Wesleyan University Facts for Kids

Wesleyan University, is a private liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. It was founded by Methodist leaders and the people of Middletown in 1831. The university was the first college or university to be named after John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Wesleyan is one of the three small New England colleges that make up the "Little Three" (or the "Little Ivies"): the others are Amherst and Williams Colleges.

History

Wesleyan was founded as an all-male Methodist college in 1831. In 1872 it became one of the first American colleges to let female students attend. Some of Wesleyan's male alumni did not think that letting women go to the school was a good thing. They believed that it made Wesleyan look bad. Wesleyan stopped letting women got there and from 1912 to 1970 Wesleyan operated as an all-male college. Wesleyan began letting women attend again in 1970. At that time many females had went to the all-female Connecticut College in nearby New London, Connecticut.

Images for kids

The Samuel Wadsworth Russell House, home to the Philosophy department. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001 and is considered one of the finest examples of domestic Greek Revival architecture.
The rear of College Row: From left to right: North College, South College, Memorial Chapel, Patricelli '92 Theater (not pictured: Judd Hall)
The view from Foss Hill: From left to right: Judd Hall, Harriman Hall (which houses the Public Affairs Center), and Olin Memorial Library
Clark Hall, a freshman dormitory built in 1916 and renovated in 2002
'92 Theater
The front facade of Olin Memorial Library.
Alsop House
Memorial Chapel, a multi-denominational space built in 1871.
Wesleyan Cardinals logo
Original Mystical Seven
Herb Kelleher, co-founder and CEO of Southwest Airlines
David Josiah Brewer, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator from Colorado and former presidential candidate
John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator from Colorado, former Governor of Colorado and former presidential candidate
Max Rose, former U.S. Representative from New York's 11th congressional district
Peter Shumlin, former Governor of Vermont
Lael Brainard, Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
Ward Farnsworth, Dean of the University of Texas School of Law
Jed Hoyer, president of baseball operations of the Chicago Cubs; general manager of the San Diego Padres
Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots; winner of six Super Bowls
John Perry Barlow, poet and essayist
Amanda Palmer, singer-songwriter, frontwoman of The Dresden Dolls
Stephen Talbot, TV documentary producer known for Frontline
Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly; director of The Avengers
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright and actor known for Hamilton and In The Heights
Michael Bay, director known for Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and the Transformers series
Akiva Goldsman, Academy Award-winning screenwriter known for A Beautiful Mind, Batman & Robin, I Am Legend, and The Da Vinci Code
D. B. Weiss, co-creator and showrunner of Game of Thrones

Wesleyan University facts for kids

History

Images for kids

See also