.
By Molly Tighe
Collection Overview
Title: Chatham College Coeducation Debate Collection, 1890-1990
Predominant Dates:1989-1990
ID: MSS/2016.001
Primary Creator: Chatham College
Other Creators: Chatham College--Office of the President, Stafford, Rebecca, 1936-
Extent: 1.9 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
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
Subjects: Chatham University, Coeducation, Pittsburgh Female College--Alumni and alumnae--History--Sources, Women's colleges—History, Women's colleges--United States—History—Sources, Women -- Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh, Women in education--Pennsylvania--History—Sources
Languages: English
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.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
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.
Collection Historical Note
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.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Chatham University Archives
Access Restrictions:
This collection is open for research.
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: For more information please see http://www.archive.org/details/alumnaerec19661976chat.
Preferred Citation:
Chatham College Coeducation Debate Collection, 1890-1990, MSS.2016.001, Chatham University Archives & Special Collections
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
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],
[All]
- Series 1: Records regarding women’s colleges and the prospect of coeducation, 1890-1984, bulk 1967-1973
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Study of the Future of Chatham and the Curriculum Revision, 1967-1970
- Folder 2: Study of the Future of Chatham and the Curriculum Revision – Statistics
- Folder 3: Women’s Education – Curriculum
- Folder 4: Future of the College Committee, November 1969-February 1971
- Folder 5: Special Study Committee on the Education of Women, September 1972- March 1973
- Folder 6: Policy Statement of the Board of Trustees
- Folder 7: Chatham Publications, 1967 and 1975
- Folder 8: Miscellaneous, 1890 and 1977
- Folder 9: Publicity for Women’s Colleges, 1972-1984
- Series 2: Coeducation Files of President Rebecca Stafford, 1989-1991
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Alumnae Reponses I
- Folder 2: Alumnae Responses II
- Folder 3: Alumnae Responses II [duplicate]
- Folder 4: Senior Staff Vision Ideas
- Folder 5: Co-Ed: Vision & Curriculum Task Force
- Folder 6: Co-Ed: Admissions & Marketing Task Force
- Folder 7: Co-Ed: Mailing Addresses of Task Force Members
- Folder 8: Co-Ed: Co-Curricular (College Programs) Task Force
- Folder 9: Co-Ed: Co-Curricular Task Force Subcommittee: Athletics and Fitness
- Folder 10: Co-Ed: Faculty Workshop
- Folder 11: Co-Ed: Finance & Facilities Task Force
- Folder 12: Co-Ed: Fundraising Task Force
- Folder 13: Co-Ed: Fundraising Tasking Force Subcommittee: Corporate Foundations
- Folder 14: Co-Ed: Public Affairs Task Force
- Folder 15: Co-Ed: Public Relations Task Force
- Folder 16: Ada Brandegee
- Folder 17: Fundraising Task Force Subcommittee: Individual Giving
- Folder 18: Dick Chait
- Folder 19: Alumnae Workshop, 1990
- Folder 20: Board & Coeducation
- Folder 21: Chatham Coalition
- Folder 22: Chatham Women’s Coalition
- Folder 23: Consultants Interviewed
- Folder 24: Faculty & Staff Correspondence
- Folder 25: Mailings
- Folder 26: Karen White’s Tutorial on Coeducation Draft. Dr. Stafford: Tutor
- Folder 27: Alumnae Correspondence
- Folder 28: Coeducation Confidential
- Folder 29: Woman’s College Coalition
- Folder 30: Student Correspondence
- Folder 31: Susan S. Co-Ed Letters
- Folder 32: Other Women’s Colleges
- Folder 33: Dr. Stafford’s Speeches & Remarks
- Folder 34: Travel
- Folder 35: Strategic Vision Maps
- Folder 36: Outreach Committee
- Folder 37: Trustees Correspondence
- Folder 38: Publicity, Clippings, News Releases
- Series 3: Supplementary coeducation records, 1984-1991, bulk 1989-1990
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Non-Alumnae Correspondence, 1987
- Folder 2: Alumnae Correspondence, 1990
- Folder 3: Chatham Women’s Coalition Correspondence, 1990
- Folder 4: Gateway Correspondence, 1990
- Folder 5: Chatham Student Government, 1990
- Folder 6: Forum and Meeting Announcements, 1990
- Folder 7: Taskforce Materials, 1990
- Folder 8: Stafford Resignation, June 30, 1991
- Folder 9: New York Alumnae Club, 1990-1991
- Folder 10: Stafford’s Speeches and Report to Trustees, 1984-1990
- Folder 11: Reserve: Co-Ed – Board of Trustees/Chatham Info, 1989-1990
- Folder 12: Reserve: Co-Ed – Women’s Colleges, 1989-1990
- Folder 13: Reserve: Co-Ed – Women’s College Coalition, 1989-1990
- Folder 14: Reserve: Co-Ed – President Stafford, 1989-1990
- Folder 15: News Clippings
- Folder 16: Miscellaneous, 1986-1991
Browse by Series:
[
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],
[All]
