Introduction

Virginia Tech, founded as a public land-grant university in 1872, was originally known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) and focused primarily on military training for male students. In 1921, the Board of Visitors approved the admission of women (Laura Harper, 1962), though the first Black woman was not admitted until 1966.

Throughout the 1960s, Virginia Tech experienced notable changes, including a growing population of women. With these shifts, the contributions of Black women have been increasingly recognized across various disciplines, reflecting a changing university demographic. Women have been integral to Virginia Tech’s history, making significant contributions to both the institution and its community.

The Purpose of The Project

The History of Women at Virginia Tech (Black Women at Virginia Tech, 1960-1970), offers a significant trajectory of Virginia Tech history that is often forgotten. Between 1960 and 1970, highlights social, cultural, and political changes occurred at Virginia Tech and in the United States. As an African and Black woman, I was curious to know more about the first Black Women in Virginia by focusing on Black women during that time; this project provides written documents, timelines, and oral histories that shape their unique experiences and contributions to Virginia Tech, which have often been left out of the main historical narratives.