Female Department of Baylor University
Independence, Washington County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On this site stood the Female Department of Baylor University incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Texas, February 1, 1845; Henry L. Graves, first president, was elected January 12, 1846; Preparatory Department for Boys and Girls was opened May 18, 1846 with H. F. Gillett as teacher; Rufus C. Burleson became president in 1851; in 1886 when Baylor University moved to Waco and consolidated with Waco University; the Female Department moved to Belton and now bears the name of Mary Hardin-Baylor College
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Chartered under the laws of the Republic of Texas in 1845, the Female Department of Baylor University brought higher education to young women at a time when few institutions did. From its first president Henry L. Graves through the era of Rufus C. Burleson, it educated Texans until Baylor moved to Waco in 1886. The women's college then relocated to Belton, where it endures as the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Why it matters
As one of the earliest women's colleges in the West, the Female Department marks a foundational moment in American women's education and the origins of a university that still thrives today.
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Related people
- · Henry L. Graves
- · Rufus C. Burleson
- · H. F. Gillett
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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