MARY LYON

CHARACTER TRAITS

LIFE SUMMARY

• She was born in Buckland, Massachusetts, in 1797. She was inspired by her Uncle Enos Smith and one of her teachers inspired her to commit her life to education. She wanted to establish a new college for women focusing on missions. She started by going from town to town and getting donations of items, furniture, and money. She then later won approved to make and run the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, at South Hadley, Massachusetts.

LIFE SUMMARY

• On November 8, 1837, Mary opened the school for her first class of 80 students. She served as principal at this school for 12 years, and died in 1849.

LASTING PURPOSE

• The school she started, Mount Holyoke, stays today as a well respected institute for women’s education. She was also remembered as a defining figure in helping to educate women.

QUOTE

• “Nine-tenths of our suffering is caused by others not thinking so much of us as we think they ought. There is nothing in the universe that I fear, but that I shall not know all my duty, or shall fail to do it.” Mary Lyon

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