DACS

uawsga Inventory of the Woman’s Student Government Association Records, 1919-1974 Processed by: Archives staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Sherrie Bowser University Archives Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 003818278

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: October 2007Processed by Archives staff, October 2007; Finding Aid encoded by Sherrie Bowser, University Archives, Duke University, October 2007 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and our local Style Guide Inventory of the Woman’s Student Government Association Records, 1919-1974 University Archives Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary University Archives, Duke University Duke University. Woman's Student Government Association. Woman’s Student Government Association Records, 1919-1974 Material in English 13.8 Linear Feet 12,100 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. The Woman's Student Government Association (WSGA) was formed in 1918, and the organization continued when the Woman's College was incorporated on East Campus in 1930. The WSGA was responsible for the "regulat[ion] of all matters pertaining to the life of the women of the Woman's College of Duke University, not under the jurisdiction of the Faculty." This autonomy along with the segregated campus life style of the coordinate college allowed female students to develop leadership skills and confidence that an integrated student government may not have allowed them to gain. Collection contains minutes, correspondence, reports, printed matter, memos, clippings, and other official records of the WSGA and its committees, along with records of several student organizations and documents generated by the administrations of the Woman's College and Duke University. Materials range in date from 1919-1974. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records.

Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Woman’s Student Government Association Records, University Archives, Duke University.

Provenance

The Woman’s Student Government Association Records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1974-1997.

Processing Information

Processed by Archives staff, October 2007

Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, October 2007

Accessions 74-108, A89-0031, A94-119, A97-59 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Historical Note

The Woman's College was established in 1930, as coordinate college to Trinity College for men, with the appointment of Alice M. Baldwin as Dean of the Woman's College. Prior to that women had a long history of attending Trinity College (the antecedent of Duke University). Three Giles sisters were awarded degrees in 1878 on the basis of private instruction by faculty members before Trinity College moved to Durham in 1892. In 1892 the Board of Trinity College officially admitted women to the college, and the first women to attend regular classes graduated in 1896. These women had been permitted to attend classes but they were not given residence on the campus.

In 1896, Washington Duke made a gift of $100,000 to Trinity College urging that women be admitted "on equal footing with men." A small dormitory, the Mary Duke Building was subsequently built in 1898; however it was torn down in 1912. It was replaced by Southgate dormitory for women in 1921. The increase in women students during World War I gave rise to the instatement of a Dean of Women, Martha Buchanan, as well as the formation of the Woman's Student Government in 1918. In 1924, Alice M. Baldwin was named Dean of Women. Upon reflection of her early years at Trinity College Alice Baldwin notes:

When I first came to Trinity, it was primarily a man's college, run by men, where some women had studied for years, it is true, but where women had no part in administration except to some extent in the social life and the management of the one women's dormitory.

With the creation of the coordinate Woman's College this gradually began to change and women (administrators and students) were given more control over East Campus.

The Woman's Student Government Association was formed in 1918 and its purpose listed in the 1922 amended constitution was "to preserve student honor, to develop self-control, and to govern the young women matriculated of the College." In order to fulfill these functions the Association mandated that several committees should be formed including a social committee, social service committee, social standards committee, and room committee plus a journal, publicity, and social room committees.

With the incorporation of the Woman's College in 1930 the purpose of the Woman's Student Government Association (WSGA) of Duke University broadened to encompass "regulat[ion] of all matters pertaining to the life of the women of the Woman's College of Duke University, not under the jurisdiction of the Faculty." Furthermore the organization was "to increase a sense of individual responsibility; to further a spirit of unity among the women of the College; and to cooperate with the Faculty in creating and maintaining high ideals for the Women of the University."

