75 years of women at Luther

Fall 2011 marks the 75th anniversary of co-education at Luther College. Prior to 1936, Luther College was exclusive to males.

Luther College was started as an all-men’s Lutheran seminary, patterned on the founding fathers from Norway. There was some debate in the 1880’s about the inclusion of co-education, but the first President, Laur Larsen, wanted to keep Luther an all-male school. The only exception was the nine children of the founding members of Luther, including Larsen’s daughter.

The lack of co-education even affected the dating scene for college males.

“Before co-education, dating was a problem,” Everett Ritland (‘32) said. “Most parents of high school girls were opposed to their girls dating college boys.”

Attendance at Luther started to decrease almost immediately after the Great Depression began. In an attempt to gain more men, the classical curriculum was replaced by the elective system. There was an increase in classes involving history, biology, and mathematics. However, Luther still struggled to find
enough students.

It was not until the third president, Oscar Olson, that there were serious talks of including women. In 1931, attendance had decreased more than at any other church college in the area.

The Norwegian College Association threatened to merge Luther College and St. Olaf together unless the attendance could make a significant increase.

Despite arguments from other alumni on the grounds that co-education would “destroy Luther College in everything but the name,” as was reported in a 1932 Chips article, the decision passed due to financial concerns. Not only would female students be allowed to attend, but female faculty would as well, a move that would save the college money.

The Decorah Junior College for Girls was opened in 1932, conducted in close collaboration with Luther, sharing some buildings and parts of chapel services. It was not until 1936 that Luther officially allowed women to be educated equally with men.

After World War II began, attendance dropped to 200 students as most of the able-bodied males were shipped overseas. The inclusion of co-education was what helped Luther College survive until the War ended.

Though no official celebration is being held by Luther College, the women and gender studies department is still growing with the past in mind. The department brings in professors from many departments, so the classes are always changing.

“Our [department] changes so often because we have [a council of professors] as opposed to a solid department. It really makes the major dynamic,” said Alison Wathen (‘11), a women and gender studies student. “We try to keep the members new and fresh to keep a fresh perspective in the council.”

The hope of the women and gender studies department is not only to educate, but to motivate other women to excel in their fields.

“We haven’t produced a whole lot of famous women,” Wathen said. “The only one I have really found is one of Newt Gingrich’s wives. I hope we can change that.”