LE3 .A278 1994

1994

Conrad, Margaret

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

History

History & Classics

This study focuses on the nineteen women who graduated from Acadia University in 1916. It explores the social, economic, ideological, and regional backgrounds of the women, discusses the war years as a period that provided them with practical experience as well as a sense of idealism, and describes their activities and careers during their years as alumnae of Acadia University. The evidence shows that the women in Acadia's class of '16 came primarily from Baptist, rural Nova Scotian, middle-class backgrounds, and that the absence of men, off to fight the war, had a dramatic impact on the women's academic success, extracurricular involvement, and female friendships. Women in the class of '16 moved into traditionally male-dominated offices, seized an unprecedented number of academic honours, and shared exceptionally close relationships with the other women students. Following graduation the majority of these women pursued careers rather than marriage. Their experience at Acadia left them with a strong sense of purpose and the confidence to excel in traditionally male professions that was atypical of female students at Acadia both before and for many years after the Great War.

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