Therefore the WSGA in cooperation with the Administrative staff of the College was responsible for the formation and enforcement of the regulations for the Woman's College. These regulations include those related to specific classes (i.e. freshmen, upperclassmen, etc.), general social regulations (drinking, smoking, automobiles, dates), house regulations (closing/quiet hours, men callers, late leaves, serenades), off-campus regulations (Durham area restaurants, hotels), and social standards regulations (attire on campus, off campus, and behavior becoming to Woman's College students).

The segregated campus life style of the coordinate college allowed female students to develop leadership skills and confidence that an integrated student government may not have allowed them to gain. For "in addition to the judicial board, the Woman's Student Government Association consisted of a strong network of dorm representatives and legislators." Upon reflection most alumnae said that they appreciated the leadership experiences inherit in the creation of policy and self-discipline. Indeed the Woman's College produced many political and cultural luminaries including: Elizabeth Dole; Ann K. Covington; Nancy Hanks; Eleanor Smeal; Margaret Taylor Smith; and Anne Tyler.

During the 1960s a perpetual request from the student body was the liberalizing of social regulations, especially those that were traditionally imposed upon women and not on men. This issue became a driving-force in the creation of a university unified student government, and in 1967 the student body voted to merge the Men's Student Government and the Woman's Student Government Association creating the Associated Students of Duke University (ASDU). Valerie Ann Mosley (1980) was the first female president of ASDU. In 1972, the consolidation of the two separate colleges became complete when the Board of Trustees approved the merger of the Woman's College and Trinity College.

Works cited

"President Few and the Woman's College" in folder 1198, William Preston Few Records and Papers, University Archives, Duke University. "WSGA Amendments, 1922," Box 7, Woman's Student Government Association records, University Archives, Duke University. 1930 Woman's College Handbook, University Archives, Duke University. Daub, Tammy. "Smashing the Glass Ceiling," The Chronicle 11 October 1996. ibid. and Arnold, Autumn ,"White Gloves and Parlor Games," The Chronicle 18 January 2006. Collection Overview

Extent: 13.7 linear ft. (22 Hollinger boxes + 1 flat box)

Contents: Minutes, correspondence, reports, printed matter, memos, clippings, and other official records of the WSGA and its committees, along with records of several student organizations and documents generated by the administrations of the Woman's College and Duke University. Subjects include the honor system, class reports, dormitory life, athletics, elections, freshman orientation, social organizations, handbooks, celebrations, and social regulations. The collection includes materials, such as handbooks and surveys, received from other schools, and publications and other material from the National Student Association.

Organization: Series: 1. WSGA Minutes; 2. Correspondence; 3. Subject files; 4. Materials from other colleges; 5. National Student Association; 6. Account books; 7. Student Organizations; 8. Oversize

