Fifty Years of Women at Wadham

The first Oxford colleges were established in the 13th century. For more than 500 years, only male students could attend. Although the first female students did not arrive at Wadham until the latter half of the 20th century, women made their mark here long before then.

The process of introducing coeducation at Oxford University began in 1968 when Wadham’s JCR passed a resolution in favour of it. This began with a nem con – no-one disagreeing - motion in the JCR in a house of 55, on 4 December 1968. There was still a long way to go, however. The College created a subcommittee to investigate. In March 1970, its report stated that ‘a reservoir of well-qualified women’ currently not applying and being admitted to Oxford ‘could be tapped to raise the academic standards’ at the university.‘

Wadham’s governing body met in October 1970 and requested detailed schemes for the admission of women. An ‘exploratory discussion’ took place at The Queen’s College on 3 December 1970, with the 18 men’s colleges all taking part. The group decided to constitute a ‘working party' that included Brasenose, Magdalen, New, St Catherine’s, and Wadham College. Convened by the Warden of Wadham, Stuart Hampshire, they planned to devise an admissions scheme that would be shown to the women’s colleges. More men’s colleges soon joined the group.

The working party met for the first time on 21 January 1971 and discussed ‘principles that might govern the admissions policy for mixed colleges,’ as well as the appointment of women fellows. The second meeting on 4 February brought together representatives from men’s colleges interested in co-residence and representatives from women’s colleges. It was agreed to set up a working group to address the main practical problem – admissions.

In late April 1971, the group recommended that in the first stage, 80-100 women should be admitted to three or four colleges. Oxford colleges needed the University’s approval to change their statutes. On 2 November 1971, Wadham’s Warden reported to the Vice Chancellor that the first men’s colleges proposed to do so. Another subcommittee was set up, with representatives from both men’s and women’s colleges. In February 1972, it recommended that about 100 women could be admitted and up to six men’s colleges could be involved. October 1974 was the target date for the first women to matriculate.

The Jesus Group (colleges’ committee on co-residence), comprising Jesus, Wadham, Brasenose, Hertford and St Catherine’s formed in 1972. The colleges needed two thirds of their GB members votes to change their statutes. On 24 April 1972, the Hebdomadal Council adopted the recommendations of the University committee on co-residence. Changes to colleges’ statutes were approved as a ‘closed experiment’ for five years. There was resistance to this. Some colleges outside the Jesus group raised four resolutions in May 1972 asking the council to annul its previous approval of changes in college statutes. All were defeated in Congregation.

Women were part of the fabric of life at Wadham from its earliest days, as can be seen from our collection of portraits.

In preparing the College statues, Dorothy Wadham recognised that ‘Human nature is so prone and inclined to evil… that it is not in my power to frame laws and statutes which an astute and shifty man may not violate… though tied by Hercules himself’.

To safeguard the virtue of College members, all servants were to be male except for the launderess, Alice George. Alice was born in 1582 and, after the death of her husband, she lived in Little Clarendon Street as a servant of the College. Even she, as well as being of '...such age, condition, and reputation that there should be no chance of any evil suspicion lighting upon her', was allowed no further than the outside gate and only then on fixed days. Today, Mrs George's portrait hangs proudly in the Senior Common Room at Wadham College.

Frances Wells is pregnant (with the son who presented the portrait to the College) and is prominently displaying her wedding ring. The painter had been an undergraduate at Wadham and would have known the Wells from then. Frances Wells was prominent in working for women’s colleges in Oxford and in the infant welfare movement.

Edith Daniel, wife of Dr Humphrey Hody (Fellow, 1685 and benefactor), was painted by an unknown artist. This is the companion portrait to that of her husband.

Dorothy Wadham was the only woman who looked out from the wall of Wadham’s early 17th century Dining Hall until 2016. Former Warden of Wadham (2012 – 2021), Lord Ken Macdonald, led the Diversity Project with the aim of showcasing a more balanced selection of images across the College site. Five further portraits of women, taken by photographer, Michael Birt, were added to the Hall and more portraits of women fellows and alumnae were displayed around College.

More portraits, including a commission by photographer, Sophia Spring, were added to various locations across the College over the course of academic year 2015/16.

Today, the University of Oxford and all its colleges are diverse, inclusive spaces where everyone is welcome. We will continue to evolve and look forward to the next stage of our history.

Sources include Wadham College 1610 - 2010 edited by Cliff Davies and Jane Garnett, 2009, Third Millennium Publishing, London; and "Keep the Damned Women Out" The Struggle for Coeducation by Nancy Weiss Malkiel, 2016, Princeton University Press

To mark the 50th anniversary of co-education at Wadham, a group of alumnae who matriculated in 1974 have proposed creating a fund for travel grants to support students who embody the pioneering spirit of Dorothy Wadham. Find out more about the 1974 Dorothy Wadham Travel Fund here.