Crimson & Gold

In the late 1950s, the “Ferris Dames” organization held PHT or “Putting Hubby Through” ceremonies for its members.

Women’s organizations at Ferris have supported newcomers, recognized achievements and mentored the next generation of leaders

       The 1971-72 Yearbook of the Association of Ferris Women of Ferris State College lists several special interest groups, including Bridge-Afternoon; Bridge-Couples; Bridge-Evening; Gourmet; and Record Listening. Today, that nearly complete emphasis on social rather than professional gatherings seems as outdated as vinyl LPs.
       There have been a number of women’s organizations at Ferris, which taken together reflect changing social attitudes toward gender roles in the classroom and society at large. Beginning in the 1950s these groups have historically included Ferris Wives, Association of Ferris Women, Ferris Faculty Women and College Office Girls.
       In a 1982 article entitled “The Origins of Ferris Faculty Women,” June Carr, then professor emerita of Arts and Sciences, wrote that during the 1950s, “Women faculty and business office managers were being replaced by men,” and that “faculty women met informally between 1955 and 1957, first in Masselink Commons Cafeteria for dinner and conversation.” Ferris Wives - an organization of faculty spouses – also existed during this period and into the 1970s, when it became the Association of Ferris Women.
       These groups offered a social network to women during Ferris’ post-World War II expansion. During this period the GI Bill created a glut of college-educated veterans who began dominating the ranks of faculty and other professional positions.
       “We had a lot of faculty coming in during the 1950s and 60s when there was a big expansion of the University; there were also a lot of spouses coming into town,” says Jerena Keys, retired director of customer (computer) support at Ferris, and Ferris Professional Women president during 2000-02. “A lot of those spouses were university graduates as well and there were only so many teaching positions in Big Rapids, so they needed book clubs and other social events.” Nationally, a change in sentiments toward gender bias began in the 1970s. Rep. Martha Griffiths of Michigan’s 17th Congressional District and the first woman to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, successfully introduced the Equal Rights Amendment, which the House adopted on Oct. 12, 1971. Although never ratified by the states, the ERA was a catalyst for the drive toward equity in pay and benefits for women.
       At Ferris, this change can be seen in the disappearance of the student group Ferris Dames. Sponsored by the AFW, the Ferris Dames began in 1956 as a social and support group for the wives of male students. The description of the holdings for the group’s archives notes that, “Social functions included annual initiation and graduation ceremonies, the latter of which were attended by wives of graduating students. Graduating Dames were given ‘PHT’ degrees, which stood for ‘Putting Hubby Through.’ There is no indication of the existence of Dames after 1974.”
       In 1982, Ferris Faculty Woman became today’s Ferris Professional Women. By at least the mid-80s, both the Association of Ferris Women and College Office Girls disbanded and were invited to join FPW.
       With this consolidation began a shift away from social networking toward professional support and recognition. Beginning in the 1982-83 academic year, FPW began naming a Woman of the Year to honor women who enhance the status of women, encourage women to exercise their rights at the University and are a model of professionalism to students and colleagues.
       In 1994 FPW member Maude Bigford established the Select Sixty women’s mentoring program. Bigford, the University’s Honors Program coordinator, still chairs the program, which pairs coeds with faculty members and administrators. In 1995, responding to an article in the Michigan Women’s Historical Commission newsletter about the small percentage of books about women in public schools, FPW began its annual book drive to add titles that depict women in positive ways to local school libraries and organizations.
       During the current decade, the number of women in administration and teaching has risen substantially at Ferris. In 1999-2000, 39.7 percent of professional positions, 28.3 percent of executive, administrative or managerial positions and 23.6 percent of the faculty were women. For 2007-08 those figures rose to 53.3 percent for professional positions, 45.1 percent for executive, administrative or managerial positions and 35.5 percent of the faculty.
       The reality of more women in the workplace – especially women holding increasingly senior positions – has continued to change the face of the organization, according to Shelly Armstrong, current FPW president, and interim vice president for University Advancement and Marketing. “We’ve become more about recognizing our successful students, helping students to continue their education, and recognizing women for leadership and community service. We’ve moved away from luncheon and dinner events, because people are so busy.”
       It may be a sign of the times, too, that FPW now invites members to bring both female and male students to their fall and spring commencement breakfasts honoring graduating seniors.
       In his controversial book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, author Robert D. Putnam discounts (among other trends) the increased number of women in the workforce for what he sees as declining participation in organizations - including bowling leagues - that promote “social capital.” In the future, will women at Ferris – and elsewhere – advance alone, or will social and professional networking groups continue to play a role in furthering their careers? Whatever the answer is, it’s unlikely any such organization will again have interest groups for Bowling and Bowling-Couples, as the Association of Ferris Women had back in 1971.