Restriction: Judicial Board case files closed except by permission, University Archivist. Some folders may contain information restricted by FERPA.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Duke University. Associated Students of Duke University. Duke University. Student Government. Duke University--Students. Duke University--Students--Political activity. Duke University--Students--Societies, etc. Duke University. Woman’s Student Government Association. Duke University. Woman’s Student Government Association. Social Standards Committee. Student participation in administration. Related Material Associated Students of Duke University records, 1965-1993. University Archives, Duke University. Woman’s College records, 1928-1974. University Archives, Duke University. Contents of Collection WSGA Minutes, 1920-1968 4 Boxes 1Folder title WSGA-Association Minutes, 1921-1929 WSGA-Association Minutes, 1930-1939 WSGA-Association Minutes, 1940-1949 WSGA-Association Minutes and Agenda, 1950-1959 (2 folders) WSGA-Association Meeting Notes (Council Meetings), April 7, 1947-March 15, 1948 WSGA-Association Meeting Minutes, April 2, 1945-March 4, 1947 WSGA Council Minutes, April 1, 1946-April 2, 1947 WSGA-Association Meeting Minutes (Council Meetings), April 6, 1948-April 5, 1949 WSGA Assembly Minutes and Agenda, 1960-1963 2WSGA Council Minutes, 1928-1930 WSGA Council Minutes and Agenda, 1950-1951 WSGA Council Minutes, 1952-1953 WSGA Council Minutes, 1954-1956 WSGA Council Minutes and Agenda, 1956-1959 WSGA Council Minutes and Agenda, 1960-1961 WSGA Council Minutes, 1962-1963 3WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1929-1933 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1933-1935 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1935-1937 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1937-1939 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1940-1942 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1943-1944 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1945 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1946-1949 WSGA Executive Council Minutes, 1956-1957 4WSGA Legislature Minutes and Agenda, 1965-1966 WSGA Legislature Minutes and Agenda, 1967-1968 WSGA Legislature Proposals and Resolutions, undated WSGA Legislature Minutes and Agenda, 1966-1967(2 folders) WSGA Student Council Minutes, 1920-1929 WSGA Student Council Minutes, 1930-1931 Correspondence, 1923-1971 2 Boxes 5WSGA Correspondence, 1923-1930 WSGA Correspondence, 1935, 1937-1938, 1941 WSGA Correspondence, 1949, 1955-1956, 1958, 1959 WSGA Correspondence, 1943-1945 WSGA Correspondence, 1961-1962 WSGA Correspondence, 1963-1965 WSGA Correspondence, 1966-1967 (2 folders) WSGA Correspondence, 1968 WSGA Correspondence, 1971 6WSGA Academic Honor Code Correspondence, 1947-1948 Subject files, 1919-1972 11 Boxes 6Academic Honor System Memos, Newspaper clippings, misc., 1963-1965 and undated Alumnae Association of Women's College Misc., 1965, 1968-1969, 1971-1972 American Government Committee Report, 1963-1964, Association of Women's Residence Misc., 1967, 1970-1972, Board System, 1968, 1970-1971 WSGA Budgets, 1964-1967 Building Commission-East Campus Student Center, 1961, 1963-1964 Building Plans and Renovations-East Campus, 1966 Campus Community Council, 1971-1972 Chartering Procedures, 1962, 1964, undated Chronicle Articles, 1961-1962 Chronicle Articles, 1962-1963 Chronicle Articles, 1963-1964 Chronicle Articles, 1962-1964 Chronicle Articles, 1965-1966 Chronicle Articles, 1966-1967 Claremont Trip, 1967 (2 folders) WSGA Annual Class Reports, 1926-1930 Class Representative Annual Reports, 1959-1964 WSGA Class Structure: Reevaluation of it as Basis for Student Government Organization, 1966-1967 7Code of Campus Living Revisions and Final, 1963-1965 WSGA Monthly