Associated Women Students Handbooks, 1924-1963

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State College. Associated Women Students.
Title
Associated Women Students Handbooks
Dates
1924-1963 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.35 cubic feet, (1 box)
Collection Number
PUB 010-23d
Summary
The Associated Women Students Handbooks (commonly known as the Coed Code) consist of guides for women students at Oregon State University regarding regulations and expectations.  The first handbook was published in 1924 for the 1924-1925 academic year.  The Coed Code ceased publication in 1963 with the 1963-1964 issue.  The Associated Women Students was established at Oregon State in 1924 with the purpose of furthering the educational, social, and cultural aims of women.  Most of the items in this collection are available online in Oregon Digital.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Associated Women Students was established at Oregon State in 1924 with the purpose of furthering the educational, social, and cultural aims of women; all women students, alumni, and faculty were members. The organization served as an umbrella organization for all women's living groups, honorary societies, and clubs on campus and sponsored a variety of activities. The Dean of Women served as an advisor and administrative liaison with the organization. The Associated Women Students became inactive in June 1970.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Associated Women Students Handbooks consist of guides and handbooks published by the Associated Women Students as an orientation for women students at Oregon State University.  The handbooks (commonly known as the Coed Code) address a full range of topics including housing requirements for women; visitation hours; social regulations and expectations; sports and recreation; and campus organizations for women, including sororities, honor societies, and clubs.  The handbooks describe annual events sponsored by the Associated Women Students and campus traditions for women.  Many of the handbooks provide guidance about balancing academic work with social and extra-curricular activities as well as information on campus etiquette and social conventions.  The handbooks include a greeting and welcome from the Dean of Women.

The handbooks were published as the Associated Women Students (AWS) Handbook from 1924 through 1934.  From the Inside Looking Out was the title of the 1935-1936 handbook and Pathways was the handbook for 1936-1937.  In 1937, Coed Code became the title of the handbook and remained so until publication ceased with the 1963-1964 Coed Code.  The sole exception during this period was the 1950-1951 handbook, Thru the Years – A Mid-Century Edition.

This collection also includes separate publications of the AWS and Administrative Regulations for Women issued in 1955-1963; Save Your Blushes, a guide to campus etiquette published in 1939 and 1946; and From the Inside Looking Out, a guide for first year women students in 1934-1935 prepared by the Rookess Counselors.

Most of the items in this collection are available online in Oregon Digital.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Associated Women Students Handbooks (PUB 010-23d), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The Associated Women Students Handbooks are arranged in 4 series: 1. Associated Women Students (AWS) Handbook and Coed Code, 1924-1963; 2. AWS and Administrative Regulations for Women, 1955-1963; 3. Save Your Blushes, 1939-1946; and 4. From the Inside Looking Out, circa 1934.

Acquisition Information

These publications were acquired by the former University Archives in multiple transfers from the 1960s through 1990s.

Processing Note

Several separate publication groups were combined to form this collection of handbooks for women.  Formerly, the AWS Handbooks and Regulations (PUB 010-23e), Coed Code (PUB 010-23d), Save Your Blushes (PUB 010-23h), and From the Inside Looking Out (PUB 010-23f) were individual collections.  All are now described as the Associated Women Students Handbooks (PUB 010-23d) and the former collections have been closed.

Related Materials

The Special Collections and Archives Research Center holds numerous collections documenting the experiences of women students at Oregon State, including many scrapbooks and the records of women’s clubs and organizations.  Included among these are the Associated Women Students Scrapbook (MSS AWS) and the Dean of Women’s Office Records (RG 057).  The Associated Women Student Handbooks are also available in the History of Oregon State University (HistOSU) book collection with call numbers LD 4346.2 .A3; LD 4346.2 .A32; and LD 4346 .A3.  Social and academic regulations for both women and men are available in the Student Regulations (PUB 012-13c).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  Associated Women Students (AWS) Handbook and Coed Code, 1924-1963Return to Top

