According to the College Archives, in 1984, Elaine completed a research paper titled “The Presence of the Black American at Dickinson College from 1773 to the Present,” that explored the “influence of ‘Black America’ upon Dickinson College”. 

In her research, she mainly sought to discover when the first black student graduated, but instead uncovered many more “Unfamous Firsts” throughout the history of Dickinson.

“Some ‘Unfamous Firsts’ Include:

1901: John Robert Paul Brock is the first black male student to graduate from Dickinson College.

1919: Esther Popel Shaw is the first black female student to graduate from Dickinson College.

1939: Gertrude Williams is the first black female Phi Beta Kappa. [Archivist’s Note:  This was actually Esther Popel.] 

1961: Judy Rogers and Maureen Newton integrate the women’s dorms.

1965: Maureen Newton was the first female in Phi Mu Alpha. She was the first black female in Phi Delta Epsilon and Wheel and Chain.

1966: Sharon Rice is the first black female administrator. 

1967: Bobbie Swain is the first black female sorority sister in Gamma Phi Beta. 

1970: Patricia Love is the first black female sorority sister in Delta Nu.

1971: Vermelle Greene is the first black female sorority sister in Phi Beta Phi.

1983: Enid Noemi Quintero was the first female Dana Scholar. 

1983: Joy Jackson is the first black female sorority sister in Kappa Kappa Gamma.”