Waco Female College facts for kids
Waco Female College was a school for girls in Waco, Texas. It was connected to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The college opened its doors in 1857 and closed in 1895. Later, the land was bought by Add-Ran Christian University. This university eventually became Texas Christian University.
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History of Waco Female College
Starting the College
Waco Female College received its official permission, called a charter, in 1854. It began teaching students in September 1857. At first, a local pastor named Franklin Collett Wilkes oversaw the school. William McKendree Lambden was the college's first president.
Later, Pinckney Downs became president. In 1859, Ferdinand Plummer Maddin took over. He led the college for ten years. Samuel Pascal Wright became president in the late 1870s.
New Charters and Growth
The Texas government gave the college another charter on February 11, 1860. This made it a non-religious school. It combined two other schools: Waco Female Seminary and Waco Female Academy. The college might have also been known as Waco Union Female Institute. That school was chartered on February 16, 1858.
Where the College Was Located
Waco Female College first stood on a special plot of land. This land was set aside for a women's college in 1849. A building was built there between 1859 and 1860. Around 1892, the college moved to a larger area. This new site was about 13½ acres on the edge of town.
What Students Could Study
The college started with two main parts. One was for preparatory students, like high school. The other was for collegiate students, like college. In 1872, they added places for students to live at the school. In 1883, they added kindergarten and primary classes.
That year, 126 students were enrolled. By 1893, the number grew to 202 students. In 1890, Waco Female College was named one of the top three schools in Texas for women's education.
Tuition and Courses
Students paid $25 for tuition each term. There was also a $5 fee for their diploma. Boarding, which included living at the school, cost $70.
The college offered many subjects. These included penmanship, map-drawing, and history. Students also learned about Christianity, philosophy, and math like trigonometry. Science classes included astronomy, geology, botany, and physiology. English, rhetoric, and Latin were also taught.
To get a degree, students had to take all these classes. However, they could choose French, German, art, or music instead of Latin. Students also had to take "physical culture," which was like physical education.
Why the College Closed
Waco Female College closed in 1895. This was because of money problems. The college might have spent too much on its recent expansion. It was also affected by a financial downturn in the US in 1893.
After it closed, Add-Ran Christian University bought the buildings and 15 acres of land. This university is now Texas Christian University. Add-Ran Christian University used the site until a fire in 1910. After the fire, the university moved to Fort Worth, Texas.
Notable People from Waco Female College
- Florence Gerald (1858–1942): She was an actress who taught elocution (public speaking) at the college.
- Mattie Minor Wright (1866–1948): She was a student at the college. She later became the first consecrated deaconess of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
