Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to understand how the university expanded its surveillance and policing apparatus before the establishment of a police force.
Students will be able to understand the different constraints that women on campus encountered in the 1900s.
The students will be able to understand how and why the detective agencies and the police failed to prevent or even investigate sexual assaults on or near campus.
Podcast Questions:
Lucchini-Butcher mentions “even though this story takes place back in 1911, it’s worth talking about because so much about it feels relevant to today.” How/why do you think this is true?
Why do you think the police did not believe the house mother, why do you think the university investigated the assault, and why do you think the Pinkertons were ultimately hired? Ask students to explain their reasoning.
How were women’s bodies and actions policed, monitored, and curtailed throughout this episode?
What do you think is the legacy of the Pinkerton agents on campus and why do you think this? Do you see any correlations with modern-day policing or UWPD more broadly?
Primary Sources:
William J. Burns International Detective Agency, “GFJ reports,” May 8, 1911. Read Report Here
Charles Van Hise, “Letter to Frank Blodgett,” April 21, 1911. Read Letter Here
Frank Blodgett, “Letter to Governor F.E. McGovern,” April 15, 1911. Read Letter Here
Recommended Reading:
Center for Campus History Blog, Siftings: “The Policy of Secrecy:” Parents, Administrators, and Spies Investigating Sexual Violence Before UWPD” By Kyle Miron. Read Blog Post Here
John J. Sloan III, “The end of in loco parentis and institutionalization of campus policing,” in Cops on Campus: Rethinking Safety and Confronting Police Violence, ed. Yalile Suriel, Grace Watkins, Jude Paul Matias Dizon, John J Sloan III (Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 2024), 3–16. Read Book Here
Other Resources:
Police and Policing at UW–Madison Teaching Guide: View Teaching Guide Here
Primary Source Citations
William J. Burns International Detective Agency, “GFJ reports,” May 8, 1911, Kappa Kappa Gamma House Assault Investigation records, February through June of 1911.
Frank Blodgett, “Letter to Governor F.E. McGovern,” April 15, 1911. Kappa Kappa Gamma House Assault Investigation records, February through June of 1911.
Charles Van Hise, “Letter to Frank Blodgett,” April 21, 1911, University Presidents President Charles Van Hise General Correspondence Files, Series 4/10/1, Box 23, Folder 324, University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives, Madison, WI.