The Marvin Female Institute was founded in Lexington, Missouri in 1869.[1][2] It operated by three conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and was named in honor of Bishop Enoch Mather Marvin.[3][4] Its original location was in a building on South 6th Street.[5] Its president for the first year was William F. Camp, pastor of the Methodist church in Lexington.[5][2] He was replaced by J. O. Church of Columbia, Tennessee for the 1870 to 1871 year.[5]
In December 1870, the Grand Lodge of the Missouri Masons gave the institute the former Masonic College building and five acres worth $20,000 ($481,895 in today's money).[6] The institution moved to the former Masonic College in 1871.[5][1] The Masons made the donation with the understanding that some $50,000 would be invested in buildings and improvements to the campus.[5] The building was renovated and the student's rooms were carpeted and furnished.[7]
At the October 1871 Methodist Episcopal Church conference, the institute's name was changed to Central Female College.[8] Later, it was called the Central College for Women.[1][9]
In 1904, the college had 135 students and eighteen teachers and officers.[4] In March 1925, the three Methodist conferences announced plans to relocate Central College for Women to provide a larger campus with a Class A rating.[10] If college was not relocated, its assets were to be liquidated and used for women's education in Missouri.[10] In mid-March 1925, Kansas City announced its interest in becoming the new home for the college.[11] In April, a million dollar fund was planned for the move to Kansas City, along with arrangements for the donation of 100 acres.[12] At the end of the spring 1925 semester, the Central College for Women closed.[1]
After closing, its property in Lexington was acquired by Central College, now Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. It included three main buildings: an administration building, a dormitory, and a classroom/auditorium building.[11]
Academics
Its first year, the college offered classes in algebra, arithmetic, grammar, Latin, mechanical philosophy, moral philosophy, music instruments, physiology and hygiene, rhetoric, trigonometry, and vocal music.[2]
