<p>1968 sounds right. The abolition of frats was announced in 1962, but it took place gradually, and they were not fully gone for several years. Then women were gradually phased in; the first female students were actually admitted in 1969 as exchange and transfer students. The first “freshwomen” were admitted in 1971. </p>
<p>Coeducation is considered to have gone more smoothly and successfully at Williams than at certain other New England colleges (not to single out any other school in particular, like Amherst). Enrollment is currently (Fall 2005) tilted in favor of women, by 52-48%.</p>
<p>The old frat houses had their own small kitchens and dining halls. When the frats were abolished, the college agreed to keep several of these open as partial compensation. The college continued to operate lovely little dining halls in the row houses up until the early 1980s, when efficiency finally prevailed.</p>