- 1. Overview
- 2. Etymology
- 3. Cultural Impact
Evelyn College for Women
Evelyn College for Women, often referred to simply as Evelyn College, was a pioneering women’s college affiliated with Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey . Operating from 1887 to 1897, it holds the distinction of being the first women’s college in the state of New Jersey. Despite its brief existence, Evelyn College played a significant role in the history of women’s education, challenging the conservative norms of its time and paving the way for future generations of women at Princeton.
Background
Evelyn College was founded in 1887 by Joshua Hall McIlvaine , a Princeton alumnus and former professor who was also a clergyman . McIlvaine named the college after Sir John Evelyn , a 17th-century English writer and diarist known for his contributions to horticulture and forestry. The establishment of Evelyn College was a bold move, as it sought to provide women with an education comparable to that of their male counterparts at Princeton, an institution that would not officially become coeducational until 1969.
McIlvaine’s vision for Evelyn College was ambitious. He managed to recruit some of Princeton’s most distinguished faculty members to teach at the college, including Woodrow Wilson , who would later become the 28th President of the United States, and Henry Fine , a prominent mathematician. Another notable faculty member was Helen Magill White , the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. . Her presence at Evelyn College underscored the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and gender equality in education.
The college was housed in two buildings: 7-8 Evelyn Place, a Queen Anne Victorian style structure built around 1880 known as “The Pines,” and a Colonial style building located on the southwest corner of Nassau and Harrison Streets. The Pines, which now serves as two private residences, was home to former Borough of Princeton Mayor Barbara Boggs Sigmund and her family for 45 years. In 2021, Number 8 Evelyn Place was featured by the Historical Society of Princeton as part of its annual House Tour, highlighting its historical significance and architectural beauty.
Student Body
The student body of Evelyn College was relatively small, never exceeding 50 students in any given year. The majority of the students were daughters of Princeton faculty members and sisters of male undergraduates. The women of Evelyn College referred to themselves as “The Orange and the White,” a nod to the official colors of Princeton University.
Despite their small numbers, the students of Evelyn College faced significant challenges. The gender ratio at Princeton was heavily skewed, with a 50-to-1 ratio of men to women. This disparity subjected Evelyn students to considerable harassment from their male counterparts. The college employed police to keep the men off the Evelyn campus, but male students would often stand outside the gates, chanting and demanding to be let inside. Rumors of trysts between Princeton and Evelyn students in abandoned houses further tarnished the college’s reputation, leading some families to prohibit their daughters from attending.
Reputation and Closure
Despite the challenges, Evelyn College gained recognition for its progressive approach to women’s education. In 1896, Harper’s Bazaar published an article about the college, praising its existence in “the most conservative town, in the most conservative state, right under the shadow of Nassau Hall .” The article predicted that a day would come when “our country shall…speak with equal pride of the sons and daughters of Princeton.”
However, the college’s financial stability was severely impacted by the Panic of 1893 , a major economic depression that swept across the United States. The financial strain, coupled with declining enrollment, made it increasingly difficult for Evelyn College to sustain its operations. The death of Joshua Hall McIlvaine in 1897 dealt the final blow, leading to the college’s permanent closure later that year.
The closure of Evelyn College marked the end of an era for women’s education at Princeton. It would be another 72 years before women were once again permitted to enroll at the university, when Princeton became coeducational in 1969.
Legacy
Today, the legacy of Evelyn College for Women lives on in the historic buildings that once housed the institution. The Pines, located at 7-8 Evelyn Place, stands as a testament to the college’s brief but impactful existence. The building, now divided into two private residences, is part of the Jugtown Historic District and was designated a contributing property on January 22, 1987.
Evelyn College for Women remains an important chapter in the history of women’s education in the United States. Its establishment challenged the conservative norms of the time and paved the way for future generations of women to pursue higher education. Although its existence was short-lived, the college’s impact on the history of Princeton University and women’s education is undeniable.