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Celebrating Marquette women of the 1910s and 1920s

1910s

Father McCabe’s obituary described a quiet man who “it is probable was organically incapable of shouting” but whose “low voice, coming from a stout, squirearchical body, could scintillate lightnings.” It’s easy to imagine that forceful personality resolutely pursuing change. Later, as president of what is now Xavier University in Cincinnati, Father McCabe replicated his Marquette milestone and opened that school’s summer program to women. In the meantime, by 1916–17, approximately 100 women were enrolled in Marquette degree programs in journalism, economics, music, law and health sciences and a diploma program in nursing. An additional 290 women took non-credit music classes.

Women of the Times

Daisy Grace Wolcott, Arts ’09, became a hometown hero — “Miss. Daisy Grace Wolcott, First of Her Sex to Win Such Recognition” — when she earned a bachelor of science degree at Marquette in 1909. Although Wolcott missed Commencement because of illness, she recovered, returned to Marquette and earned a medical degree in 1912.

Katherine R. Williams, Law ’10, was the first female law graduate. During a long career, Williams practiced law, served as secretary of the Wisconsin Teacher’s Association, and was president of the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, National Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Instruction League. She received two papal decorations from Pope Pius XI in 1926.

News of Note

• When the School of Journalism admitted women in 1910, Rev. John E. Copus, S.J., school director, said, “The press, next to the pulpit, is the most powerful influence for good.” He hoped women “would improve the standards of the profession.”

• Sister Mary Remi, BVM, the first religious sister to graduate, earned a bachelor of science degree in 1913. She returned to earn a bachelor of arts degree.

• Published in 1915, the first issue of the Marquette Hilltop student yearbook named 34 women graduates.

• Sister Mary Stanislaus, SSND, earned a master’s degree in 1918—the first woman to reach this academic pinnacle.

1920s

As historian and author Dr. Tom Jablonsky described in his history of Marquette, the social calendar became a prominent part of student life in the 1920s, and dances were hands-down the favorite pastime. During the 1920–21 school year, 79 dates were officially reserved for dances, including the Junior Prom, which lasted three days. But women also continued to advance their influence with the formation in 1924 of the Women’s Athletic Association. During the next five years, women competed in baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis and track.

A Woman of the Times

Loretta Sell, Music ’25, played piano at a silent movie house when she was 13 and dreamed of being a concert pianist. But witnessing a vaudeville rehearsal inspired her at age 20 to form her own traveling troupe, Jerry and Her Four Baby Grands. Later, “The Incomparable Hildegarde,” recognized for superb mannerisms and fabulous black and white strapless gowns (always accessorized with handkerchiefs), performed for royalty and became the top-paid cabaret star in the world, earning as much as $17,500 a week in 1946. In homage to this superstar, Revlon introduced a shade of lipstick and nail polish in her name.

News of Note

• According to the 1921 Hilltop, candidates for Marquette’s Coed Club received brooms, dish towels and encouragement to “prove their eligibility in the traditional feminine sphere— the kitchen.”

• In 1923 women finally got a union, Drexel Lodge. A new union for men opened in 1924. Women were allowed inside only for lunch and dinner.

• Women organized their own athletic association in 1924, and the university made it an official entity and hired the first women’s athletic director.

• President Albert Fox, S.J., removed another obstacle to women and made the College of Arts and Sciences coeducational in 1926.