Student Opens Door Closed by Tradition, July 1971, page 2
Download: Transcript
[handwritten] Mount Holyoke NOW - July 1971 Student Opens Door Closed By Tradition Late in the fall of 1970, Holly Sidford, Class of 1972, applied for a place in the summer research program for college undergraduate students at the Heritage Foundation, Deerfield. The reply to her letter said, “I am sorry to have to say that it [the program] is limited to only young men undergraduates, as the feel- ing prevails that they are more in need of learning about the opportunities in this field.” Holly Sidford was concerned enough to bring the letter to the attention of Marjorie S. Childers of the Department of [...] and Anthropology, and Charles H. Trout, whose course, Women in America, which Miss Sidford was taking, had made her particularly aware of the role and history of women. Both felt very strongly that the situation should not be ignored and Mr. Trout passed the letter on to William S. McFeely, dean of the faculty. Mr. McFeely wrote to the Heritage Foun- dation and his letter was answered ex- plaining that the policy was based on the fact that the funds to support the program were originally provided “to try to attract more young men into the field which for so many years has had more women interested in it than men. Nevertheless,” the letter continued, “at our next Trustees meeting in April, I will bring this matter before the Board for further consideration.” In January, an eloquent letter to the curator of the Heritage Foundation was sent in support of Miss Sidford’s position by Willie Lee Rose of the American Historical Association, who is chairman of their Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession. The letter was answered by the Heritage Foun- dation and explanation made that current procedures regarding the open- ing of the research program to female applicants would be discussed and perhaps altered at the forthcoming trustees meeting in April. On May 20 the curator wrote to Miss Sidford, “Yes indeed, the Foun- dation will accept female applications for the Summer Fellowship program of 1972. This decision was voted at our Board of Trustees meeting on April 15.” Holly Sigford won’t be at Deerfield this year, but quietly, and with the support of clear-thinking men and women, something has changed. IRMA L. RABBINO, Editor Bulletin Series issued by Mount Holyoke College in September, October, Novem- ber, January, March, May, July. Second class postage paid at the Post Office at South Hadley, Mass. 01075 Series 64: July 1971 No. 7