MOE EfGWEEN Rise of Coeds Termed Long, Hard Struggle The rise from bustles to bobby sox has been a long, hard struggle for coeds at the University. Since the first woman was graduated in 1872, the rules of decorum have been streamlined as sleekly as fashions. • In 1871-72 when the first six women were admitted to the then agricultural college, 16 years after its founding, few things were considered more hazardous than a coed. Many `authorities' said: "The standdrds of scholarship would be lowered by the supposedly inferior quality of women's minds." And then, of course, there was the burning but unmentionable problem of just how having men and women together in the same classes would affect the moral behavior at the school. Mrs. Ellen A. Cop, Wisconsin native, is credited with being the first registered woman student and recalls that while the profes sors were very kind and consid erate, the male students did not at first favor the innovation. How ever, she relates, when Rev. Fran cis A. Robinson, professor of math ernatics and civil engineering biought his charming daughter of seventeen, the attitude of the men changed and the women's depart ment became very popular. Rebecca Hanna Ewing of An gola, Ind., was the first graduate. She received her diploma in 1873. Housed in Old Main In the early days women were hthised in Old Main, then a six story stone structure which also housed the men and the ldminis tfative offices. Regulations were as strong as the building itself and women were strictly forbid den to 'communicate out of the window or by means of the pipes.' •In 1883, men presented requests to call on or to accompany women, and women presented to the Lady Principal their requests to receive or to accompany men in the Ladies Parlor between 6:45 and 7 p.m. daily except Sunday. The Lady Principal chaperoned the parlor dates and saw that the couples said goodnight at 10:45 p.m. Sat urday, 8 p.m. Sunday, and 9 p.m. weekdays. Men needed written permission from the College Pres ident to accompany women be yond the building door. Women Advance In 1888 a woman was selected associate editor of the student newspaper, Free Lance, predeces sor to the Daily Collegian. At chapel service, coeds sat on one side of the hall and men on the other. After the services, an early student writes, the men would scramble to the women's exit to wait for the first coed to come out and make a date to take them to the next literary society meeting, one of the approved so cial events. Discreet and well chaperoned parties between the students were even permitted openly now and a photograph of college activities in 1898 shows sailor-hatted coeds and their high collared fellow students ham mock-swinging on the front porch of the president's house. Dances Allowed With the advent of the nineties, Penn State followed the trend tqward gaiety and, at specially designated an d appropriately chaperoned places, students were permitted to dance. It wasn't until 1923 that seniors could walk off campus during the week and all coeds could walk in town unchap eroned on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Domestic Economy (now Home Economics) was introduced in 1891. Organized gym classes began in 1893 and for their old-fash ioned pushups, the coeds donned heavy blue serge bloomers, middy blouses, black stockings, and white lie"nnis shoes. Studying in 1883 was strictly JACK'S BARBER SHOP Pugh St. By JACKIE HUDGINS regulated by the faculty. Young women could not study in the par lor, visit, or receive visitors in the parlor or elsewhere, during study hours. Violation of rules were treated like absences from recita tions of public exercises. If a coed met visitors or communicated via window or steam pipe she re ceived 50 censure marks and an oficial admonition from the Lady Principal who also notified her parents. Fashion Musts Amid all these strict regulations were just as severe .fashion musts. "All the coeds" wore medium length skirts, full tailored blouses, knee socks, and little tailored hats. May Day exercises were organ ized in 1914 and women first ap peared in Players dramatic pro ductions in 1920. Thespians, an other dramatic organization, bar red them until 1926 except for a brief time during 1918 when there was a shortage of men. Women's Student Government began in 1915 altering some of the In 2055... Penn State women will'outnumber the men . . All exams will be abolished . And Kaye's great-grandson will have everything for . . . A Complete Meal or Quick Snack Redi-to-Eat KAYE'S 4><" ,2 4` , 05** P'Ack •'; • • 4.2'047 KORNER The Post Office is Just Opposite Us 111 t DART OUTIEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA i strict regulations when the faculty ceased making rules. Coeds were allowed to dine at fraternity hous es if a chaperone were present. In 1919 women students bought out all the "flats" in town. French heeled shoes became strictly ta boo for the modern coed. Organize Debate The first women's debating team was organized in 1926 and in 1935 an unprecedented prece dent was set when Dorothy An derson '35 was allowed to play on the varsity tennis