Central Female College
 Central Female College, 1904 | |
Other name | Central College for Women |
|---|---|
Former name | Marvin Female Institute |
| Type | Private |
| Active | 1869–1925 |
Religious affiliation | Methodist Episcopal Church, South |
| Location | , , United States |
Central Female College (also known as Marvin Female Institute and Central College for Women) was a women's college located in Lexington, Missouri. The institution was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It operated from 1869 to 1924.
History
[edit]The Marvin Female Institute was founded in Lexington, Missouri in 1869.[1][2] It operated by three conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and was named in honor of Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin.[3][4] Its original location was in a building on South 6th Street.[5] Its president for the first year was William F. Camp, pastor of the Methodist church in Lexington.[5][2] He was replaced by J. O. Church of Columbia, Tennessee for the 1870 to 1871 year.[5]
In December 1870, the Grand Lodge of the Missouri Masons gave the institute the former Masonic College building and five acres worth $20,000 ($481,895 in today's money).[6] The institution moved to the former Masonic College in 1871.[5][1] The Masons made the donation with the understanding that some $50,000 would be invested in buildings and improvements to the campus.[5] The building was renovated and the student's rooms were carpeted and furnished.[7]
At the October 1871 Methodist Episcopal Church conference, the institute's name was changed to Central Female College.[8] Later, it was called the Central College for Women.[1][9]
In 1904, the college had 135 students and eighteen teachers and officers.[4] In March 1925, the three Methodist conferences announced plans to relocate Central College for Women to provide a larger campus with a Class A rating.[10] If college was not relocated, its assets were to be liquidated and used for women's education in Missouri.[10] In mid-March 1925, Kansas City announced its interest in becoming the new home for the college.[11] In April, a million dollar fund was planned for the move to Kansas City, along with arrangements for the donation of 100 acres.[12] At the end of the spring 1925 semester, the Central College for Women closed.[1]
After closing, its property in Lexington was acquired by Central College, now Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. It included three main buildings: an administration building, a dormitory, and a classroom/auditorium building.[11]
Academics
[edit]Its first year, the college offered classes in algebra, arithmetic, grammar, Latin, mechanical philosophy, moral philosophy, music instruments, physiology and hygiene, rhetoric, trigonometry, and vocal music.[2]
Student life
[edit]The college had several Greek letter organizations, including Beta Sigma Omicron, Phi Theta Kappa, Eta Upsilon Gamma and Sigma Iota Chi.[1] It was one of seven women's colleges in Missouri that were the original members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges and programs.[13]
Notable people
[edit]Alumnae
[edit]- Icie Hoobler, biochemist
- Esther McCoy, author and architectural historian
Presidents
[edit]- William F. Camp, 1869 to 1870[5][2]
- J. O. Church, 1870 to January 1872[5][7]
- Abram Davenport, January to April 1872 interim[14]
- W. T. J. Sullivan, May 1872 to 1876[5][15]
- M. G. McIlhaney, 1876 to 1878[5]
- Wesley G. Miller, 1878 to 1879[5]
- William F. Kerdolff Jr., 1879 to 1888[5]
- A. A. Jones, 1888[5]
- Zachariah M. Williams[5]
See also
[edit]- List of colleges and universities in Missouri
- List of current and historical women's universities and colleges in the United States
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (August 5, 2023) "Closed Institutions". Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed December 21, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Marvin Female Institute". The Weekly Caucasian. Lexington, Missouri. 1870-07-02. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Leete, Frederick DeLand (1948). Methodist Bishops. Nashville: The Parthenon Press. p. 120.
- ^ a b Williams, Walter. The State of Missouri An Autobiography. Columbia, MO: Press of W.E. Stephens, 1904, p. 423. via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Conard, Howard Louis (1901). Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri: A Compendium of History and Biography for Ready Reference. Southern History Company. pp. 552–553 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Marvin Female Institute". Jefferson City Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. 1870-12-14. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "A New Institution. Rev. J. O. Church, of this City, President". The Lexington Intelligencer. Lexington, Missouri. 1872-01-10. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "M. E. Church, South Conference". Kansas City Journal. Kansas City, Missouri. 1871-10-05. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "In Lexington, An Old School Town of Missouri". The Kansas City Star. 1925-02-01. p. 99. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Two Methodist Colleges Will Be Abandoned Soon". The Daily News and Intelligencer. Mexico, Missouri. 1925-03-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Seek Church School Here; Kansas Citians Bid for Lexington Girls' Institution". The Kansas City Times. 1925-03-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Central College to be Move to Kansas City". The Neosho Daily News. Neosho, Missouri. 1925-04-01. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Phi Theta Kappa History Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Central Female College". The Lexington Intelligencer. Lexington, Missouri. 1872-01-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Central Female College". Jefferson City Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. 1872-04-24. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.