But a still more interesting story is that connected with the
establishment of the State University in Kansas. Its name will be seen
on the list of colleges which owe their existence to Oberlin. This
university is one of those whose _character_ was determined by the
excitement the success of Oberlin had aroused; but its _existence_ was
due to two ladies from Western New York. It will have been seen, by some
details in the body of this work, that an attempt was made to secure for
woman a share in the noble State endowment at "Ann Arbor," Michigan, but
without success. I will tell a part of the story in the language of Miss
Mary Chapin, then of Milwaukie, the lady who, with the assistance of her
sister, carried the work out in Kansas.
"Some years ago," she says, "the Legislature of Michigan decided that
girls might be admitted as pupils to the State University. The faculty
of that institution consulted the 'wise men of the East' on the subject,
and excluded women on the ground of expediency. If it were necessary to
make it a mixed school, in order to admit them, perhaps they acted
wisely. It is no more just and wise to give the charge of endowed
schools for girls to men, than it would be to put Harvard and Yale into
the hands of women. Girls need incentives to study, even more than
facilities for it. The fact, that the real education of the boy begins
where that of the woman ends, is not so depressing as the 'hard work and
low wages' which await her as a teacher. In 1863, Kansas accepted the
grant of land from Congress for the endowment of a State University. The
citizens of Lawrence secured its location in that city, by the gift of
forty acres for a site. The college was not organized; and it seemed the
time and place to decide whether women should enter endowed schools on
equal terms with men, as pupils and teachers. Many of the most
influential men of Kansas thought it both just and expedient to give
women an equal share of the benefits of the university, and voted for
such a result. To obviate the objection which closed the Michigan
University to women, a bill was drawn up, organizing a double school;
that for girls to be taught by women. Some objection was made to this
unusual provision, and the time was too short to urge its necessity: so
the bill merely reads, that it _may_ be taught by women. The date of
this law is February, 1864. A school-building was finished last summer
(1866), and the college opened in September. The regents elected a
president and three professors at the outset, one of the latter being a
lady. There is some danger that the two schools will become one, by an
act of the Legislature. If this occurs, nothing important is gained;
but, if the present organization continues, woman may here show what a
true feminine culture implies: for, while woman differs widely from man,
like him she needs _development through her own work_."
I have altered none of the statements in this admirable letter. It will
be seen that Miss Chapin went to Kansas, desiring to accomplish two
things: she not only wanted education, but position and _compensation_,
for women, from the State fund. I want these also; but I only ask for
the first, for I am certain the rest will follow. Neither do I think it
wise to insist that women shall be taught only by women, until
universities have done the necessary work of preparation. In all the
colleges mentioned on the Oberlin list, women are employed as teachers:
there are already a good number of professors of Greek and mathematics.
Nor is the welfare of _women_ alone a sufficient motive for me. I am
satisfied, that humanity and civilization gain, in the mixed college,
more than either sex can lose. It remains for me to give a few of the
personal details which Miss Chapin's modesty has omitted. When she first
thought it her duty to press this matter, she knew that she must be in
Lawrence, in order to do the "talking" which must precede an act of
legislation in America. She corresponded with Governor Robinson, in
reference to a day-school in Lawrence, and started with her sister to
take charge of it. On their way, they were startled by the terrible
news of the Kansas raid. They hesitated for a little; but, thank God, in
spite of raids, the work of the world goes on. Miss Mary went on herself
in September, and, after a week's residence, decided to defer the
opening of her school. In December, both sisters went, and began their
daily teaching, and the gentle agitation which was to yield the great
result. They also tried, at the East, to raise money to realize at once,
on a small scale, their ideal of a practical course of study for women,
especially of a scientific school. "Science," says Miss Chapin, "has not
yet been applied to the arts of domestic life. The ordering of home, as
a centre of comfort and culture, has yet to be considered. Architecture
has much to do with civilization. The laws of health and the means of
social progress lie entirely in woman's province. Horticulture will do
more for her than calisthenics. She is ready to do useful work, but has
no means. A very wasteful economy denies her this, to lavish thousands
on her folly and ostentation."
I cannot detail all the obstacles which Miss Chapin's effort
encountered. Mr. Charles Chadwick, of Lawrence, drew up the bill;
General Dietzler and Governor Robinson pushed it. At the last moment,
the original bill was carried off in the pocket of an opposing member;
but the wit and quick memory of a woman saved it.
It has been mentioned, that, after its passage, a lady was elected
professor, with a salary of $1,600, and the same for her assistant. It
is almost needless to say, this was Miss Caroline Chapin. She has not
yet accepted the position. The two sisters are at the head of a high
school in Quincy, Ill., which has this peculiarity: there is attached to
it a school in modelling, under the charge of a professed sculptor.
In the first part of this volume, I have intimated that a new effort has
been made, sustained by the pleading of Theodore Tilton, to open
Michigan University to female students. At the moment when these pages
go to press, it seems uncertain whether this resolution will prevail
with the present Legislature, or whether a motion for a university for
women, under the same regents, will supersede it. The Greek professor
has practically solved the difficulty, by admitting his own daughter to
his classes, without asking the faculty. This example was set him, years
ago, by Mr. Magill, in the Boston Latin School.
As these pages go to press, an anonymous statement appears, to the
effect that there have passed examinations for the University of
Cambridge, England,--Junior boys, 1,126; Junior girls, 118; Senior boys,
212; Senior girls, 84. It would seem that the conditions of the opening
of this university are hardly understood. If I am right, these
examinations confer a certain rank on the female scholars, but do not
admit them afterward to the university.