Mary Baldwin College
Encyclopedia
Mary Baldwin College is a private, independent, and comprehensive four-year liberal arts
women's college
in Staunton, Virginia
. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine, ministry, and ROTC. It also hosts the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership program for female cadets, affiliated with nearby Virginia Military Institute
. Mary Baldwin is home to a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
, built in 1844, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP) in 1973. Hilltop
, another building, is also NRHP-listed.
to force compliance with the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
by allowing women to attend the publically funded Virginia Military Institute. (see United States v. Virginia
). The state won in the district court trial and the United States appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
. The appellate court, in a decision which pleased neither side, stated that as long as the Commonwealth of Virginia provided an equivalent option for women, constitutional requirements would be satisfied. The appellate court therefore returned the case to district court to sort out how this could be done. The Commonwealth set up a program, the Virginia Institute for Leadership, at MBC, which was putatively intended to teach leadership to women in a way that was congenial to their supposed natural differences from men. The district court accepted this solution, but the United States appealed, partly on the grounds that VWIL was and could never be an equivalent to VMI. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of the United States
agreed in a 7-1 decision, and women were admitted to VMI for the first time in the late 1990s. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, writing for the majority, stated that "The VWIL program is a pale shadow of VMI in terms of the range of curricular choices and faculty stature, funding, prestige, alumni support and influence."
in four years.
Each year, the week of orientation comes to a close with the Opening Convocation and the Candle Lighting Ceremony held on the terraces of Hunt Dining Hall and Grafton Library. During the candle lighting ceremony, the Hymn for Mary Baldwin is sung.
Charter Day gives the new students of Mary Baldwin a chance to sign the Honor Pledge, which says that they will uphold the laws of student governance and follow the Honor Code and Judicial Board Code.
Founders Day is held each year as close to October 4 (the birthday of Mary Julia Baldwin) as possible, to remember where the college got its start. This is the first time the seniors don their caps and gowns, and it is done in the presence of the whole student body.
Apple Day is one of Mary Baldwin College's most beloved holidays. On this day there are many opportunities for service, one of which is to go gleaning for apples at one of the apple orchards somewhat close to campus. After gleaning, students come back and enjoy the famous Apple Day Brunch, where apple is the main ingredient in every dish. In the afternoon, a carnival is held outside of the Student Center that is not only for the students of Mary Baldwin, but also for the community.
Mary Baldwin College is committed to upholding a program of student governance that is carried out through three boards: Honor Council, Judicial Board, and Student Advocates, as well as a Student Government Association. Students at Mary Baldwin "won't lie cheat or steal...you have their word on it, in writing" (Greene).
Commencement weekend is celebrated with a ball and Graduation. The commencement of 1992 saw the dedication of the new William G. Pannill Student Center as well as three honorary degrees in honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary of the College (Menk 38).
The tradition of passing on the class colors from year to year is one of great esteem. Each class has their own class colors, and the incoming first year class receives the class colors of the recently graduated senior class. The current colors are: 2012 - Purple and Gold, 2013 - Lavender and White, 2014 - Scarlet and Gold, and 2015 - Green and White.
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
women's college
Women's Colleges in the Southern United States
Women's colleges in the Southern United States refers to undergraduate, bachelor's degree-granting institutions, often liberal arts colleges, whose student populations consist exclusively or almost exclusively of women. Salem College is the oldest female educational institution in the South and...
in Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
. It was ranked in 2008 by US News & World Report as a top-tier, master's level university in the South. Mary Baldwin offers pre-professional programs in law, medicine, ministry, and ROTC. It also hosts the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership program for female cadets, affiliated with nearby Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
. Mary Baldwin is home to a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
History
The Mary Baldwin College, Main BuildingMary Baldwin College, Main Building
The Mary Baldwin College, Main Building is a Greek Revival building from 1844 on the Mary Baldwin College campus. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.Hilltop is another NRHP-listed building on the campus....
, built in 1844, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) in 1973. Hilltop
Hilltop (Staunton, Virginia)
Hilltop is a building from 1810 on the campus of Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979....
, another building, is also NRHP-listed.
VWIL
VWIL was originally intended to allow VMI, which was then men-only, to satisfy federal non-discrimination laws without accepting women. In the early 1990s, the United States Government sued the state of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to force compliance with the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments.Its Citizenship Clause provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the Dred Scott v...
by allowing women to attend the publically funded Virginia Military Institute. (see United States v. Virginia
United States v. Virginia
United States v. Virginia, , is a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the Virginia Military Institute's long-standing male-only admission policy in a 7-1 decision...
