DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa libraries acquisitions dress code petition, October 18, 1970 | 1970-10-08 Leslie W. Dunlap to Mrs. Kathleen Wachel Page 4

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University of Iowa libraries acquisitions dress code petition, October 18, 1970

1970-10-08 Leslie W. Dunlap to Mrs. Kathleen Wachel Page 4

In view of recent social trends we, the undersigned, feel that it would be reasonable for a more liberal standard of dress to be accepted for the female staff of the university libraries. This relates particularly to the wearing of tailored pants, pantsuits, etc., which, in terms of social dress codes, climate, modesty and ease of action, would be suitable and congenial to many members of the staff.

There are precedents established for the acceptance of such dress at formal social gatherings and church ceremonies; in schools (for both teachers and pupils), libraries, business organizations and the courts of the United States. Michigan Chief Justice Thomas E. Brennan (Des Moines Register, 1 October 1970), responding to a woman attorney, said: “I see nothing inappropriate about trouser suits….. They have achieved wide acceptance among women of good taste in both business and social circumstances and would not in these times be looked upon as mere sportswear.”

We feel that the individual employees are sufficiently responsible not to wear anything inconsistent with the dignity and execution of their duties. Bearing this in mind we feel that the administration of the library will be able to regard this petition favorably.

[continued list of signatures]
Ruth Christ
Karen Zimmerman
Betty McLaughlin
[Anne] Funke
[unreadable]
Mary Noble
Rosemary E. Ross
Judy Groendyke
Della Yoder
Marilyn Easton
Glenda [Thier]
Colleen Toomey
Patty Hicks
Pat Brown
Patty Yocum
Karen Hildebrand
[Harlan] Gifford
Rebecca Johnson
Kathy Edwards
Lynda Ann Wenger
Mary [Bleser]
Brenda Smith
Judy Dietrich
Patricia V. [Prinyde]
Charlene [Sole]
Rita Benton
Morris Martin
Martha Sacchini
[Sharn] Rathburn
Pam Quam
John W. [Medcraft]
Grace Songolo/KW
Patricia Sharp/KW
Mary Ellen Alberhasky/KW
Marge [Czarkowski]/KW
Barbara S. Hagy

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In view of recent social trends we, the undersigned, feel that it would be reasonable for a more liberal standard of dress to be accepted for the female staff of the university libraries. This relates particularly to the wearing of tailored pants, pantsuits, etc., which, in terms of social dress codes, climate, modesty and ease of action, would be suitable and congenial to many members of the staff. There are precedents established for the acceptance of such dress at formal social gatherings and church ceremonies; in schools (for both teachers and pupils), libraries, business organizations and the courts of the United States. Michigan Chief Justice Thomas E. Brennan (Des Moines Register, 1 October 1970), responding to a woman attorney, said: “I see nothing inappropriate about trouser suits….. They have achieved wide acceptance among women of good taste in both business and social circumstances and would not in these times be looked upon as mere sportswear.” We feel that the individual employees are sufficiently responsible not to wear anything inconsistent with the dignity and execution of their duties. Bearing this in mind we feel that the administration of the library will be able to regard this petition favorably. [continued list of signatures] Ruth Christ Karen Zimmerman Betty McLaughlin [Anne] Funke [unreadable] Mary Noble Rosemary E. Ross Judy Groendyke Della Yoder Marilyn Easton Glenda [Thier] Colleen Toomey Patty Hicks Pat Brown Patty Yocum Karen Hildebrand [Harlan] Gifford Rebecca Johnson Kathy Edwards Lynda Ann Wenger Mary [Bleser] Brenda Smith Judy Dietrich Patricia V. [Prinyde] Charlene [Sole] Rita Benton Morris Martin Martha Sacchini [Sharn] Rathburn Pam Quam John W. [Medcraft] Grace Songolo/KW Patricia Sharp/KW Mary Ellen Alberhasky/KW Marge [Czarkowski]/KW Barbara S. Hagy