August 1, 1854- A group of twenty-nine free-state settlers, organized by the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company, arrives at what will become Lawrence, Kansas. The company was the brainchild of Eli Thayer (pictured) with financial backing from Amos Lawrence. Thayer had established the Oread Collegiate Institute in Worcester, MA in 1848. It was a school for women, as Thayer believed women deserved the same educational opportunities as men. According to one source I found, there was only one college in the U.S. accepting women at the time. When the founders of Lawrence settled the new city, they re-named Hogback Ridge to Mount Oread in Thayers honor. When KU opened its doors on Mt. Oread in 1866, all students were allowed to enroll, regardless of race or gender.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 16:30:00 +0000
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