Cambridge sketches
Estelle M. H. Merrill, Ed.

I am engaged in perfecting a plan which shall afford to women opportunities for carrying their studies systematically forward further than it is possible for them now to do it in this country, except, possibly, at Smith College.

My plan obliges me to obtain the services of certain of the professors, and I address you before approaching them in order to assure myself that I am correct in supposing that their relations to the University are such as to permit of their giving instruction to those who are not connected with it.

I propose to bring here such women as are able to pass an examination not less rigid than that now established for the admission of young men and to offer them a course of instruction which shall be a counterpart of that pursued by the men.

It is probable that a very small number of women will be found at first, but it will grow.

I am aware that some of the professors now give instruction to private pupils and teach elsewhere. If my plan prove a success it will relieve them from such irregular labor and give them a regular addition to their incomes.

It is, however, needless that I enlarge, or trouble you at any greater length.

I desire only to be assured that if I make approaches to any of the Faculty I shall be asking them for services that they can render or not, without in any way interfering with their first obligations to the University.