alice m. baldwin, dean of the women's college

By Helen Yu

Baldwin served as the Dean of the Women’s College from 1924 to 1947.[1] At the time, the Women’s College was a “coordinate college,” where women were educated separate from men. Baldwin was determined to give the women access to the same academic and social opportunities as men and ensure that women alumni and faculty were recognized as part of the University.[2] She often negotiated with President Few to grant more freedoms to women students (to attend off-campus events, for example) and allow women to access academic facilities on the men’s campus.[3] In 1926, she became the first and only woman at the time to offer an upper-level course to mixed classes of men and women.[4] Baldwin was also integral to Duke’s development in the arts, overseeing the creation of the Department of Aesthetics, Art and Music in 1943.[5] Duke has since honored her with the Baldwin Scholars program for undergraduate women and Baldwin Auditorium.

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[1]. It’s worth noting that this dissertation refers to women and the Women’s College, but never clarifies that only white women were admitted until Duke desegregated. Brandstadter, Dianne Puthoff. Developing the Coordinate College for Women at Duke University : The Career of Alice Mary Baldwin, 1924-1947,”a dissertation, 1977.

[2]. Ibid., p 58

[3]. Ibid., p 80

[4]. Ibid., p 68

[5]. Ibid., p 156