1870: Women Arrive!

1870 was the first year a woman graduated from the university, after careful consideration of allowing females on campus to study education. Twenty-two women had been admitted in 1868 to the School of Education, though women were allowed to take special courses prior to 1868, but there were no departmental offerings.

That said, in 1867, the university recognized the need for a school for women. So, in June of that year, state constitution decreed that a department of instruction be “established and maintained,” according to a university archives article, titled “Year of the Tigress.”  In September 1867 “Normal College” came into being and the first female students studied there. At that time, the campus consisted of “The University,” the president’s house, a limited observatory and “Normal,” – the latter of which was housed in the Peace Park, next to where the current Department of Geological Sciences resides today.

Normal, according to the article which referenced the University Missourian, was “a pile of bad lumber shivered itself into a severe looking building at the north of the campus, where South Seventh street opens on Elm.”

It was the year the next “Chancellor’s Residence” or “President’s House” was built on campus on the now David R. Francis Quadrangle.