PREMIERE! PREMIERE! PREMIERE!
Early Daughters of Dartmouth: Blazing the Trail to Coeducation 1969-1972
Friday, October 11, 2019 at 4 pm
FILENE AUDITORIUM IN MOORE BUILDING
Over three years in the making, built from on-camera interviews with the early women exchange students, faculty and administration, and extensive research in the Rauner archives, this documentary tells the story of the 300+ women who studied at Dartmouth during those critical transition years. These women were subsequently forgotten when the College went fully coeducational in the fall of 1972. Some 50 years later, Dartmouth has welcomed back these women and offered them adoption into the classes of their choice, and like any good story, there are elements of drama, frustration, humor and no shortage of emotion.
The film also recounts some of the very real challenges faced by John Kemeny’s administration in navigating the course to coeducation. While Dartmouth was the last of the Ivy’s to make that transition, the conclusion is that it was accomplished far more effectively and efficiently than many other schools. Coming full circle, it includes President Hanlon’s recognition of several of the first 7 drama exchange students who were attending the 2019 commencement with the Class of ’69, as he honored them and the way this aspect of the arts helped pave the way to coeducation. A number of current women undergrads also appear, reflecting on what it must have been like in that era as contrasted with the culture on campus today:
The documentary runs 55 minutes, and was produced and directed by Bill Aydelott D’72. Kathy Duff Rines D’71a served as executive producer.
Early Daughters of Dartmouth is an independently produced and financed film, and expenses over the past several years have been many - particularly in the critical final editorial stages, relating to research, travel, graphics and music. We welcome and appreciate any additional tax deductible donations to the effort, which can be sent to: Thomas E, Oxman, 6 1/2 Mitchell Lane, Hanover, NH 03755. Please make check payable to “Dartmouth Class of 1971” and note “Women’s Film” on the memo line.