“The Bugle” is today the yearbook of Virginia Tech. And it has been so since 1895. The first female students at VPI were enrolled under the leadership of President Burrus in the fall of 1921. However, women (from 1925-1931) were not allowed to be a part of the Bugle. So, they began publishing their own yearbook, called the Tinhorn. The first Tinhorn was published in 1925, through 1931.

To view the Tinhorn publications from 1925-1931 visit http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/tinhorn/

see editions of the Bugle from 1895 onwards, visit http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/bugle/index.htm

This diary was published in the 1929 edition of the Tinhorn. In today’s day and age, as women we take our privileges to go to college and study and work in a co-ed environment for granted. A Co-ed’s Diary gives an interesting account of a woman students of the 1920’s at VPI. Her hardships, adventures, and ultimately the experience of a fulfilling college life are very inspiring .

This article can be read at http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/125th/women/diary.htm

Dr. Laura Jane Harper, the first women to be an academic dean at VPI, gave a speech on Founder’s Day in April 1980 about the odds against women students, especially those who went to college in the 1920s-1960s. Her very inspiring speech gives a brief account of some of the hardships faced by the early women students at VPI, the people who made possible the enrollment of women at Virginia Tech, and some short stories about a few outstanding women students who were a part of VPI during those difficult years.

To read the speech given by Dr. Laura Jane Harper, visit http://spec.lib.vt.edu/archives/125th/women/founders.htm

To read more about Dr. Laura Jane Harper, visit http://spec.lib.vt.edu/culinary/CulinaryThymes/2001_01/01Heroes.htm