Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founded 1858 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church as the Missionary Institute and Susquehanna Female College. The present corporate title was adopted in 1895.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Founded in 1858 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the school began as a pairing of the Missionary Institute with the Susquehanna Female College—an unusual early commitment to educating women alongside training clergy. It grew steadily through the nineteenth century and took its present name, Susquehanna University, in 1895. It remains a fixture of Selinsgrove.
Why it matters
Its founding reflects how nineteenth-century American churches built lasting colleges, and its early female college was part of the broader opening of higher education to women.
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Themes & tags
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