1940 – Race Students at Vassar
This article talks about how Beatrice McCleary is the first known Black student to attend Vassar. This is particularly interesting as Vassar, in notably President MacCracken, had pledged to drop the racial barrier in 1935. Despite this pledge, it took the institution another five years to admit a Black woman as a full-time student.
1941 – Howard Students Guests at Vassar
The Chicago Defender writes about Howard Thurman returning to Vassar as a guest chapel speaker in 1941. He brought with him students from Howard University. The article describes this group as being graciously welcomed. This highlights that relations between the Black community and Vassar were perhaps improving slightly during this time as the Defender paints the Vassar administration in a positive light.
1941 – Vassar Hears Thurman
This short article reports that Howard Thurman had a “speaking engagement” at Vassar College. The shift from Thurman being misnamed when he spoke at Vassar in 1928, to being praised in articles in the 40s, highlights that he had become much more well known.
1942 – Vassar Students at Howard on Goodwill Visit
The Pittsburgh Courier printed a picture showing Vassar students visiting Howard University. It says that this is an “inter-racial exchange” and that these type of exchanges are happening all over the Northeast. It is interesting that exchanges like this happened as it integrates racial communities while still maintaining separation of institutions. Still, these programs highlight that higher education was working towards integration to some degree. Note the seemingly informal, relaxed photo.
1942 – Dr. DuBois At Vassar And Yale
This article details Vassar hosted another Black speaker, Dr. W. E. B DuBois, Head of the Department of Sociology at Atlanta University in 1942. It describes that he lectured at both Vassar and Yale. At Vassar, it is written that he demanded democracy for African Americans. This was an incredibly radical topic for an institution that just officially integrated two years prior. It is progressive in the sense that this topic was spoken about on campus. However, there was no action on Vassar’s part at this time to make real progression in terms of racial equity. This was another instance of Vassar allowing a Black speaker on campus, but not doing much more in terms of social justice.
1946 – Negro Graduate Of Vassar Continues Brilliant Record
This write up describes Beatrix (or Beatrice) McCleary who was previously mentioned as the first known full-time Black student of Vassar. It says she was given many accolades during her commencement. She also became the first Black student accepted to Yale Medical School. She talks about her experience at Vassar, stating that she was at first perceived as the “authority on all things Negro,” but that by the end she was treated as just another student by her peers. She states that Vassar benefits from admitting Black students because all of the Black graduates have gone on to become extremely successful. She continues to detail that institutions should consider that “intelligence and ability are more important than color in making good members of the college community.” It is clear from this article that McCleary holds Vassar in high regard. Vassar, at least according to this article, was doing a better job at welcoming Black students. It shows that alumnae were finding success after graduating.