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An Intimate History of the Rise and Fall of Coordinate College for Women

Neil Parker

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Published in Limited Engagement: Kirkland College 1965 1978: An Intimate History Of The Rise And Fall Of A Coordinate College For Women

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Coordinate College for Women was a private, liberal arts college for women in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1899 and closed in 1982. The college was a pioneer in women's education and played a significant role in the development of the Research Triangle area.

Limited Engagement: Kirkland College 1965-1978: an Intimate History of the Rise and Fall of a Coordinate College for Women

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The idea for Coordinate College came from a group of Raleigh women who were dissatisfied with the limited educational opportunities for women in the late 19th century. They envisioned a college that would provide women with a rigorous academic education in a supportive and nurturing environment. The college opened its doors in 1899 with an enrollment of 25 students. The first president of the college was Dr. Mary Taylor Moore, a graduate of Wellesley College. Moore was a strong advocate for women's education and she led the college through a period of rapid growth and expansion.

By the early 20th century, Coordinate College was one of the leading women's colleges in the South. The college offered a wide range of academic programs, including liberal arts, sciences, and education. The college also had a strong tradition of student leadership and activism. Coordinate College students were involved in a variety of social and political causes, including the suffrage movement and the civil rights movement.

In the 1960s, Coordinate College began to experience financial difficulties. The college's endowment was not large enough to support its growing operating costs, and the college increasingly relied on tuition revenue to stay afloat. In the early 1970s, the college began to explore merger options with other institutions. In 1982, Coordinate College merged with Meredith College, a nearby women's college. The merger created a new institution called Meredith College at Raleigh.

The closing of Coordinate College was a sad day for many alumnae and friends of the college. However, the college's legacy lives on in the many women who graduated from the college and went on to make significant contributions to their communities and the world.

The Founding of Coordinate College

The idea for Coordinate College came from a group of Raleigh women who were dissatisfied with the limited educational opportunities for women in the late 19th century. These women believed that women deserved the same educational opportunities as men, and they were determined to create a college that would provide women with a rigorous academic education in a supportive and nurturing environment.

In 1899, the group of women founded the Coordinate College for Women. The college opened its doors with an enrollment of 25 students. The first president of the college was Dr. Mary Taylor Moore, a graduate of Wellesley College. Moore was a strong advocate for women's education, and she led the college through a period of rapid growth and expansion.

The Golden Age of Coordinate College

The 1920s and 1930s were a golden age for Coordinate College. The college's enrollment grew rapidly, and the college added a number of new academic programs. The college also built a new campus on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. The new campus was designed by the renowned architect Charles Barton Keen, and it featured a mix of traditional and modern buildings.

During the Golden Age, Coordinate College was home to a number of distinguished faculty members. These faculty members included:

Dr. Gertrude Colby, a pioneer in the field of nutrition
Dr. Mary Ellen Chase, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Dr. Elizabeth Avery Colton, a leading expert on child development

Coordinate College students also benefited from a strong tradition of student leadership and activism. The college's students were involved in a variety of social and political causes, including the suffrage movement and the civil rights movement.

The Decline of Coordinate College

The 1960s and 1970s were a difficult time for Coordinate College. The college's endowment was not large enough to support its growing operating costs, and the college increasingly relied on tuition revenue to stay afloat. The college also faced competition from other institutions, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.

In the early 1970s, the college began to explore merger options with other institutions. In 1982, Coordinate College merged with Meredith College, a nearby women's college. The merger created a new institution called Meredith College at Raleigh.

The Legacy of Coordinate College

Coordinate College for Women was a pioneer in women's education. The college provided women with a rigorous academic education in a supportive and nurturing environment. The college also had a strong tradition of student leadership and activism. Coordinate College students were involved in a variety of social and political causes, including the suffrage movement and the civil rights movement.

Some of the notable alumnae of Coordinate College include:

Mary Elizabeth Cheek, the first woman to serve as president of a major university in the United States
Katharine Graham, the publisher of The Washington Post
Elizabeth Dole, the first female Secretary of Transportation and the first female Secretary of Labor
Terry Sanford, the governor of North Carolina from 1961 to 1965

These are just a few of the many women who graduated from Coordinate College and went on to make a difference in the world. The college's legacy is a testament to the power of education to empower women and to change the world.

Limited Engagement: Kirkland College 1965-1978: an Intimate History of the Rise and Fall of a Coordinate College for Women

5 out of 5