Letter: Washington Duke provided housing for women

In The Chronicle's Nov. 11 issue, both the front page article, "University celebrates merger anniversary," and the editorial "An equal education," evidence some confusion about the history of the Woman's College of Duke University, and indeed about the history of the University. In 1896, Washington Duke (no "B.") provided $100,000 for Trinity College's endowment with the proviso that the college "will open its doors to women placing them on an equal footing with men." Now, by a vote of the Trustees, women had been admitted to classes regularly since 1892. However, because there was no dormitory for them, female students were not admitted to residences on the campus. By requiring the college to open "its doors," Washington Duke meant to admit them to residence. He then provided the funds to build a women's dorm. Incidentally, this became in 1897 our first coed dormitory, but that's another story. In 1930, the rebuilt Trinity College campus--now East Campus--became home to the Woman's College of Duke University. Trinity College for Men and the graduate and professional schools opened on the newly completed West Campus. Both campuses were made possible thanks to funds provided by Washington Duke's son, James B. Duke, who created The Duke Endowment to support education, religion and health and child care in the Carolinas.