Co-education at the University of Virginia collection

While the University of Virginia was one of the slowest to accept women into their institution according to an article "Missing In Plain Sight" by the University of Virginia Women's Center, "By 1970, when the first officially co-ed class enrolled and 450 women arrived on Grounds to take their seats in UVA classes, over 30,000 women had already made their mark on UVA–pursuing, and earning, their diploma, certificate, or degree (bachelor’s, master’s, medical, law, and doctoral). Their presence is recorded in the archives. The existence of women on Grounds is a fact hiding in plain sight. To borrow McIntire alumna Margot Lee Shetterly’s (Com 1991) formulation, they are UVA’s hidden figures: some hidden once for their gender, others hidden twice for their gender and their race."

"In this university for southern gentlemen, there was no place for women. Yet, women found ways to access the university as early as the late nineteenth century." - Phyllis Leffler

Source: https://womenscenter.virginia.edu/celebrate/history-women-uva Our deep gratitude goes as well to the students and staff who provided invaluable technical and fact-checking assistance. The hours they logged on this project carried us over the finish line: Emma Abraham (Col 2023), Carol Gilbert (Women’s Center), Elyse Girard (UVA Library), Guada Pinto (Col 2021, Batten 2022), and Holly Robertson (UVA Library).

Our colleagues across Grounds have been working for decades to document the experiences of women at UVA, and this project is indebted to their research. Phyllis Leffler, Professor Emerita of History, graciously and generously shared a treasure-trove of files and provided encouragement at every step of the project. Liz Crowder (Alumni Assocation) collaborated on fact-finding missions, and Ervin Jordan (OAAA) pointed us to additional sources.

Phyllis Leffler, “Mr. Jefferson’s University: Women in the Village!” (Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 115, No. 1 (2007), 56-107.)