). The state won in the district court trial and the United States appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
. The appellate court, in a decision which pleased neither side, stated that as long as the Commonwealth of Virginia provided an equivalent option for women, constitutional requirements would be satisfied. The appellate court therefore returned the case to district court to sort out how this could be done. The Commonwealth set up a program, the Virginia Institute for Leadership, at MBC, which was putatively intended to teach leadership to women in a way that was congenial to their supposed natural differences from men. The district court accepted this solution, but the United States appealed, partly on the grounds that VWIL was and could never be an equivalent to VMI. Ultimately, the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
agreed in a 7-1 decision, and women were admitted to VMI for the first time in the late 1990s. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, writing for the majority, stated that "The VWIL program is a pale shadow of VMI in terms of the range of curricular choices and faculty stature, funding, prestige, alumni support and influence."
Program for the Exceptionally Gifted
The Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG) at Mary Baldwin College is a radical acceleration program designed for girls ages 12 to 16 who have not completed high school. The program was founded in 1985 with a class of 11 students and now enrolls approximately 30 new students each year. Participants ("PEGs") attend classes with traditional Mary Baldwin students and typically earn a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in four years.
Traditions
A few of the many traditions Mary Baldwin celebrates are: Apple Day, Charter day, Founders Day, Opening Convocation, Student Government, Commencement, and The passing on of Class Colors.Each year, the week of orientation comes to a close with the Opening Convocation and the Candle Lighting Ceremony held on the terraces of Hunt Dining Hall and Grafton Library. During the candle lighting ceremony, the Hymn for Mary Baldwin is sung.
- The Hymn for Mary Baldwin
- To these halls where Wisdom reckons,
- To these hills where Beauty dwells;
- Where the search for Learning beckons,
- Where its tumult never quells
- Here we bring our childhood visions
- Stirring in the quest for Truth;
- Here we forge the mind’s decisions
- Tempered by the faith of youth.
- Friendship, honor, sorrow, laughter
- Are the ways by which we learn.
- Knowledge first, then wisdom after,
- Love that seeks not for return.
- When we reach the last tomorrow
- Of our days in class, on field
- We will know how we must borrow,
- Mary Baldwin, from thy yield.
Charter Day gives the new students of Mary Baldwin a chance to sign the Honor Pledge, which says that they will uphold the laws of student governance and follow the Honor Code and Judicial Board Code.
Founders Day is held each year as close to October 4 (the birthday of Mary Julia Baldwin) as possible, to remember where the college got its start. This is the first time the seniors don their caps and gowns, and it is done in the presence of the whole student body.
Apple Day is one of Mary Baldwin College's most beloved holidays. On this day there are many opportunities for service, one of which is to go gleaning for apples at one of the apple orchards somewhat close to campus. After gleaning, students come back and enjoy the famous Apple Day Brunch, where apple is the main ingredient in every dish. In the afternoon, a carnival is held outside of the Student Center that is not only for the students of Mary Baldwin, but also for the community.
Mary Baldwin College is committed to upholding a program of student governance that is carried out through three boards: Honor Council, Judicial Board, and Student Advocates, as well as a Student Government Association. Students at Mary Baldwin "won't lie cheat or steal...you have their word on it, in writing" (Greene).
Commencement weekend is celebrated with a ball and Graduation. The commencement of 1992 saw the dedication of the new William G. Pannill Student Center as well as three honorary degrees in honor of the Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary of the College (Menk 38).
The tradition of passing on the class colors from year to year is one of great esteem. Each class has their own class colors, and the incoming first year class receives the class colors of the recently graduated senior class. The current colors are: 2012 - Purple and Gold, 2013 - Lavender and White, 2014 - Scarlet and Gold, and 2015 - Green and White.
Notable alumni
- Tallulah BankheadTallulah BankheadTallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
- Anna JarvisAnna JarvisAnna Marie Jarvis is the founder of the Mother's Day holiday in the United States.-Biography:...
- Custer LaRueCuster LaRueCuster LaRue is a soprano vocalist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. She specializes in Renaissance music and traditional Folk music such as the Child ballads and music collected in Appalachia during the early 20th century....
- Jason NarvyJason NarvyJason A. Narvy, Ph.D is an American actor who spent a number of years playing the character Eugene "Skull" Skullovitch on the Power Rangers television series and starred in both movies based on the series....
- St. Clair Wright
External links
- Official Web site
- Collection of scanned archival materials from MBC library hosted at archive.org (Yearbooks, college newsletters, etc.)