and Annual Committee Reports, 1921-1929 Committee for Evaluation of Woman's College Regulations-Minutes, 1966 Community Council of Woman's College Constitution, By-Laws, Minutes, 1969-1971 WSGA Constitution and By-Laws, 1930(?), 1963, 1965 WSGA Amendments, Constitution, and Regulations, 1926-1927 WSGA Amendments, 1922 Amendments to Constitution, 1971-1972 Council of Student Body Presidents, Duke University WSGA Course Evaluations, 1963 Cunningham, Suzie-Speeches, President of WSGA, 1965-1966 Cut System, 1951-1952, 1961-1963 Dining Halls Memos and Announcements, 1966 and 1969 Change in Drinking Regulations, 1967-1968 Dormitories Announcements, Memos, Policies, etc., , 1963-1971 Dormitories-Living, Learning Corridors Dormitories-User's Committee for New East Campus Dorm, 1968 Dormitories-Visiting Hours for Men (open-opens), 1968-1971 Dormitories Meeting Minutes, 1928-1929 Dormitories-University Caucus, Student Life Committee: Evaluation of Women's Living Group Regulations and Proposals WSGA Dormitory Association Minutes, 1924-1930 Driving Time Sheets 8WSGA Coordinate Board Constitution, 1960, 1962 WSGA Coordinate Board, Academic Freedom (American Civil Liberties Union and National Student Association Publications), 1959 Coordinate Board Annual Reports, 1960-1964 Coordinate Board Evaluation, 1960-1963 Coordinate Board Course Guide, 1961 Coordinate Board Exam Schedule, 1961-1962 WSGA Coordinate Board Minutes, Reports, and Correspondence, 1952-1957 WSGA Coordinate Board Minutes, Reports, and Correspondence, 1957-1960 Coordinate Board Minutes, Correspondence, 1960-1961 Coordinate Board Misc., 1960-62, 1941 Coordinate Board Misc. Projects, 1960-1963 Coordinate Board Student Faculty Relations, 1961-1962 9WSGA-Educated Women Power, 1967 WSGA-Educational Affairs Committee, 1964-1966 WSGA-Educational Affairs Committee Exam File (2 folders) WSGA-Directions for Educated Women Committee, 1970 Educational Facilities Committee, 1963-1964 WSGA-Election Information, 1950 Election Information, 1964-1967 Election Procedures, 1955 Election Procedure, 1964 Elections, 1928-1929, undated WSGA-Elections, Candidates' Platforms, 1956-1966, 1968 WSGA-Evaluation Report, 1959 10Freshman Advisory Council, 1961-1962, 1966-1968 WSGA-Freshman Orientation Week, 1954-1959 Freshman Orientation Week, 1960-1963 Freshman Orientation Week, 1964, 1965, 1966 Freshman Orientation Week, 1967, 1968 Freshman Orientation Week, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969, undated Woman's College Handbook Advisors'/Editors' Reports, 1963-1964 Handbook Exams, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968 Honor Code Correspondence and Misc., 1950-1959 Honor Code Plan No. 2, 1957-1958 WSGA-Proposed Honor Code, 1957 Honor Code Campaign, Oct.-Nov. 1957 Academic Honor Code (200 level), 1958-1959 Honor Code-Poll of Woman's College, 1967 WSGA-Honor Pledges, 1921-1924, 1925-1926 WSGA-House Association Minutes, 1927-1928 House President Annual Reports, 1928-1930 House Presidents' Board, 1959-1960 Human Relations Coordinating Committee, 1961 House Counselors, 1964-1971 Inter-government Council, 1966-1967 Inter-campus Council Minutes and Reports, 1963-1965 International Student Committee, 1963-1964, 1966, 1968-1969 WSGA-Ivy Constitution, 1938-1939 11Judicial Board-Chronicle Articles, 1965? Judicial Board-Candidates, 1967 Judicial Board-Amendment to Judicial Code, 1970 Judicial Board-Guidelines for House Counselors for Presenting Woman's College Regulations, 1964, 1966 Judicial Board-Judicial Code, 1967 Judicial Board-Form Letters to Students, House Counselors and Parents, 1966, 1967,1970 Judicial Board-Guideposts (Student Guide to College Social Regulations), 1968 Judicial Board-"Ideal Rule Code" Project, 1966 (summer) Judicial Board-Membership WSGA-Judicial Board Minutes, Reports, Misc., 