University Archives and Records Center
University of Pennsylvania

Timeline
of Women Pioneers and Women's Achievements at the University of Pennsylvania

 

compiled and edited by Mark Frazier Lloyd
July 2001

Text-only version is available in one file (302 kb) for easy printing and searching

More on Women at Penn

thumbnail of early photo of Penn's second campus showing children in front of the main buildings

1740-1875:

Women at Penn during the era of the Charity Schools

thumbnail photo of earliest women matriculants (Gertrude Pierce Klein Easby, Anna Flanigan, and Mary Thorn Lewis Gannett)in the chemistry lab

1876-1879:

Women's first appearance in Penn classrooms is as Special Students

thumbnail photo of unidentified graduate of the Department of Music with Certificate of Proficiency in Music, 1894

1880-1900:

Women are first admitted as degree candidates on a limited basis and programs and schools specifically for women first appear

thumbnail photo: Teachers, students in the University of Pennsylvania's Summer School observe Montessori methods in practice at the University's Psychological Clinic, c. 1915 1901-1919:

Women emerge in administrative and academic positions and as undergraduates begin to create traditions and organizations parallel to those of men

thumbnail version of c. 1919 photo of Sadie Alexander and other members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Gamma Chapter, the first Black sorority at Penn.

1920-1932:

Women appear on standing faculties and undergraduate women continue to develop their own college life

thumbnail photo of Penn's first women rowers, 1935

1933-1950:

The College of Liberal Arts for Women is created

thumbnail photo of students taking notes in class

1951-1968:

Men's and women's activities at Penn begin to merge, while a few women faculty members gain tenure and advancement

thumbnail photo of Louise Shoemaker as Dean of the School of Social Work

1969-1974:

As more women are elected Trustees, the University deals with sex discrimination in faculty hiring and promotions

thumbnail image of Janis Somerville

1975 - 1992:

Women students are fully integrated into the University, while women assume key roles throughout the central and academic administration

thumbnail photo of President Judith Rodin

1993-present:

Women rise to the Presidency

thumbnail photo of 1997 Penn Trustees

Appendix:

Women Trustees

 

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