Women Making History At WSU 1892-2000

"WOMEN MAKING HISTORY AT
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY -- 1892-2000"
March 6-April 17, 2000
Terrell Library
Atrium
& Atrium Corridor
PHOTOS
(Click Here)

As women have been involved with the university from its earliest days and have acted out its history as students, faculty and staff, this photographic exhibit provides a visual portrait of women making history at WSU.
Such a portrait reveals the presence of women at WSU from Washington state, the U.S., and the world. It also shows the disparate treatment of women students, faculty and staff. Women students were channeled by administrators into largely traditional roles and curricula. Women faculty members received lower pay. Women staff filled positions with low pay and little recognition.
These patterns were not unique to WSU, but followed national trends to a great extent. The two world wars, for example, were catalysts which expanded the roles and outlooks of women throughout the country, including those at WSU. The college's isolated location and other special characteristics did cause it to vary from the norm to some degree. Examining the history of women at this university will assist ongoing efforts to provide equal standing for all at WSU.
This exhibit is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Home Economics and the Association for Faculty Women. Most of the older photographic images are from the Historical Photograph Collections supplied by Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collection, WSU Libraries. The most recent photos and biographies, covering a period between 1991-2000 were made available with the assistance of WSU News & Information Services and the Athletic Information department.

A SAMPLING OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE EXHIBIT:
NANCY VAN DOREN
An English Professor from 1892 to 1905 and one of the original five faculty members, Nancy Van Doren also served as college librarian and as the "preceptress" of Ferry Hall (initially co-ed, one of the earliest in the U.S.) and then Stevens Halls. This position eventually evolved into the Dean of Women in 1912.

PI DELTA PHI, c. 1910
Pi Delta Phi, the first WSC sorority, formed in 1906. Members lived in this house, located at 603 California Street. The Pi Beta Phi sorority was the first nationally recognized sorority at WSC, receiving its charter from a national in 1912, one year before Pi Delta Phi.

LEELA SRINIVASAN, AN EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM INDIA
The first international students at WSU can be traced to 1910, however no demographic figures were maintained by the University until the late 1960s when the federal government began to require them. Photographic and other anecdotal evidence exists which shows that a portion of international students were women.

JENNI RUFF
Over a three year span, Jenni Ruff started every game while playing basketball for the Cougars. She is the only WSU player to score more than 30 points in six different games, including establishing a school record of 41 points, during her senior season. Ruff graduated holding six school records.

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"WOMEN MAKING HISTORY AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY -- 1892-2000"
March 6-April 17, 2000 Terrell Library Atrium & Atrium Corridor PHOTOS (Click Here)
As women have been involved with the university from its earliest days and have acted out its history as students, faculty and staff, this photographic exhibit provides a visual portrait of women making history at WSU. Such a portrait reveals the presence of women at WSU from Washington state, the U.S., and the world. It also shows the disparate treatment of women students, faculty and staff. Women students were channeled by administrators into largely traditional roles and curricula. Women faculty members received lower pay. Women staff filled positions with low pay and little recognition. These patterns were not unique to WSU, but followed national trends to a great extent. The two world wars, for example, were catalysts which expanded the roles and outlooks of women throughout the country, including those at WSU. The college's isolated location and other special characteristics did cause it to vary from the norm to some degree. Examining the history of women at this university will assist ongoing efforts to provide equal standing for all at WSU. This exhibit is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Home Economics and the Association for Faculty Women. Most of the older photographic images are from the Historical Photograph Collections supplied by Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collection, WSU Libraries. The most recent photos and biographies, covering a period between 1991-2000 were made available with the assistance of WSU News & Information Services and the Athletic Information department.
A SAMPLING OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE EXHIBIT:
NANCY VAN DOREN An English Professor from 1892 to 1905 and one of the original five faculty members, Nancy Van Doren also served as college librarian and as the "preceptress" of Ferry Hall (initially co-ed, one of the earliest in the U.S.) and then Stevens Halls. This position eventually evolved into the Dean of Women in 1912.
PI DELTA PHI, c. 1910 Pi Delta Phi, the first WSC sorority, formed in 1906. Members lived in this house, located at 603 California Street. The Pi Beta Phi sorority was the first nationally recognized sorority at WSC, receiving its charter from a national in 1912, one year before Pi Delta Phi.
LEELA SRINIVASAN, AN EXCHANGE STUDENT FROM INDIA The first international students at WSU can be traced to 1910, however no demographic figures were maintained by the University until the late 1960s when the federal government began to require them. Photographic and other anecdotal evidence exists which shows that a portion of international students were women.
JENNI RUFF Over a three year span, Jenni Ruff started every game while playing basketball for the Cougars. She is the only WSU player to score more than 30 points in six different games, including establishing a school record of 41 points, during her senior season. Ruff graduated holding six school records.
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