Rutgers Female College was a private women's seminary, chartered in April 1838 under the name Rutgers Female Institute. It was located in New York City, and moved to a few locations within the city before closing in 1894.

History

Its first home was at 262–66 Madison Street on the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, on land lent by William B. Crosby, one of the first incorporators. Isaac Ferris was a co-founder. The cornerstone of a new building was laid August 29, 1838, and the institute was opened on May 6, 1839. It was the first seminary for the higher education of women in the City of New York. In 1860, it moved uptown to 487–91 Fifth Avenue.An application for a full collegiate charter was made to the

New York State Legislature The New York State Legislature consists of the Bicameralism, two houses that act as the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York: the New York State Senate and the New York State Assem ...

, and granted April 11, 1867, expressly conferring on Rutgers all rights, powers, and privileges enjoyed by any college or university in the state, except the authority to grant medical or legal diplomas. By 1870, a branch had been established in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, at the corner of Second Avenue and 124th Street. At the 1870 commencement the college conferred an honorary doctorate upon

Maria Mitchell Maria Mitchell ( ; August 1, 1818 – June 28, 1889) was an American astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator. In 1847, she discovered a comet named 1847 VI (modern designation C/1847 T1) that was later known as " Miss Mitchell's Comet ...

, a professor at Vassar College, and one of the first well known women astronomers. By 1889, the college had moved to 54 and 56 West 55th Street. The college celebrated its 55th anniversary in 1894, and ceased operations that same year.

Notable people

Alumni

* Caroline Hart Merriam (1827–1893), mother of

Clinton Hart Merriam Clinton Hart Merriam (December 5, 1855 – March 19, 1942) was an American zoologist, mammalogist, ornithologist, entomologist, ecologist, ethnographer, geographer, natural history, naturalist and physician. He was commonly known as the "father o ...

, biologist, and

Florence Augusta Merriam Bailey Florence Augusta Merriam Bailey (August 8, 1863September 22, 1948) was an American ornithologist, birdwatcher, and nature writer. Between 1890 and 1939, she published a series of field guides on North American bird life. These guides were ofte ...

, ornithologist * Susie Barstow (1823–1936), landscape painter *

Mary Helen Peck Crane Mary Helen Peck Crane (, Peck; April 10, 1827 – December 7, 1891) was a 19th-century American church and temperance activist, as well as a writer. She was the mother of the writer, Stephen Crane. She died in 1891. Early life and education Mary ...

(1827–1891), activist, writer * Margaret Winship Eytinge (1832–1916), author * Florence Carpenter Ives (1854–1900), journalist and editor * Jennie de la Montagnie Lozier (1841–1915), physician *

Anna Oliver Vivianna Olivia Snowden, (April 12, 1840 – November 21, 1892) better known by her professional name Anna Oliver, was an American preacher and activist who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was one of the first women to attempt f ...

(1840–1892), preacher *

Emma Homan Thayer Emma Homan Thayer (1842–1908) was a 19th-century American botanical artist and author of books about native wildflowers. She also wrote several novels. Biography Emma Homan was born in New York City on Feb. 13, 1842, the daughter of George Wan ...

(1842–1908), botanical artist and author

Others

* Julia Keese Colles (1840–1913), faculty * Oliver Crane (1822–1896), faculty * Samuel D. Burchard (1812–1891), president

References

External links