Most People Don’t Know That The First College Chartered To Grant Degrees To Women Was Right Here In Georgia

There's so much history in Georgia, from ancient Native American stories to colonial and Revolutionary War happenings. The Peach State has accomplished a lot over the years. We're home to several historic universities, including the South's first historically black university (Clark Atlanta University) and the country's first state-chartered university (the University of Georgia). But did you know we're also the home of the first college chartered to grant degrees to women? Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, has quite a history. Let's take a look into the past of this elite women's university:

Wesleyan is a private women's liberal arts college with a strikingly beautiful 200-acre campus.

The school was founded in 1836 and was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.

Mount Holyoke College, a private women's college in Massachusetts, got the jump on Wesleyan and opened first, in 1837. Wesleyan opened in 1839.

When the school opened, it was named Georgia Female College to note its uniqueness.

The first student to earn a degree from Wesleyan was Catherine Brewer Benson, who graduated in 1840.

The Georgia native was born in Augusta and her parents enrolled her in the Georgia Female College on its opening day.

Interestingly, Wesleyan College has several more famous firsts.

The college has the world's oldest alumnae association (started in 1859) and also was home to the first sororities in America, though sororities were disbanded on campus in 1914.

Who knew there were so many famous firsts at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA!

To learn more about the history of Wesleyan College in Macon, GA, check out the Wesleyan College Facebook page or Wesleyan College website.

Macon is such a fun city with so much to check out on a visit, and I'm especially a fan of the food! Check out this exploration of the Macon Bacon Trail.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/georgia/macon-bacon-trail-ga/