Series 1 comprises the bulk of this collection and consists of handbooks for the 1924-1925 thru 1963-1964 academic years. The AWS Handbook was not published for the 1931-1932 and 1933-1934 academic years.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.1
1924-1929
AWS Handbook for 1924-1925
1924
AWS Handbook for 1926-1927
1926
AWS Handbook for 1927-1928
1927
AWS Handbook for 1928-1929
1928
AWS Handbook for 1929-1930
1929
1.2
1930-1934
AWS Handbook for 1930-1931
1930
AWS Handbook for 1932-1933
1932
AWS Handbook for 1934-1935
2 copies
1934
1.3
1935-1939
From the Inside Looking Out
Handbook for 1935-1936.
1935
Pathways
Handbook for 1936-1937.
1936
Coed Code for 1937-1938
1937
Coed Code for 1938-1939
1938
Coed Code for 1939-1940
1939
1.4
1940-1950
Coed Code for 1940-1941
1940
Coed Code for 1941-1942
1941
Coed Code for 1943-1944
1943
Coed Code for 1944-1945
1944
Coed Code for 1945-1946
1945
Coed Code for 1946-1947
1946
Coed Code for 1947-1948
1947
Coed Code for 1948-1949
1948
Coed Code for 1949-1950
1949
Thru the Years
This handbook, for the 1950-1951 academic year, is sub-titled the "Mid-Century Edition" and includes a brief history of the Associated Women Students.
1950
1.5
1951-1959
Coed Code for 1951-1952
1951
Coed Code for 1952-1953
2 copies
1952
Coed Code for 1953-1954
1953
Coed Code for 1954-1955
1954
Coed Code for 1955-1956
1955
Coed Code for 1956-1957
1956
Coed Code for 1957-1958
1957
Coed Code for 1958-1959
1958
Coed Code for 1959-1960
1959
1.6
1960-1963
Coed Code for 1960-1961
1960
Coed Code for 1961-1962
1961
Coed Code for 1962-1963
1962
Coed Code for 1963-1964
1963

Series 2:  AWS and Administrative Regulations for Women, 1955-1963Return to Top

Series 2 consists of annual brochures specifying the Associated Women Students and administrative regulations for women at Oregon State. This series includes brochures for 1955-1957, 1959-1960, and 1963. These regulations address closing, opening, and visitation in women's houses and residence halls; requirements regarding housing and conduct for women; and the role and responsibility of the AWS Board of Reference. Specific rules for women's interactions with men, alcohol, serenades and the protocol for leaving campus or Corvallis for more than a day are also included.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.7

Series 3:  Save Your Blushes, 1939-1946Return to Top

Series 3 consists of two issues of Save Your Blushes, published in 1939 and 1946 by the Associated Women Students Etiquette Board. These guides to campus etiquette include sections on table manners, chaperones, living with others, dating, use of slang, proper attire, and smoking.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.8

Series 4:  From the Inside Looking Out, circa 1934Return to Top

Series 4 consists of one undated item, From the Inside Looking Out, a booklet from the Rookess Counselors to incoming women students (rookesses). Janet Fenner was chair of the Rookess Counselors in 1934-1935, suggesting this was published in 1934 for the 1934-1935 academic year. The AWS Handbook for the following year (1935-1936) was titled, From the Inside Looking Out.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1.9

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College students--Conduct of life.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis--Social life and customs.
  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Deans of women--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Women--Education (Higher)--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Women--Oregon--Corvallis--Societies and clubs.
  • Women--Recreation--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Women--Social conditions.

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Agricultural College--Regulations.
  • Oregon Agricultural College. Associated Women Students.
  • Oregon State Agricultural College--Regulations.
  • Oregon State Agricultural College. Associated Women Students.
  • Oregon State College--Regulations.
  • Oregon State College. Associated Women Students.
  • Oregon State College. Dean of Women.
  • Oregon State University--Regulations.
  • Oregon State University. Associated Women Students.
  • Oregon State University. Dean of Women.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Oregon Agricultural College. Associated Women Students. (creator)
    • Oregon State Agricultural College. Associated Women Students. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. Associated Women Students. (creator)