Based on information on women who attended Oberlin College between 1833 and 1860, a sketch is drawn on the lives of American females during that period. Attention is directed to such demographic factors as the area of the country from which they entered the Oberlin College, the number of years they remained at the college, their mobility, marriage, husbands' occupation, and the womens' occupation or level of volunteer work. The research suggests that the changes in the lives of these women were minor, in contrast to the role of the male in the nineteenth century. The female of this period, in spite of her newly acquired education, remained the tender, Christian nurturer of her family and of society. It is concluded that there was conflict as a result of advanced education that was deeply felt by many of these women as they attempted to set future goals. They resolved this conflict by creating new roles for themselves, which revolved around the philanthropy allowed them by their newly found leisure time. This new time resulted from changes in the economy as well as those in education of women. These new roles were an outgrowth of the religious evangelism that they experienced at Oberlin College. (SW)