team. In 1937 women organized their own newspaper, the Co-Edition. The Second World War clinched the establishment of women's rights at the University. During the war years, when men students were scarce, the Collegian had its first woman editor, as did the Penn State Engineer. Coed enroll ment rose from the original six to an all time high of 2300. Throughout the decades, women students have been looked after '(Continued on page 46) Stew Compensated For Rough Life Maybe life was a little wild and woolly for the boys in the early days of the University, but it also had its compensations—one of them being a culinary discovery called "The Allegheny Stew." The recipe for this famous dish popular on hunting trips was first recorded in 1869 by President Thomas Henry Burrowes. It was designed to satisfy the appetites of 20 to 25 men after a day of hunting in the mountains. The 1869 recipe read: "Take one old-fashioned iron pot with handle. Swing same over a good fire. Then put in if in the following order and at the proper intervals: "Eight quarts of water. "Six medium sized turnips, pared and cut small. "Three pheasants, cut into the usual portions. "Six squirrels. Twelve Partridges "Twelve partridges, wood-cock, or other small game, cut into quar ters or less. "Two pounds of cold roast beef, cut small. "Two pounds of the fat end of ham, or of good bacon, cut small. "Four middle sized onions, cut small. . "Add butter, pepper, and salt to taste. "Just before dishing, add a doz en of large cold boiled potatoes, cut small. When these are heated, but before they become mashed, dish. Venison Improves "Note: If venison be on hand, it' is supposed that its substitution for cold roast, beef would ue an improvement; also the addition of a couple dozen mushrooms, if on hand; and if cold potatoes be absent, the raw tubers pared, cut small and put in long enough to boil and not mash, will answer. "If gunner ever tasted anything better than this in the woods, we would like to have share o it. It was good enough for pur mess, so good that nothing w as left of it, but the memory of a first-rate stew—hot, savory, and satisfying." Education Costs $586 per Student It coat file Cniversity a record breaking $586 to provide resident instruction for each of 12,000 stu dents during the 1952-53 school year. Cost per student it was pointed out, has been on the rise ever since the end of World War 11. It reached an astornomical $707 in 1944-45, but only because that school year consisted of three se mesters instead of the traditional two. Indirect expenses, such as phy sical plant maintenance and oper ations, library services, insurance and general administration expen ses, are embraced in this figure. The first LaVie, published in 1890, had 129 pages and measured 8 1 / 2 . by 7 1 / 2 inches. Congratulations . . , P. S. U. 1855-1955 Some other names to remember are . . . Keepsake Diamond Rings Hamilton and Bulova Watches and B. P. Moyer—Jeweler Serving Penn State students for five years. TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 22. 1955 Social Social#, or co-edits, first ap peared in print in the Free Lance, the University's lire newspaper, in December, 1888. It was during this year that the first woman was admitted to the staff of the newspaper. Carolyn R. Hunter 'BB was then associate editor. Some of 'the socials are printed as they appeared in the Free Lance. One of the pleasantest parties this term was given by Profes sor and Mrs. Reber, in their rooms on second floor, from eight to ten o'clock P.M. Satur day eve, November 24th. Among those invited were all the mem bers of the Senior Class. and all the ladies rooMing in the• col• lege building. All present ex press themselves, as having had an enjoyable time and being sorry they had to leave when the ten P.M. bell rang. • • • On Thanksgiving eve Misses Nellie and Mazy Patterson, en tertained quite • is 'number of , their classmates at their suluty-:". side home. A number of the ladies of the village • have organized; called the "Yining Ladies of the Village." semi-monthly sod abler, phantom parties,, taffy: pulla, etc., which are held at different residences. The first of these was a phantom party,; given at Miss Mary Foster's, to which many elite gespenster were invited. After • an hour • and a half of many making beiween incogniti, the. ghost ly robes watt, laid aside and the masks roved, and all breathed more freely. Several-, hours more were pleasantly spent in dancing and' various games. All were delighted with' the excellent time, and think the organisation a worthy one. The second sociable, a taffy', pull, was given trif the "Young Ladies of the Village" at "Thrift." Here many, of the youth were taught by their fairer companion how to make good taffy. Choice selections . were rendered on the • piano. dancing; rogressive euchr e, and the singing of songs, kept' the party morry until a late hour. In progressive euchre, B. Demming took the prize. The sociable was 'al decided success. Evan Pugh, University Presi dent' froth 1869 to 1884, died at the age of 36.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers