RADCLIFFE AND ITS PRESIDENTS

ELIZABETH C. AGASSIZ (1879-1903)--The "Harvard Annex" is established in a house on Appian Way to provide women with access to a Harvard education. Private arrangements are made with members of the Harvard faculty to teach women students. It is later incoporated as the Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women. In 1894, Radcliffe College is officially established, named in honor of Ann Radcliffe, whose gift of œ100 in 1643 established Harvard's first scholarship fund.

LE BARON RUSSEL BRIGGS (1902-1923)

ADA L. COMSTOCK (1923-1943)--The practice of having Harvard professors repeat lectures given at Harvard to students at Radcliffe is abolished when the two schools sign an agreement opening all courses to Radcliffe students and making many classes coeducational.

WILBUR K. JORDAN (1943-1960)--All courses are made coeducational, except for some of the large freshman courses, which remain segregated for several more years.

MARY I. BUNTING (1960-1972)--Radcliffe Institutes a House system similar to Harvard's. In 1963, Harvard degrees are awarded to Radcliffe students and women are admitted to the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Four years later, Lamont Library is opened to Radcliffe students. In 1970, Harvard and Radcliffe hold their first joint commencement. The next year, Radcliffe and Harvard unity their House systems, and coeducational living begins.

MATINA S. HORNER (1972-1989)--The Harvard and Radcliffe admissions offices are combined, adopting an equal access admissions policy. Admissions standards for men and women are the same, and the number of women is no longer limited. In 1977, Horner and Harvard President Derek C. Bok sign the "nonmerger merger" agreement.

Source: The Radcliffe Guide