Mary Whiton Calkins was an American philosopher and psychologist. Calkins was also the first woman to become president of the American Psychological Association and the American Philosophical Association. When Calkins was looking to learn more about psychology, she applied to Harvard. However, Harvard did not admit female students. After pressure from her father, Harvard did allow her to take classes, but wouldn't let her be a registered student. All the other men in her class dropped out once they learned there would be a woman in there class. Harvard president Charles William Eliot was opposed to this idea of a woman learning in the same room as a man. Eliot believed strongly that the two sexes should be educated separately and, although he allowed Calkins to be a "guest," he and the rest of the board refused to grant her the degree. Calkins had completed all of the requirements for the Ph.D., including passing exams and completing a dissertation, and all of her Harvard professors had recommended her for the degree. Yet, solely due to her sex, she was denied the honor of a conferred degree. To this day, Harvard has not given Mary Caulkins her degree. Sign the petition.