Whitworth Female College facts for kids
Whitworth Female College was a college for young women in Brookhaven, Mississippi. It was started in 1858 by Milton Whitworth and was connected to the Methodist church.
History of Whitworth College
The college was founded in 1858 by Milton J. Whitworth. It opened its doors in 1859. The college closed down in 1984. For many years, until 1938, it was linked to the Mississippi Methodist Conference.
During the Civil War, the college building was used as a hospital for soldiers. After the war ended, the college was able to open again.
In August 1878, local freemasons (a community group) helped lay the first stone for a new brick building at the college. Inside this stone, they placed a time capsule. A time capsule is a container filled with items from the present, meant to be opened in the future. Important people like U.S. Senator Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II and Jefferson Davis were expected to be there, but they could not make it.
In 1925, the college received its first official recognition from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This meant it met certain standards for education. In 1928, Whitworth College became a two-year school. It was connected to Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
By 1938, the college had money problems. Its leaders decided to close it and combine it with Millsaps College. The city of Brookhaven then bought the campus. From 1941 to 1984, different colleges used the location for short periods. All educational activities stopped there in 1984.
In 2003, the state of Mississippi opened the Mississippi School of the Arts on the old college grounds.
Governor Vardaman's Visit
During his time as Governor of Mississippi (from 1904 to 1908), a politician named James Kimble Vardaman visited the college. He was known as the "Great White Chief." Students at Whitworth College honored him with flowers and a special poem.
Notable Former Students
Many talented young women studied at Whitworth Female College. Here are some who became well-known:
- Lulah Ragsdale (1862-1953): She was a poet, a writer of novels, and an actor.
- Nellie Nugent Somerville: She made history as the first woman ever elected to the Mississippi Legislature.