1950-1959 (2 folders) Judicial Board Minutes, Agenda, 1966 Judicial Board Misc., 1937-1970 Judicial Board-Procedure Manual for House Judicial Representatives, 1967 Judicial Board-National Student Association, 1963 Judicial Board Policies, 1960-1963, undated Judicial Board Policies, 1964-1967, 1970, undated Judicial Board-Judicial Procedures "Watson Committee," 1968-1969 (2 folders), Judicial Board Procedures, 1965, 1967 Judicial Board Proposals, 1968 Judicial Board Regulations-Proposed Changes, 1967 WSGA-Judicial Board Report, May 4, 1949 Judicial Board Reports, 1960-1963, 1965-1967 Judicial Board Research Committee, 1963-1965,undated, Judicial Board-Review of Woman's College Regulations, 1961 WSGA-Judicial Board Rule Changes, 1945-1948 12 - RESTRICTED WSGA-Executive Committee Minutes (Honor Code Violations), 1925-1929 Judicial Board "Call-Downs," 1921-1922 Judicial Board-Cases and Penalties, 1943-1945 Judicial Board-Correspondence, 1941 WSGA-Judicial Board Penalties, 1926-1928 WSGA-Judicial Board Penalties "Call-Downs," 1922-1926 WSGA-Judicial Board Minutes, 1929-1933 Judicial Board-Stealing Case, 1968, 1969-1970 WSGA-Executive Committee Minutes (Honor Code Violations), WSGA-Judicial Board Penalties, 1928-1929 13Lansing Campus Letter, 1953-1958 WSGA-Leadership Training Program, 1957-1958 Leadership Training Program, 1958, 1960 WSGA Legislature-Campus Issues Questionnaire, 1966 WSGA Legislature Minutes and Agenda, 1964-1965 (2 folders) Legislature Standing Committee Reports, Misc. Long-Range Planning-Parker, 1958-1960 Ad-Hoc Committee on Living-Learning Experiments Maintenance Committee Annual Report, 1961-1962 WSGA-May Day Report, 1922 May Day Revels, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1934-1939 WSGA-Membership Rolls, 1921-1925 WSGA-Membership Roll, 1927-1928 WSGA Miscellany Miscellaneous, 1968-1969 WSGA Miscellaneous Articles, 1971-1972,undated National Student Association Committee, 1959, 1964 undated WSGA Newsletter, 1964-1966 N.C.C., 1968 WSGA-N.C. State Legislature, 1967 N.C. Student Legislature and National Student Conference, 1964 WSGA-N.C. Student Legislature Assembly Miscellaneous Notes, 1947 14Off-Campus Issues, 1963, 1971 WSGA Officers, Legislators, Committee Chairman, etc. Parliamentary Procedure Official Pronouncement, 1966-1970 Opinion Poll, 1962 Pay Day, 1963-1964 WSGA-Point System, 1921-1926 WSGA-Point System, 1927-1928 WSGA-Point System, 1935-1939 Philosophy Committee Minutes, Reports, 1966, 1967 Philosophy Committee-Academic Freedom/Student Rights East Campus Policy Committee, 1969 WSGA-Annual President's Report, 1950-1958 WSGA-President's File Miscellany, 1957-1958 President's Reports, 1959-1964 President-Advice Letters from Outgoing President to Incoming President Purchasing Bills and Requisitions, 1966 15WSGA-Recommendations to Staff, 1936-1937 WSGA-Recommendations to Staff, 1940-1946 WSGA-Regulations, 1970-1971 Scholarship Committee, 1964-1967 WSGA-Secretary Annual Reports, 1928-1930, 1961-1966 WSGA-Secretariat Manual and Misc., 1963-1965 WSGA-Secretary Notes for Minutes of Association and Council, 1944-1946 WSGA-Secretary Notes for Minutes of Association and Council, 1946-1947 Social Code, 1919, 1921 Social Code Dorm Discussions, 1959 Social-Cultural Committee Report, 1965-1966 Social Regulations Social Standards Committee WSGA-Social Standards Committee Annual Reports and Misc., 1930, 1958-1964 WSGA-Sorority Evaluation, 1964-1965? Southern Inter-Collegiate Association of Student Government, 1925-1929 16Speeches, 1966, 1968 Woman's College Staff Student Building Commission, 1963-1964 Student Center-East, 1961-1962 Student Exchange Committee Correspondence, Notes, Misc., 1963-1965 Student Faculty Administration Committee Minutes, etc., 1962-1963 Student Faculty Administration Committee Minutes, etc., 