Sarah D. Allen Oren Haynes facts for kids

Sarah D. Allen Oren Haynes (born March 2, 1836 – died April 20, 1907) was an amazing American woman who achieved many firsts. She was a librarian, a mathematician, and a botanist. Sarah became the first woman to be the state librarian of Indiana. She was also the first woman to teach as a professor at Purdue University.

Early Life and First Marriage

Sarah D. Allen was born on March 2, 1836. Her family were Quakers and lived near Wilmington, Ohio. When she was just 16, Sarah started working as a schoolteacher. Later, she became a student at Antioch College.

On December 31, 1856, Sarah married Charles Oren, a friend from her childhood who also studied at Antioch. They bought a farm near Martinsville, Ohio, and had three children together. Charles became a captain in the army during the American Civil War in 1863. Sadly, he died in July 1864. Sarah continued to live on the farm for two more years, but one of her children also passed away during this time. In 1867, she moved back to her parents' home, but both her parents died that same year.

Becoming a Professor and Librarian

After these difficult times, Sarah returned to teaching. She taught at Antioch College for a year, then at a school in Indianapolis in 1868. From there, she taught at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis until 1873.

In 1873, the Indiana State government chose her to be the Indiana State Librarian. This was a very important moment because Sarah was the first woman ever to hold this position! However, by 1875, the government leadership changed, and she was not chosen to continue as librarian.

Sarah then moved to Purdue University. At first, she was called a "female teacher of the university." Soon after, she became an assistant professor of mathematics. Later, she was named a professor of botany, which is the study of plants. This was also a big step for Purdue, as 1875 was the first year the university allowed women to be students. While at Purdue, Sarah lived on campus with her daughter, Cata. She also helped plan a university orchard, set rules for students, and led a literary club.

Later Life and Second Marriage

In 1879, Sarah married Wesley Haynes. He was a farmer and a veteran of the Civil War, and he had two young children. Sarah had known Wesley since she was a child. To prepare for her marriage, she left her teaching job at Purdue in 1878.

Wesley died in 1897. After his death, Sarah moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to live with her daughter Cata, who had settled there after getting married. In Michigan, Sarah volunteered her time for a local church. She even helped raise money to buy an ambulance for the community. Sarah D. Allen Oren Haynes passed away on April 20, 1907.