But during a time of consciousness-raising and social activism, some women liked the idea of maintaining a room of their own.

The Dec. 8, 1970 Report of the Committee on Harvard-Radcliffe Relationships concluded a merger would not be prudent.

Instead, the committee recommended a series of changes, including a Harvard takeover of the Radcliffe House system and the creation of a Dean of Radcliffe College.

"Equal' education may in fact create inequality of women because of the inherent differences in the life styles of men and women. No matter how optimistic a woman student...may be, her life pattern is apt to include 10 to 20 years...rearing a family," read a preliminary statement issued by the Committee on Recommendations to the President.

Ironically, on the Fourth of July, 1971, Radcliffe released a statement about the 1971 Amendment, the new contract that adopted the proposal creating co-residency and maintaining Radcliffe's independence--also known as the "non-merger merger."

Bunting's statement in the press release reveals a sentiment that remained a central tenet of Radcliffe until very recently.

"We are pleased with this and other recent evidence of Harvard's commitment to the education of women and I believe that the agreement will also contribute to the education of Harvard undergraduates," Bunting said. "At the same time, Radcliffe retains responsibility for the administration of services and programs...that are of particular interest to women."

After the agreement, with Radcliffe studentsnow living and studying at Harvard, Radcliffeshifted its focus to developing new programs forfemale undergraduates.

Since 1960, Radcliffe has created the BuntingInstitute, the Murray Research Center and avariety of other programs, including fellowships,mentorships and scholarships for undergraduates.

RADCLIFFE: THE NEXT GENERATION

Meanwhile, as women gained more stature inAmerican society, Harvard began taking a greaterinterest in Radcliffe and its alumnae--hoping fora stronger relationship with both.

In 1991, former University President Derek C.Bok delivered a speech at the annual RCAAluncheon, remarking that a true undergraduatepartnership between the two schools was bothunlikely and unnecessary.

"It will simply be too difficult to find enoughimportant tasks for Radcliffe to perform forundergraduates that Harvard cannot supply byitself," he said.

But Radcliffe was not giving up any ground, andHarvard decided that its primary role inundergraduate life needed to be emphasized.

Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles raisedeyebrows by attempting to solicit funds fromRadcliffe College graduates in the spring of 1997.And just a few months later, Harvard--withoutRadcliffe--hosted a celebration commemorating 25years of co-residency in the Yard.

With efforts like the Harvard College Women'sInitiative, a $1.25 million grant from donors whowanted to recognize Harvard--not Radcliffe's--rolein women's undergraduate education, Radcliffeeventually conceded that its original mission hadbeen fulfilled.

And this year it finally happened. After twoyears of closed-door discussions, RadcliffePresident Linda S. Wilson and Harvard UniversityPresident Neil L. Rudenstine shook hands on amerger over 100 years in the making.

Only a generation ago, Radcliffe was movingaway from Harvard--convinced that women needed asupportive space. Some alumnae still feel thatway.

But 20 years of Radcliffe women living andlearning side by side with Harvard men transformedtwo distinct institutions into an unnecessarilymuddled entity both schools had trouble explainingto the outside world.

The fears for the future of women'seducation--harbored by the founders of the Annexand recorded in the private journal of AdaComstock--have finally been allayed.

At least that's what the negotiators bargainingwith over a century of Radcliffe tradition arehoping