Explore this section to learn about the establishment of Wheaton Female Seminary.

Letter written by Mary Lyon to Laban Morey Wheaton responding to his invitation to serve as principal of soon-to-open Wheaton Female Seminary. Letter is dated July 8, 1834. Page 1The Founding

Mary Lyon, Consultant

Engraving based on a portrait of Mary Lyon. Date unknown.Eunice Caldwell, Principal

Students in a botany class, 1885The First Curriculum

The following sources provided the information presented in the exhibit.

  • Bentley, William. “The Diary of William Bentley.” Salem: 1905-1914. Vol. 3, page 364.
  • Clark, G.F. (1859). A History of the Town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, From 1669 to 1859. Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and Company.
  • Ellis, Francis. “Rare Mary Lyon Letters Found: Are in Day House; Founder of Mt. Holyoke College Frequently Visited in Old Norwood.” Norwood Messenger, 2 April 1938. Wheaton College Archives.
  • Helmreich, P.C. (2002). Wheaton College 1834-1957: A Massachusetts Family Affair. New York: Cornwall Books.
  • Larcom, L. (1885). “Wheaton Seminary: A Semi-Centennial Sketch.” Cambridge.
  • Paine, Harriet E. (1907). The Life of Eliza Baylies Wheaton: A Chapter in the History of the Higher Education of Women. Cambridge: Riverside Press.
  • Wheaton College Archives (hereafter WCA): Wheaton Family Correspondence (185C.3): Letters to E.B. Wheaton 1848-1878: Trustees to E.B. Wheaton, 22 March 1870.
  • WCA: Founders: Manuscript by M. Moniot: “The Founders of Wheaton Seminary.” 1979.
  • WCA: Founders: Manuscript by J. Copeland. Not dated.
  • WCA: Founders, Mary Lyon (2 of 2). 1389: Lyon, Mary Correspondence: “Teaching”. Not dated.
  • WCA: Wheaton Family Coll.: Manuscript by E. B. Wheaton: “Incidents in the life, and a brief act. of the death of Hon. Laban Wheaton.”
  • WCA: Wheaton Family Correspondence (185C.3): Letters to E.B. Wheaton 1879-1890:  M.C.B. Chase, C.M. Pike, F.V. Emerson, & E.A. Norcross to E.B. Wheaton, 27 September 1879.
  • WCA: Wheaton Family Correspondence. 089: Laban Morey Wheaton: Correspondence, etc.: L.M. Wheaton to T. Eddy, 18 April 1835.
  • WCA: Wheaton Family Correspondence. 089: Laban Morey Wheaton: Correspondence, etc.: maxims written by L.M. Wheaton. Not dated.
  • WCA: Wheaton Family Memorabilia. 089: M.C. Smith: Note about silk floss. Not dated.