By law, Francesca Benson (then Stonaker) had to stop teaching when she adopted her children. In 1969, she joined the central New Jersey Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and was soon drawn into a committee tasked with setting up full-time day nursery. Alongside fellow activists, Francesca found and lost premises, recruited teachers, […]
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Victory Chase moved to the Princeton area in 1969 and soon became involved with the central New Jersey Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). As well as attending consciousness-raising sessions with fellow feminists, she volunteered for the committee on sex stereotyping in early readers. When University NOW Day Nursery (UNOW) opened in September
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Elisabeth (Liz) Hagen, who comes from South Africa, lived in southern Africa and Great Britain before moving to Princeton in 1969. She quickly became involved in the central New Jersey Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), including on the committee examining sex stereotyping in early school readers. Liz was soon drawn into the
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Patricia Albjerg Graham, a historian of American education, spent the 1969–1970 academic year at Princeton University in an administrative role focused on hiring more women faculty. Pat came to Princeton from Barnard College, where she was a professor of history and education. In 1974, she joined the faculty at Harvard University, where she continues to
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Karen Comins and Erika Gilfether discuss Karen’s long career as a preschool teacher at University NOW Day Nursery (UNOW ) on the campus of Princeton University. Karen began working at UNOW in 1986 and over the years has seen the school grow and evolve from six classrooms into the 14 classroom it hosts today. Karen
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Beginning in the fall of 1969, Halcy Bohen, assistant dean of students at Princeton University, and Mary Procter, assistant to the provost at Princeton University, worked together to welcome the first class of 171 undergraduate women to campus. In this joint interview, Halcy and Mary discuss the climate at Princeton during that period and their
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In 1972 David Keller had just finished his Ph.D. in English literature when he began teaching at the University NOW Day Nursery. In this interview, he speaks of his experience as UNOW’s first male teacher. He recalls memories of the children and teachers and of the school’s creative environment. David left UNOW in 1977 and
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When Joan Bartl moved to Princeton in 1969, she was denied service at the Yankee Doodle Tap Room because she was a woman. Shortly after, she joined the central New Jersey Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). The group’s first action was to stage a successful sit-in at the Tap Room. Alongside fellow
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Eileen Hohmuth-Lemonick, an art teacher, came to Princeton in 1969 and lived in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Before her son was old enough to enroll at University NOW Day Nursery (UNOW), she kept him in a cardboard box in her classroom. In this interview, Eileen explains the difference between daycare and nursery school, speaks warmly of
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Ruth Miller moved from Canada to Princeton in 1970 with her husband and young sons. Tragically, in 1972, she lost her husband. Her youngest son was just old enough to enroll at University NOW Day Nursery (UNOW). Not only did the school provide full-time care, which Ruth needed as she transitioned back to work, but
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