THE PASSING OF THE ANNEX 245 



vard University grant the ordinary degrees to properly 

 qualified women; the other, from certain members of the 

 Association of Collegiate Alumnae, asked that women stu- 

 dents be admitted to such graduate courses in the Univer- 

 sity as could be opened to them without involving the Uni- 

 versity in further expense. The former was refused by the 

 Board of Overseers on the ground that women were not per- 

 mitted to qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Har- 

 vard University, and this form of qualification was implied 

 by the degree; the latter was in effect granted, for the Over- 

 seers agreed, with the concurrence of the President and 

 Fellows, to admit any students of Radcliffe College to any 

 courses of instruction designed primarily for graduates, 

 subject to such limitations as the Faculty and the corre- 

 sponding governing board of Radcliffe might set, it being 

 understood that such students were not to be deemed stu- 

 dents of Harvard University. 



But, in spite of the friendly attitude and deeds of the 

 Harvard Corporation, "the howl grew louder against Rad- 

 cliffe," according to Mrs. Agassiz's diary, and the criti- 

 cisms from outsiders directed against the new plans in- 

 volved her in a mass of correspondence and many perplex- 

 ing experiences. An extract from a letter written in reply 

 to one from a group of graduates of the Annex who had ex- 

 pressed regret at the proposed change, exemplifies the 

 manner in which Mrs. Agassiz met criticism and also sets 

 forth her own policy toward Harvard University, the 

 wisdom of which events proved: 



MY DEAR GIRLS: ... A year has been spent in the 

 most careful deliberation and earnest discussion be- 

 tween the Harvard Corporation, the College faculty, 



