Mount Holyoke College

Definition

Founded in 1837, Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges and served as a model for other women's colleges.

Analogy

Think of Mount Holyoke College as a trailblazer in a dense forest. Just like how a trailblazer clears the path for others to follow, this college paved the way for other institutions to educate women at higher levels.

Related terms

Seven Sisters Colleges: A group of prestigious East Coast women's colleges established in the 19th century, including Mount Holyoke.

Mary Lyon: The founder of Mount Holyoke College who believed strongly in providing higher education opportunities for women.

Coeducation: This refers to the integrated education of males and females. While not practiced at Mount Holyoke (a traditionally all-women’s school), it became more common throughout the 20th century.