Coeducation Collection (Williams College)

Collection

Identifier: AC-35

Staff Only

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

Creation: 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 11) 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

4.587 Linear Feet (11 manuscript letter boxes)

521.09 Megabytes

Additional Description

Abstract

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. Collection reboxed by Leah Rosenman, July 2022.