The history of women’s spaces at the University of Michigan is not a short one, though it is not one that has passed either. While women can enter the Union building free of an escort, and live freely in some of Michigan’s many co-ed dorms, there are still many spaces all around campus that were, and still are, for women.Â
Until 1956, women couldn’t enter the famous Michigan Union without a male escort at their side. Even after the rule was lifted, many spaces, such as the billiards room, remained restricted. Thankfully, women were not left without their space at Michigan, as they had a building of their own, the Michigan League. Many Michigan students may recognize it right along Ingalls Mall. This massive building, now a common space for all at the University of Michigan, was initially commissioned by the Women’s League of the University of Michigan in 1921. This large space gave women their own common area while the Union was still mostly off-limits. While the Michigan League is no longer a space just for women, its history on campus can never be forgotten.Â
Beyond that of The League, the University of Michigan also has a handful of women-only dorms, which, unlike the League, have retained their space even today. Previously, dorms which you may recognize such as: Mosher-Jordan Hall, Couzens Hall, Stockwell Hall, and Alice Lloyd Hall, used to be women’s only dorms. Alice Lloyd used to be known as Alice Crocker Lloyd Hall, and Stockwell as Madelon Stockwell Hall. As many may know, these dorms have since become co-ed with only three dorms still being for just women today. The two “sister” dorms are known as Betsy Barbour and Helen Newberry, which are both side by side and can be found just north of Regents Plaza. Beyond Barbour and Newberry, the largest dorm for women still at the University of Michigan is the Martha Cook Building.Â
The Martha Cook Building can be found towering beside the Law Quad. Martha Cook is one of the oldest residence halls for women, constructed in 1915, and has traditions that have remained since its inception. The building has its own dining hall for residents of the building, in addition to a tennis court for the women who reside there. The building has traditions such as tea time, the Dinner for New Women, and a variety of events hosted by the hall’s House Board, such as Tree Decorating and Diwali. Aside from the events, rooms such as the Gold Room, Red Room, and the Sparking Room offer a glimpse into the history of the women at UMich.Â
Past the dormitories and common areas for women, programs such as Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and the Adelia Cheever Program additionally offer spaces just for women at the University. With these programs, there’s also the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at UMich, which often hosts exhibits in the Lane Hall Exhibit Space, often with an emphasis on women, feminism, and its history.Â
The history of women’s spaces at the University of Michigan is large. While not every space remains exclusively for women, the importance of these spaces has not been lost, and the spaces that do remain have become bastions for women at the University.