Early Black Women at Cornell

Livingston Farrand. Letter to R. C. Peyton. July 22, 1929.

President Farrand replies to Mrs. Peyton, writing, “...the placing of a colored student in one of the dormitories inevitably caused more embarrassment than satisfaction for such a student...while I have great sympathy for your feeling, I cannot order a change in the procedure of the Dean of Women, under whose jurisdiction the matter falls.”

My dear Mrs. Peyton:

I have your letter of July 18th and can quite appreciate the distress of mind caused by the situation you describe regarding your daughter at Cornell.

We have, of course, had similar situations arising from time to time for many years and have tried various methods of meeting them. Our experience has taught us that we have to deal with the situation on a practical basis rather than on a theoretical one and I am sorry to say that, unfortunate as it may be, the placing of a colored student in one of the dormitories inevitably causes more embarrassment than satisfaction for such a student. I am afraid, therefore, that, while I have great sympathy for your feeling, I cannot order a change in the procedure of the Dean of Women, under whose jurisdiction the matter falls.

Yours very truly,

Livingston Farrand


		The Challenge of Residency at Sage College, 1900s-1920s Livingston Farrand. Letter to R. C. Peyton. July 22, 1929. President Farrand replies to Mrs. Peyton, writing, “...the placing of a colored student in one of the dormitories inevitably caused more embarrassment than satisfaction for such a student...while I have great sympathy for your feeling, I cannot order a change in the procedure of the Dean of Women, under whose jurisdiction the matter falls.” My dear Mrs. Peyton: I have your letter of July 18th and can quite appreciate the distress of mind caused by the situation you describe regarding your daughter at Cornell. We have, of course, had similar situations arising from time to time for many years and have tried various methods of meeting them. Our experience has taught us that we have to deal with the situation on a practical basis rather than on a theoretical one and I am sorry to say that, unfortunate as it may be, the placing of a colored student in one of the dormitories inevitably causes more embarrassment than satisfaction for such a student. I am afraid, therefore, that, while I have great sympathy for your feeling, I cannot order a change in the procedure of the Dean of Women, under whose jurisdiction the matter falls. Yours very truly, Livingston Farrand Continue the tour

The Challenge of Residency at Sage College, 1900s-1920s