Consciousness-Raising at Oberlin College During the Second Wave: Gender and Sexuality Conferences and Workshops

Part 1: Student-Focused Consciousness Raising     |      Part 2: Staff-Focused Consciousness Raising
Part 3: Administrative Response to Consciousness Raising     |     Appendices

Document 1: “Brave New Women” Conference     |      Document 2: George Langeler to Ann Fuller, 23 October 1972
Document 3: “Snakes ‘N Snails ‘N Puppy-Dog’s Tails” Speech     |       Document 4: Questions for Young Men

Document 2: George Langeler to Ann Fuller, 23 October 1972

Author: George Langeler

Recipient: Ann Fuller

Date: 23 October 1972

Location: Series I. Administrative Records, Subseries 14. Subject Files, Box 2. Dean of Students Papers, RG 12, O.C.A.

Document Type: Typed Autograph Letter

 

Introduction:

 

This letter from Dean of Students George Langeler to Ann Fuller was an immediate response to the “Brave New Women” conference.[1] Fuller, one of the women who organized the conference, was then the wife of Robert Fuller, President of Oberlin College at the time.[2] The symposium successfully used the Second Wave model of consciousness-raising, as evident in the fact that it produced a thoughtful response in Langeler. This letter clearly shows that he believed the “concerns and problems of women” were just beginning to be brought to mainstream awareness during this time.  He also expressed his gratitude to be able to hear from “competent” people about the women’s struggles, illustrating that skepticism Second Wave feminist activists encountered, as they were often labeled as silly and too opinionated.

Original                       Both                    Transcription

 

letter

Transcription:

 

October 23, 1972

 

Ms. Ann L. Fuller

154 Forest Street[3]

Oberlin, Ohio

 

Dear Ann:

 

I thought the weekend workshop[4] was first-rate. I, for one, was grateful for an opportunity to hear such competent people[5] talk about the concerns and problems of women.

 

Many thanks for all the effort you put into planning the conference.

 

Yours,

 

George H. Langeler.

 

dbm[6]

 

[Transcribed by Hannah Cohen]

[1] George Langeler (b. 1927) was the Dean of Students at Oberlin College between 1966 and 1988 (Finding Guide, Office of the Dean of Students Records (1928-present). Record Group 12, O.C.A. Source).

[2] Ann Fuller (b.1936) was then the wife of Robert Works Fuller, who was the president of Oberlin College 1970 -1974 (List of Presidential Papers. Record Group 2, O.C.A. Source.; Finding Guide, Robert Works Fuller Papers (1960-1980). Record Group 2/10, O.C.A. Source).

[3] This is the official residence of Oberlin College’s President.

[4] “Brave New Women: Society in Transition”

[5] The main organizers of the event included women at Oberlin who were knowledgeable about the feminist movement. A full list of women is detailed in the program of the Brave New Women Conference (See Document 1).

[6] These are the initials of George Langeler’s secretary at the time.  At the end of typewritten documents sent as letters, the person who completed the typing included their initials at the end of the document.