1918-1919: Women Attend
Business was a traditionally male-dominated profession during the early years of the Bentley School. However, the continuation of World War I meant that more women were seeking higher education and profitable professional jobs. During the 1918-1919 school year, the Bentley School admitted 162 women to its classes. After the end of the war, however, most women left the school.
Three of the first female students stayed on to graduate. Their names were
Mary R. Gallagher,
Josephine M. Mahoney, and
Frances Sargent.
The latter two are listed here in the program for the 3rd Commencement in 1922.
This excerpt from the 1918-1919 Course Catalog details the women's course offerings, which at the time were conducted separately from the men's.
It reads, "If [women] succeed in doing this, and there is no reason why they should not, they will establish for themselves a permanent place in a business vocation that offers excellent opportunities."