1963-1966 Student Government Philosophy and Ideas Student Lists Student Residential Life, 1969 WSGA-Student Staff Committee Minutes, 1950-1951 WSGA-Student Tutoring, 1963 Student Welfare Committee Reports and Correspondence, 1965-1966 Students-Misc. Announcements, Bulletins, Memos, etc. Study Abroad Questionnaire, 1963, 1964, Council-Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer Reports, 1928-1930, 1960-1963 Council-Treasurer Correspondence and Misc., 1967-1969 University Committees-Student Representatives Vice President Annual Reports, 1930, 1950-1951, 1955-1965 Town Girl Representative Annual Report, 1928-1930 Visiting Scholar in Residence "Voice of the Campus" Committee Woman's Residence Council Correspondence and Misc., 1970-1971 Woman's Residence Council Minutes Woman's Residence Council Misc., 1971-1972 Materials from other colleges, 1959-1967 1 Box 17American University Handbook "Coed Code," 1966-1967 Antioch College Student Government Douglass College Handbook "The Red Book," 1966-1967 Goucher College Freshman Handbook, 1965-1966, 1966-1967 Oberlin College Student Handbook, 1965 Pembroke College Student Handbook, 1964-1965 Pomona College Social Regulations for Women Students, 1966 Radcliffe College Student Handbook, 1962 Sarah Lawrence College Handbook, 1966-1967 Skidmore College Student Handbook, 1966-1967 Smith College Student Handbook, 1966-1967 Swarthmore College Bulletin, 1965-1966 University of Arizona Women's Handbook, 1966-1967 University of Chicago Student Handbook, 1962-1964 University of Maryland Women Students Handbook, 1966-1967 University of Vermont WSGA Handbook, 1966-1967 Vassar College Student Handbook, 1959-1960 National Student Association 1 Box 18NSA Pamphlets File I (2 folders) NSA Pamphlets File II NSA Supplied Pamphlets File III NSA Pamphlets File IV NSA Pamphlets File V University of Maryland File VI-Judiciary Handbooks Account books, 1931-1944 1 Box 19Debating Club Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Duke Nereidians French Club Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Pan-Hellenic Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Social Services Committee Treasurer Reports, 1936-1937 Social Standards Committee Annual Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Social Standards Committee Ledger, 1937-1942 Sophomore Commission Annual Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Treasurer's Report, 1937 Town Girl's Club Annual Treasurer's Report Treasurer Reports, 1937 Treasurer Reports, 1942 WSGA Expenses, 1937-1939 Woman's Athletic Association Accounts, 1931-1947 Woman's Athletic/Recreation Association Minutes, 1934-1944 Woman's Athletic Association Treasurer's Report, 1936-1937 Student Organizations, 1936-1974 3 Boxes 20ASDU (Association of Students of Duke University), 1966-1967 ASDU, 1968-1970 Black Problems 1960s and Student Governments, 1960-1970 Class Organizations and Officers, 1963-1969 Constitutions and By-laws Campus Organizations, 1964-1969, undated Eko-L Miscellaneous Records and Correspondence, 1936-1937 Isotes MSGA - Constitution, undated MSGA - Minutes, 1964-1967 MSGA - Misc., 1952-1966, undated MSGA - Officers, 1966-1969 Methodist Student Fellowship, 1953-1954 21Music Study Club Nurses Student Government, 1964-1968 Pan-Hellenic Rush Booklet, 1947-1980(22 folders) PEP Board Constitution, 1955-1957, undated Phi Kappa Delta Sandals Club 22Student Activities Finances Student Forum Handbook of the Woman's Athletic Association, 1937-1958 (6 folders) Handbook of the Woman's Recreation Association, 1961-1967 (6 folders) The Weekly Post, 1937-1938 (YWCA Publication) Woman's Alliance, 1973-1974 Woman's College Glee Club Woman's College Orchestra Oversize, 1925-1937 1 Box 23May Day: Program Proposals, Other Schools' Brochures, 1925; 1930 May Day, 1936-1937