Vassar Graduated a Colored Woman
August 21, 1897
Summary
A black woman graduated from Vassar College in New York after keeping her race a secret.
Transcription
Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Aug. 16. –
Vassar College and Poughkeepsie society circles are much exercised over a story that one of the graduates of the institution last June was a colored woman.
She came, it is said, from Boston, but the faculty is carefully guarding her identity. The only members of the class of’97 from Boston was Anita Florence Hemmings, and it Is now recalled that a Boston paper in commenting on the graduating of a colored man, Fred J. Hemmings, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated that he had a sister at Vassar.
It is claimed that the young woman, with the faculty’s aid, kept her secret so well that not until weeks after her graduation did it become known that the “beautiful brunette,” as she was called, was actually a member of the colored race.
She is said to have communicated that fact to a professor on the eve of her leaving here. It is said that the faculty after deliberating on her case decided that they could not do otherwise than grant her a diploma inasmuch as she had satisfactorily completed the four years’ regular course.
Whatever the young woman’s name was she was an acknowledged belle and quite popular. Her complexion was rich and beautiful, and she was supposed by everyone to be a member of a fine old New England family. Her hair was black and straight, and her eyes dark and brilliant. Her manners, carriage and speech were those of a highly refined woman. She was president of the Founders’ Day, Philalethian Day and commencement day exercises.
Companion Found Her Out
But there is another curious story connected with her. Her identity is said to have been discovered first by her room-mate during the “beautiful brunette’s” senior year. The girl’s statement about her relatives and their stylish manner of life led her roommate to repeat them to her father, a business man. He became interested and caused inquiry to be made in Boston. He learned that the woman’s father was a respectable colored man who owned a small estate.
The story leaked out, and, unable to bear gossip, it is said, the colored girl told one of the professors the truth. She was a woman and she pleaded so eloquently with President Taylor, who is also kind-hearted, that the whole affair was hushed up and the young woman allowed to graduate.
Treasurer Dean, of the college, emphatically denies that a colored woman graduated this year, but the reports about her are rife, notwithstanding.
Vassar College and Poughkeepsie society circles are much exercised over a story that one of the graduates of the institution last June was a colored woman.
She came, it is said, from Boston, but the faculty is carefully guarding her identity. The only members of the class of’97 from Boston was Anita Florence Hemmings, and it Is now recalled that a Boston paper in commenting on the graduating of a colored man, Fred J. Hemmings, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated that he had a sister at Vassar.
It is claimed that the young woman, with the faculty’s aid, kept her secret so well that not until weeks after her graduation did it become known that the “beautiful brunette,” as she was called, was actually a member of the colored race.
She is said to have communicated that fact to a professor on the eve of her leaving here. It is said that the faculty after deliberating on her case decided that they could not do otherwise than grant her a diploma inasmuch as she had satisfactorily completed the four years’ regular course.
Whatever the young woman’s name was she was an acknowledged belle and quite popular. Her complexion was rich and beautiful, and she was supposed by everyone to be a member of a fine old New England family. Her hair was black and straight, and her eyes dark and brilliant. Her manners, carriage and speech were those of a highly refined woman. She was president of the Founders’ Day, Philalethian Day and commencement day exercises.
Companion Found Her Out
But there is another curious story connected with her. Her identity is said to have been discovered first by her room-mate during the “beautiful brunette’s” senior year. The girl’s statement about her relatives and their stylish manner of life led her roommate to repeat them to her father, a business man. He became interested and caused inquiry to be made in Boston. He learned that the woman’s father was a respectable colored man who owned a small estate.
The story leaked out, and, unable to bear gossip, it is said, the colored girl told one of the professors the truth. She was a woman and she pleaded so eloquently with President Taylor, who is also kind-hearted, that the whole affair was hushed up and the young woman allowed to graduate.
Treasurer Dean, of the college, emphatically denies that a colored woman graduated this year, but the reports about her are rife, notwithstanding.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“Vassar Graduated a Colored Woman,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1196.