1990.
The reference materials contained in this collection, primarily newspaper, correspondence, and magazine clippings, pertain to both the coeducation debate at Chatham, as well as similar debates taking place at other women’s colleges nationally. Reports document the work of various taskforces and committees created to manage and research a range of issues pertinent to the debate.
There are also supplementary materials that pertain to the resurgence of the coeducation debate in 1990. Coeducation in graduate programs and move to coeducation in 2016 are not included in this collection.
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Arrangement of Materials:
Series 1, Records regarding women’s colleges and the prospect of coeducation, 1890-1984, bulk 1967-1973
Series 2, Coeducation files of President Rebecca Stafford, 1989-1991
Series 3, Supplementary coeducation records, 1984-1991, bulk 1989-1990
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Administrative Information
Publication Information
Chatham University, November 2018
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA, 15232
412-365-1212
jkmref@chatham.edu
Conditions Governing Access:
This collection is open for research.
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Related Materials
Related Materials:
The Board of Trustees meeting minutes from the 1990s provide more information about the internal debate about coeducation, in particular Folder 242 (Executive Committee, 1/04/1990-8/29/1990). Also, a pamphlet on coeducation found in this collection is also accessible in the online issue of the Alumnae Recorder, Spring 1971, accessible here:
https://archive.org/details/alumnaerec19661976chat/page/n451
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Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
Subject(s)
- Coeducation
- Women -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Women's colleges -- History
- Women's colleges -- United States -- History -- Sources
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Collection Inventory
Series I. Records regarding women’s colleges and the prospect of coeducation, 1890-1984
(Bulk, 1967-1973)
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Study of the Future of Chatham and the Curriculum Revision 1967-1970 | 1 | 1 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Study of the Future of Chatham and the Curriculum Revision – Statistics | 1 | 2 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Women’s Education – Curriculum | 1 | 3 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Future of the College Committee November 1969-February 1971 | 1 | 4 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Special Study Committee on the Education of Women September 1972- March 1973 | 1 | 5 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Policy Statement of the Board of Trustees | 1 | 6 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Chatham Publications 1967 and 1975 | 1 | 7 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Miscellaneous 1890 and 1977 | 1 | 8 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Publicity for Women’s Colleges 1972-1984 | 1 | 9 |
|
Series II. Coeducation Files of President Rebecca Stafford 1989-1991 |
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Reponses I | 2 | 1 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Responses II | 2 | 2 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Responses II [duplicate] | 2 | 3 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Senior Staff Vision Ideas | 2 | 4 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Vision & Curriculum Task Force | 2 | 5 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Admissions & Marketing Task Force | 2 | 6 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Mailing Addresses of Task Force Members | 2 | 7 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Co-Curricular (College Programs) Task Force | 2 | 8 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Co-Curricular Task Force Subcommittee: Athletics and Fitness | 2 | 9 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Faculty Workshop | 2 | 10 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Finance & Facilities Task Force | 2 | 11 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Fundraising Task Force | 2 | 12 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Fundraising Tasking Force Subcommittee: Corporate Foundations | 2 | 13 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Public Affairs Task Force | 2 | 14 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Co-Ed: Public Relations Task Force | 2 | 15 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Ada Brandegee | 2 | 16 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Fundraising Task Force Subcommittee: Individual Giving | 2 | 17 |
|
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Workshop 1990 | 2 | 19 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Board & Coeducation | 2 | 20 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Chatham Coalition | 2 | 21 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Chatham Women’s Coalition | 2 | 22 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Consultants Interviewed | 2 | 23 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Faculty & Staff Correspondence | 2 | 24 |
|
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Karen White’s Tutorial on Coeducation Draft. Dr. Stafford: Tutor | 2 | 26 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Correspondence | 2 | 27 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Coeducation Confidential | 2 | 28 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Woman’s College Coalition | 2 | 29 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Student Correspondence | 2 | 30 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Susan S. Co-Ed Letters | 2 | 31 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Other Women’s Colleges | 2 | 32 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Dr. Stafford’s Speeches & Remarks | 2 | 33 |
|
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Strategic Vision Maps | 2 | 35 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Outreach Committee | 2 | 36 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Trustees Correspondence | 2 | 37 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Publicity, Clippings, News Releases | 2 | 38 |
|
Series III. Supplementary coeducation records, 1984-1991
(Bulk, 1989-1990)
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Non-Alumnae Correspondence 1987 | 3 | 1 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Alumnae Correspondence 1990 | 3 | 2 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Chatham Women’s Coalition Correspondence 1990 | 3 | 3 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Gateway Correspondence 1990 | 3 | 4 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Chatham Student Government 1990 | 3 | 5 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Forum and Meeting Announcements 1990 | 3 | 6 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Taskforce Materials 1990 | 3 | 7 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Stafford Resignation June 30, 1991 | 3 | 8 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | New York Alumnae Club 1990-1991 | 3 | 9 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Stafford’s Speeches and Report to Trustees 1984-1990 | 3 | 10 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Reserve: Co-Ed – Board of Trustees/Chatham Info 1989-1990 | 3 | 11 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Reserve: Co-Ed – Women’s Colleges 1989-1990 | 3 | 12 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Reserve: Co-Ed – Women’s College Coalition 1989-1990 | 3 | 13 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Reserve: Co-Ed – President Stafford 1989-1990 | 3 | 14 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | News Clippings | 3 | 15 |
|
|
| Box | Folder | | Miscellaneous 1986-1991 | 3 | 16 |
|
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