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From Lucinda Hinsdale
Stone, feminist and educator, to Michigan University president,
James Angell:
Dr. Angell
Dear Sir:
I understand that
the number of lady students in the University is greatly increased
this year; also that many of the classes are unmanageably large . .
.
It is my strong
conviction that for the good of the University and the maintenance
of its noble leadership in the newer and juster ideas of education,
this ship of advance must come and in all our higher institutions
like Ann Arbor, as well as in our less distinguished colleges where
it has already come.
I find this idea
growing among the alumnae of the University, especially among those
who graduated some years ago – some of whom have entered into
professions and some who have had broader advantages in foreign
travel and study in foreign institutions. These have come face to face with problems in life which were
not open to them when they were in the University.
They say they are older now and wiser – they see things in
a different light and wish that when they were in the University,
they could have come more closely in contact with women – more
closely than through the very kindly association even now offered
them by the wives of the professors and many ladies in Ann Arbor.
Not long since, I received a letter from a post-graduate lady
student, now, I believe, a student or teacher in some east college .
. .
“Professor
or instructor Tufts is going to vacate his place in Michigan
University, is called and has accepted the call to Chicago
University. Now I have
studied and recited two years with Mrs. Sunderland in the department
in which Mr. Tufts has been a teacher, and I know that Mrs.
Sunderland is second only to Dr. Dewey, the head of the department. Why should she not be an instructor in that department?
Could anything be brought to bear as to bring this thing
about?”
My desire is to
see noble, capable and perfectly well fitted women as well as men
teachers and professors, as I know they will be in our University
and in all our great colleges.
The trend of time is towards it and we cannot remand the tide
to its old bounds any more than could King Conute the tides of the
ocean.
Yours very truly,
L.H. Stone
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From John Dewey, who
was becoming one of the most famous philosophers and educators in
the U.S. at this time:
June 23,
1984
Mrs. Eliza
Sunderland studied for her doctorate of philosophy in the University
of Mich. While I had charge of the work in philosophy, taking her
major and one minor study in that line.
It is simple justice to Mrs. Sunderland to state that she
more than earned her degree. Whether
one considers the range of ground covered, the mass of facts
acquired, the grasp and assimilation of those facts, the power of
stating them in well-arranged and clear terms, the power of bringing
out their moral and practical bearing, Mrs. Sunderland’s work
appears equally admirable.
In case Mrs.
Sunderland should care ever to take up the work of instructor in
Philosophy, I feel sure that she would succeed thoroughly in it.
For such work, I can recommend her with the utmost
confidence.
Respectfully,
John
Dewey
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