July 3 {1879}
Dr. Lossing,
Yours of the 1st received. If I were at Vassar I could send you the note of the Ex Comm {Executive Committee} in regard to the charge for Board at Vassar College. As it is I remember so much of this: When the vote for equal payment had passed the Board, the Ex. Com. sent a note to Dr. Avery and myself, charging us $16(?) a week for board. We were astounded and wrote a respectful note asking them to itemize the process of different points in the “board” that we might economise. They replied that they declined to “itemize.”
Maria Mitchell, and the Vassar College doctor and professor, Alida Avery, fought for their entire tenures for equal pay. They were paid far less than their male counterparts were at Vassar and their board was likely made somewhat higher – especially in Maria’s case. They would be returned approximately $400 after they were told the Board would not “itemize.” However, Avery would leave Vassar, having been frustrated beyond the point with her battle for equality of pay. She would move to Colorado, open a practice, and become one of the wealthiest single women in Colorado, if not the West. (That may be a 19th century mike drop moment.)
JNLF
Call Us: 508.228.9198
Email Us: info@mariamitchell.org