Coeducation Collection (Williams College)
Collection
Identifier: AC-35
Scope and Contents
This collection contains studies, reports, surveys, minutes and records collected by Nancy McIntire to document the move of Williams to a coeducational college. These materials provide a look at how the transition to coeducation took place, as well as how successful and smooth that transition was. Both the views of the administration and the students are represented in this collection. In addition to the implementation of coeducation at Williams College, a view of the same process at other colleges and universities is made available through reports sent to Williams by their respective administrations.
Dates
- 1935 - 2014
Language of Materials
In English.
Conditions Governing Access
The Coeducation Collection (Williams College) is open for research. Restricted materials located in Series VI (box 4) and closed until 2042. Researchers are encouraged to contact Special Collections staff prior to a visit.
Conditions Governing Use
In consultation with Special Collections staff, reproductions may be made upon request. Please consult with staff regarding questions about publishing materials from Williams Special Collections. Researchers are responsible for handling any copyright issues that may be associated with collections and materials.
Timeline of coeducation at Williams College
January 1969: Faculty unanimously voted for Williams to become coeducational.
Spring 1969: 30 women students on exchange from Vassar to Williams.
June 1969: The Williams Board of Trustees approves the move to coeducation.
1970: Assistant Dean Nancy McIntire is hired to make the transition to coeducation run smoothly.
Fall 1970: There are 90 women students in a student body of about 1200;
approximately half of the women are transfers and half exchange students.
June 1971: The first seven women receive B.A. degrees. Six of these graduate with honors.
June 1971: A woman is named Valedictorian of her Class.
Fall 1971: The first fully coeducational class of men and women enters the college (137 entering students).
1973: ‘Williams Women’, later known as the Williams Feminist Alliance, holds its first meeting.
June 1975: The first graduating class to include four-year Williams women.
1976: Women freed from the 2-to-1 sex ratio.
Extent
4.58 Linear Feet (3 records storage boxes, 2 manuscript letter boxes)
521.09 Megabytes
Overview
This collection contains studies, reports, surveys, minutes and records collected by Nancy McIntire to document the move of Williams to a coeducational college. These materials provide a look at how the transition to coeducation took place, as well as how successful and smooth that transition was. Both the views of the administration and the students are represented in this collection. In addition to the implementation of coeducation at Williams College, a view of the same process at other colleges and universities is made available through reports sent to Williams by their respective administrations.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into seven series: I. Beginnings of Coeducation at Williams, II. Campus Opinion, III. Events, IV. Women Faculty, V. Implementation at Other Colleges, VI. Restricted Materials, VII. Addition (Acc.2017-040).
Physical Location
L2 Storage F7a
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from Nancy McIntire, 2006. Series VII transferred from Nancy McIntire, 2017.
General
These materials documenting the College's move to coeducation were produced or collected by Nancy McIntire in her positions as Assistant Dean of the College (1970-1972), Associate Dean of the College (1972-1983), and Assistant to the President for Affirmative Action and Government Relations (1983-2006). When Ms. McIntire retired in 2006 she transferred these materials to the Archives. During reorganization, a group of student papers on coeducation, which had been received earlier and accessioned under number 1994-017, was integrated into this collection. Only moderate reorganization of the collection took place.
Processing Information
Processed by Amber LaFountain (Williams 2009) and Aaron Redfern (Williams 2007), July 2006. Katie Nash, 2017.
- Title
- Coeducation Collection (Williams College)
- Author
- Nash, Katie
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Williams College Archives & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
Sawyer Library
26 Hopkins Hall Drive
Williamstown, MA 01267
specialcollections@williams.edu
Sawyer Library
26 Hopkins Hall Drive
Williamstown, MA 01267
specialcollections@williams.edu