Monday, February 28, 2011

Right School, Wrong Year.

This photograph appears in the current University of Virginia Magazine and portrays a summer school course at the University of Virginia in 1907. Women were not allowed general admission to Mr. Jefferson's University in those days, except to take summer classes like this one, or to earn degrees in a few traditional women's disciplines. It wasn't until 1972 that students were allowed to enroll in all programs regardless of gender.

Throughout the years, classes in stock judging gave way to more mundane foundation courses, as well as the occasional "gut" course such as "Circus in America." While I never signed up for "Circus," I would certainly have been intrigued by the class shown in this photograph. I am sure that I would not have met the style requirement, though, since it appears that wearing an over sized hair bagel was necessary for acceptance.

Photo from: University of Virginia Magazine. Full article at: http://uvamagazine.org/features/article/women_at_the_university_of_virginia/