Association of Alumnae
The History of Women at the University of Pennsylvania
1751
Academy for girls established in headmasters' home
1755
30 girls taught cooking, sewing, and knitting by Mrs. Francis Howell
1871
University moves to West Philadelphia
1877
Charity School discontinued, free public education mandated, University of Pennsylvania
chartered
1878
Towne Scientific School and Science of Music Program admit 9 women as special
students
1880
Auxiliary Department of Medicine allows non-degree attendance of women
1881
Law School becomes the first major department to admit women
1882
First Ph.D. in Philosophy awarded to a woman by the University. College faculty
proposes admission of women, but opposed by alumni and male undergraduates.
Trustees vote no.
1889
Trustees resolution to create separate college for women is tabled
1892
Graduate department for women created
1894
Sara Yorke Stevenson was the first woman recipient of an honorary degree; the
Trustees granted her the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in recognition
of her founding role in the University Museum
School of Biology accepts women for degrees
1904
Women eligible for summer school and evening schools. The College Courses for
Teachers program had been in existence since just before the turn of the century,
with 210 teachers in 1904-05, mostly women, taking courses in late afternoons,
evenings, and Saturdays.
1911
Women permitted to live in University dorms (34th and Sansom)
1912
Association of Alumnae founded - Pauline Wolcott Spencer is President. The CCT
program grew dramatically, adding new requirments. A CCT student petitioned
to take Chemistry courses "with the regular College men" and was denied, however,
the College and Graduate School opened their classes to CCT students. CCT eventually
became the College of General Studies in 1953.
1913
Association of Alumnae charter granted
1915
Women have first yearbook (The Record). It is handwritten.
1916
School of Education established on coed basis; women admitted to Schools of
Medicine and Dentistry
1920
School of Fine Arts established with specified courses open to women, professional
architecture excluded.
1921
Course in oral hygiene for women only
1924
Sergeant Hall opened as dorm for women
1925
Bennett Hall built (34th and Walnut); houses major departments for women
1928
Weightman Hall opened for female physical education
1932
4172 women enrolled at Penn
1933
School of Education becomes grants first graduate degree; College of Liberal
Arts for women established 50 years after trustees voted it; eleven women enroll.
Vet School admits women.
1935
New coed schools open - Social Work and Nursing Education
1940
Women comprise 30% of student body
1950
School of Degree Nursing and Auxiliary Medicine Services formed
1953
Men's and women's class yearbook combine (The Record)
1954
Wharton School and Moore School of Engineering admit women; all schools open
to women.
1960
Hill House becomes first dorm constructed especially for women
1962
First woman on staff of the Daily Pennsylvanian; Man and women co-editor-in-chief
of Record
1967
Men's and women's Student Governments merge; become U. of P. Student Government.
1969
Kite and Key admits women; first women cheerleaders; first women in the Quad.
1971
Sphinx and Friars honor societies admit women.
1971
Women's Studies Program established
1973
Varsity sweaters awarded to women.
1975
Faculty of Arts and Sciences established; formed into one University.
Email us with more women's "firsts" during this 25 year gap!
1994
Judith Rodin (CW'66) inaugurated as first female president of the University
of Pennsylvania and first female president of an Ivy League Institution.
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