- Springside -
June 27th 1866
My dear Mrs Hale
I hasten to imform you that the great agony is over-----
your long cherished wishes reilised-- Woman stands redeemed, at
least so far as 'Vassar College is concerned from the degrading vulgarism
in the associated name of r,femalen, that has long and extensively grown
up in our society. Yesterday opened and closed the busi-
ness of our College annual Trustee doings, after the usual reading of
the last meeting minutes &c I was call on for my customary address which
I read, one essential portion of which was to urge the change of the title
of the college-- The questions were severly proposed-- Shall the name
be changd? if so-- what or how-- "Vassar College1'-- Vassar "Womans
College11-- "Vassar Girls College" or "Vassar1 Ladys College &c &c"--
and after some little discussion it was unanimously decided by vote to
drop the middle letter and to read thus "Vassar College" and they then
appointed a Com. to prepare the necessary papers for the opening of the
next Legislature &c-- thus ends this long aggitated question with our
Board-- Excuse me my d Mrs H-- My health does not permit to write
more this morning
Yours truly &c
M. Vassar
.4'