Historical Background

• 1940: On the 100th anniversary of the Seminary’s founding, Miss France erected a black and white Maryland-history sign on Route 584 (Brome’s Wharf Road). The sign states that the school is the “monument” to the first colony and its governing principle of religious liberty. The State of Maryland grants accreditation to the high school-junior college: grades 11, 12, and the first two years of college.
• 1947: Miss France refutes the state-supported report of the Marbury Commission. It recommended that St. Mary’s Seminary-Junior College be closed. Miss France argued that St. Mary’s offers small classes in a liberal arts curriculum and that it serves as the only institution of higher education in St. Mary’s and Charles counties. She won.
• 1949: May Russell becomes president of the college, and the word “Female” is dropped from the school name. It's then known as St. Mary’s Seminary Junior College. Miss Russell hoped that this name change would serve to encourage local males to apply for admission. However, they were not allowed to live on campus.

Changes in the Curriculum

1940

In the 1940’s, psychology was not yet it's own major and the course "general psychology" was the only psychology course that was a part of St. Mary’s curricula. General psychology could be taken as an elective for liberal arts, general culture, homemaking, and creative and applied arts. It was also required in the senior year of the Recreational Leadership and Secretarial and Business programs.

1941

In 1941, general psychology could also be taken as an elective for music in one's senior year

1942

General psychology became a requirement in the senior year of creative and applied arts, as well as secretarial and general business. It was also now listed as a junior year elective in the Recreational Leadership program. It stayed this way until 1946.

1947

General psychology was now added as a requirement in the senior year of the new Medical Secretarial program.

1948

For this year, no information was listed in the course catalogues found in the St. Mary's Archives.

1949

General Psychology also became an elective for liberal arts and music, general culture, and homemaking in the senior year, and a requirement in the senior year of creative and applied arts, secretarial, medical secretarial, and general business programs. Finally, general psychology was also listed as an elective in the junior year of Recreational Leadership.

� Source: Haugaard, Wilkinson, and King (2007); Friesel (2010); St. Mary's Female Seminary (1928-1940); St. Mary's Female Seminary - Junior College (1940-1950)