Table of Contents
- Collection Summary
- Biographical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Subject Headings
- Administrative Information
- Access and Use
- Encoding Information
- Series List
- Container List
Collection Summary
| Repository: | Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries |
|---|---|
| Creator: | Vassar College |
| Title: | Fellers Incident Records |
| Dates: | 1949-1967 |
| Quantity: | 0.4 cubic feet (2 boxes) |
| Abstract: | Materials relating to a dispute between student Nancy Jane Fellers and Vassar College over a grade given by distinguished English Professor Helen Druscilla Lockwood. |
Biographical Note
Nancy Jane Fellers transferred to Vassar College from Earlham College as a junior in 1950. The incident took place at the end of the first semester of Fellers' senior year in 1951. However, it received national attention when Fellers wrote an article entitled "God and Women at Vassar" for The Freeman in November 1952. Fellers gave her account of the ordeal claiming that she was graded unfairly because her beliefs clashed with those of Professor Lockwood. As for Nancy Jane Fellers, she returned to Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana where she graduated with her class in June 1952. She went on to become a writer.
As a result of Nancy Fellers' article, Vassar was petitioned with mail from alumnae, students, and parents. Most of the letters were simply requests for more information on the incident and several gave ringing support to the college in its battle against the accusations. Vassar's replies came from either Sarah Gibson Blanding, the president; John Holmes, secretary to the president; or Gertrude Garnsey, alumnae secretary. All held to the defense that Miss Fellers was not persecuted for her ideals, but rather she was judged according to Vassar's academic standards which she, although given many chances, could not meet.
The Fellers incident would flare up from time to time over the course of 1952-1953 with articles like "Miss Blanding's Dream College" in the Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct 1952, "Liberal Education at Vassar" in The Freeman, 12 Jan 1953 by Patricia Bozelle, and "Academic Freedom at Vassar" in the Congressional Record, 12 Mar 1953. Vassar weathered each storm giving only an occasional press statement to the Associated Press or the Poughkeepsie New Yorker in regard to the incident. Most often the sharing of any of the details surrounding the ordeal were kept within the Vassar community.
TopScope and Content Note
Correspondence, clippings, press statements, and speeches relating to a dispute between student Nancy Jane Fellers and Vassar College over a grade given by distinguished English Professor Helen Druscilla Lockwood.
TopAccess and Use
Access
This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.
Restrictions on Use
Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library.
Subject Headings
Names:
- Fellers, Nancy Jane
- Lockwood, Helen Drusilla, approximately 1891-1971
Organizations:
- Vassar College--Public relations
Subjects:
- Universities and colleges--Complaints against
VCL Categories
- Vassar College Events and Issues
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Fellers Incident Records, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Archives and Special Collections staff.
Series List
Series I. Correspondence, 1952-1955 |
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Series II. Publications, 1949-1967 |
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Series III. Vassar College Press Statements, 1952-1953 |
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Series IV. Newspaper Clippings, 1952-1961 |
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Series V. Speeches, 1952-1953 |
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Container List
Return to the Table of Contents
Details
Materials relating to a dispute between student Nancy Jane Fellers and Vassar College over a grade given by distinguished English Professor Helen Druscilla Lockwood.
