[Ads-l] "college widow" (1856), and other early citations

[dave@wilton.net]

OED has an 1829 citation, but that is in the sense of a charitable instution for providing support for widows, presumably of college employees. Green's has 1881.
 
“An Old Maid’s Soliloquy.” Temperance Crusader (Penfield Georgia), 15 March 1856, 2/3. NewspaperArchive.com.

"Twenty years have I been on the carpet. I have had numerous suitors, and visitors without number. I have been besonnetted by poetical geniuses in almost every class graduated since my debut. Yet despite of all this, I am a 'college-widow' with as little prospect as ever of being comforted in my widowhood."
 
 
“The Terrible Tree.” Sunbury American (Sunbury, Pennsylvania), 15 March 1856, 1/2. Newspapers.com.

"Was there any mental stimulant, such as love, hate, remorse, that I had not tried? No. I hated every body. I had been in love with all the 'college widows,' and several beside."
 

“A Story about Love and a Fortune.” Springfield Daily Republican (Illinois), 2 April 1859, 6/1–2. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.

"Time enough to discuss my intentions and prospects by and by. Meanwhile, this case of yours is easily sealed. I understand it all. You conceived a disgust for the college widows of your Alma Mater. I plead guilty to the same soft impeachment. You have come home and generously[?] distributed your dislike for a few over the best half of creation; I went to the seminary a year ago, and have been purged of mine most effectually. You should go to the seminary, sir. Capital place, that, to dissipate your monkish notions, and to impress upon your mind the sacredness and blessedness of that good old Gospel institution, wedlock; with all the beneficial appurtenances which do either accompany or flow therefrom."
 
 
“Flamming.” The Bomb (Middlebury College, Connecticut), 24 April 1860, 6/1. Newspapers.com. (Metadata mistakenly credits this to the Bennington Banner, Vermont.)

"In college halls this word is found;
The college walls this word resound;
By college boys is flamming done;
From this do 'college widows' come.
“But flamming! pray what may it mean?”
Is asked quite oft by Freshmen green;
[…]
The student claims with all his heart
To love the maid—that ne’er must part;
But when his college course is done,
He’ll seek for her and him a home;
And there they’ll live in constant bliss;
The vow is sealed by mutual kiss.

"It happens oft by such pretensions,
He shields at first some vile intentions.
At best, for her no more he cares,
Than she herself for what she wears;
For swiftly as the fashions glide,
Old robes are shed and new ones tried;
So students oft their flams arrange;
That every year they make a change."
 

“College Widows.” Democrat and Reflector (Schenectady, New York), 21 March 1861, 2/4. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.

"'College Widows.'—To go into mourning in the spring time is peculiarly incongruous. Sad must be the heart that bleeds amid the birds caroling. […] Their mammas told them students could not always be trusted, but who could believe mamas against a mouse—tach? 'A look so young—so ingenious—so kind?' 'I told you he was only flirting.' Well, term has ended—he is not even coming to commencement! Oh! O is he gone! Lucinda calls on Julia—Julia calls on Cecilia, all are weeping.—Let us go to society meeting to-night Boys part—well primed—last drink 'To the College Vidders.'"
 

“Letter from Williamstown.” Pittsfield Sun (Massachusetts), 28 May 1863, 1/4. Readex: America’s Historical Newspapers.

"However, we would not have you believe that nothing at all has happened, that Williams, buried in her winter’s snows, has been in a state of grand lethargy like the hibernation of bears, that for the past three months the numerous ladies of the place have lived wholly without anything to talk about, for that would be impossible. Mrs. Grundy, though quite a college widow still has managed to exist through the winter."
 
 
This one is a bit later, but it's my favorite:

“The University. A Gossipy Letter from ‘Athens’” (1 October 1869). Detroit Free Press (Michigan), 4 October 1869, 4/3. ProQuest Historical Newspapers.

"Ann Arbor is renowned not only for her natural charms and educational advantages, but also for the beauty and amiability of her fair daughters, and for their devotedness to their loves. It isn’t considered the correct thing for any young lady to accept over a dozen proposals during one winter, and it’s a breach of etiquette for her to maintain over three matrimonial engagements at one and the same time. Some of these 'naughty, naughty girls' are the most 'engaged' as well as the most engaging young persons that it ever was my misfortune to meet; and he must be an Anchorite indeed who can hope to resist their charms. Some one has had the malignity and ungallantry to style these young ladies 'college widows,' which perhaps is no misnomer after all. Last night I went to see my college widow, the faithful young angel who during the past few months has consumed quire after quire of monogram paper in imparting to me the 'inexpressible loneliness' which she experienced in my absence, and the 'anxious longing' with which she looked forward to my return to the classic shades of Ann Arbor, but who I now find has been consoling herself in my absence in the delectable society of 'Buggs,' a long-haired resident 'lit.,' whom she knows I never could tolerate. However, not that I am enabled to look after my case in person I shall enter a 'demurrer,' or demand a 'nolle prosequi.'"
 
 
 

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