Tucked away in the vibrant city of Poughkeepsie and complemented by the green farmlands of the Hudson Valley lies Vassar College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1861. Opened initially to give women equal access to higher education, Vassar now prides itself on being a renowned co-educational institution dedicated to providing students with a worldly education. Beyond its current high-status as a liberal arts college, Vassar has a deep history with some interesting folklore – particularly about queer people, resistance, and formidable women. 

Vassar was conceived as a place where women could thrive outside the boundaries of traditional gender expectations and restrictions. A unique space where women could be openly independent and intellectual, the college was one of the first to offer more challenging courses for women in the diverse fields of science, technology, and mathematics.

Despite its inherent inclusive and diverse nature, Vassar was not immune to the social and political tensions of the early 20th century occurring in the United States. A disdain for lesbianism and queerness spread throughout the administration and student body. The close female friendships once characteristic of the institution were now being eyed and questioned. 

Of course, this repression only birthed resistance. Despite being silenced, threatened, and closely watched, the queer women of Vassar refused to repress their sexuality. Lesbians, as well as queer and non-conforming people, built the foundation for the strong liberal arts education that Vassar boasts – to take away queerness would be to strip the institution of its basic roots. The Wolf Girls refused to let that happen.

The Wolf Girls at Vassar were strong-willed, opposed to the status quo, willing to push boundaries, and often queer. Bending traditional gender and sexuality norms, these women played around with pronouns, fashion, and artistic work to encourage quiet resistance amongst queer communities on campus. When at risk of being caught in a compromising scenario, or even just to express queer joy at a moment where it could no longer be held in, these women would howl – loudly and proudly – up at the moon, just like fierce wolves.

These brave experiences were recorded and remembered during the Wolf Girls’ time at Vassar College. These records were officially published in Wolf Girls at Vassar: Lesbian and Gay Experiences 1930-1990, a collection of stories about queer people at Vassar during a culturally changing time. Compiled by Anne MacKay, a 1949 alumna of Vassar, the book includes queer voices and perspectives from the Vassar Wolf Girls.

More stories about specific queer characters and Wolf Girl figures can be found in the article ‘Women Who Ran With the Wolves’ by Peter Haldeman, written shortly after the publication of Wolf Girls at Vassar. Reminiscent of a queer fairytale, this queer tale of resistance and defiance amidst a cultural awakening is a powerful reminder that queerness will always find a way to survive.

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