Mary Lyon fought for Higher Education for Females

Mary Lyon was born in Buckland, Massachusetts in 1797. She became a teacher in a village school when she was still a young girl. She strongly believed that women who were poor like her needed to have an opportunity for higher education.

Friends came to her assistance and Mount Holyoke Seminary, was the first institution of higher learning for women in America. It was open in 1837 and it was poor at first. The school rapidly became famous and in 1888 changed its name to Mount Holyoke College.

more about Mary Lyon at http://www.mtholyoke.edu/marylyon/