"True Spirit of Pioneer Traditions"

The dissertation examines the position of Dean of Women at the University of Florida (UF) and the first woman appointed to the post, Dr. Marna Brady. The scope of the study is from the position's creation on UF's campus, in 1947, until Dean Brady's resignation in 1966. The study examines the shifts in Brady's responsibilities in light of her advocacy role, and the changes occurring on campus concerning female students. The historical backdrop of Brady's tenure included the entrance of ex-GIs into higher education via the GI Bill, the judgment and implementation of Brown vs. the Board of Education, the McCarthy Era, the Civil Rights Movement, the passage of The Higher Education Act and the beginnings of the Student Movement. To uncover the history of Brady's tenure and the development of the position various primary documents were used: reports of the Dean of Women, other office correspondence and reports, newspaper articles, and published works of Dean Brady. Although there have been other works written related to Deans of Women, the amount is small compared to other topics in the realm of educational history. This dissertation is a departure from the other works concerning deans of women since it focuses upon an individual dean at a particular university and is not comparative in nature. The dissertation reveals that Brady was a significant force in forging the opportunities for female students at UF by constantly redefining her role and acting as a student advocate. She negotiated with faculty, administrators and male students' organizations on behalf of women, allowing all students the opportunity of a complete college experience including academic, social and extracurricular activities. This history considers the changes with the physical aspects of campus and the modifications of administration, staff and the students she served. Throughout her years of service, Brady held true to the idea that the Dean of Women was a professional position that lobbied for students and was not only concerned with morality issues.