Stephens College history

LEARN. GROW. LEAD.

1855

1870

1912

1921

1833

The Academy closes

Institution Renamed

Columbia Female Academy Founded

Woods named President

Burrall Bible Class comes to Stephens

Trustees quickly establish its successor, the Columbia Female Baptist Academy.

The Academy opens under the helm of Lucy H. Wales

James Madison Wood becomes the president of Stephens College.

James L. Stephens endows the College with $20,000 and the institution is renamed in his honor.

Jessie Burrall brings the Burrall Bible Class to Stephens. It becomes so popular, thousands of students from both Stephens and the University of Missouri attend.

LEARN. GROW. LEAD.

1923

1925

1926

1933

1921

Science Hall Opens

Children's School Opens

The Ten Ideals are born

Prince of Wales Riding Club forms

100th Anniversary

Science Hall — now Hickman Hall — opens.

10 values to which Stephens women pledge to adhere.

The Prince of Wales riding club, the country’s oldest continuously active riding club, forms on campus.

Stephens College opens a children’s school on campus, serving both education majors and community school children.

Campus celebrates the 100th anniversary of Stephens College.

LEARN. GROW. LEAD.

1960

1970

1983

1998

1944

New Honors house plan

Stephens Without Walls

Aviation program introduced

First Female President

Stephens Otto retires from Board of Trustees

Stephens begins an innovative new honors house plan.

Stephens introduces the first aviation program for women.

Patsy Sampson becomes first female president of Stephens College.

Stephens debuts Stephens Without Walls (now the Graduate, Online and Certificate Programs).

Carl Stephens Otto retires from the Board of Trustees. He is the fifth and last generation of the Stephens family to serve the College.

LEARN. GROW. LEAD.

2006

2009

2014

2014

2004

Citizen Jane Festival Begins

Dr. Lynch Named President

Pet Friendly Campus

$15 million gift

New Motto

Citizen Jane Film Festival begins at Stephens College. The festival grew from the Citizen Jane Film Lecture Series, which brings working film industry professionals to campus to share insights and experiences.

Stephens becomes a pet-friendly campus and later earns the title of the pet-friendliest college.

Stephens receives a $15 million unrestricted gift, the largest in the College’s history.

Dr. Dianne Lynch becomes the 24th president of the College.

The College unveils a new brand and motto, “dream up.” A new Stars logo is unveiled for the Stephens Athletics teams.

Stephens Scholars Honors Program debuts

“Stephens Scholars has given me access to higher level courses that challenge me and better prepare me for my future. It has also helped me be a part of the Columbia community by introducing me to local business owners at their businesses.” —Karrie Armstrong ‘22

The program continues to challenge students with rigorous coursework while placing them in a supportive network of thinkers, dreamers and doers.

Founded in 1960, it's a pioneer among the nation's honors programs that continues to be selective, innovative and community-focused.

James L. Stephens endows the College with $20,000

institution is renamed in his honor.

He also went on to serve as chair of the school’s board of curators. Throughout his life, James extended the business of Columbia: He donated money for education and infrastructure improvements, started the concept of a cash-only store, and laid the foundations for the University of Missouri as a curator of MU.

Having donated $20,000 during a ruinous financial period for the school in 1869, the institution was renamed in James’ honor. After his initial donation, James remained actively involved in fundraising for the college.

Right: Portrait by George Caleb Bingham. Courtesy State Historical Society of Missouri

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James gave an additional $6,000 in 1870 to relieve debt and helped pay for a number of improved properties on the school’s campus.

Pet-friendliest campus on the planet

Stephens College has been welcoming cats, dogs, birds and other pet friends to campus.

Stephens has welcomed many types of pets on campus. Students who are unable to bring a pet to campus can still participate in the pet-friendly community by fostering a pet from a local shelter before the pet finds a long-term family. And even if you have a pet that is not listed on their “allowed pets” list, you can contact the Office of Student Development to inquire about your animal. In addition to this, the president’s office has dog treats on-hand! Birds, cats, fish, and rabbits are also accepted around campus. "Being able to have pets basically made my decision to come here," Abby Herzog said in a 2008 Missourian article. "It just wouldn't have been as appealing."

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The Children's School

at Stephens College

During the 1919-1920 school year, Stephens appears to be developing its education degree.

The Stephens College Children’s School would open five years later in 1925, and students today still reap the benefits of working directly with children in our education program. Our students are active learners who have a variety of opportunities to test ideas in real-world situations. Our arts-infused curriculum and classroom activities are designed to promote independence, problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking.

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Students would go to Robert E. Lee Grade School—Lee Elementary today—to practice teaching for a half hour. Stephens women would supervise play, and the story telling hour in the primary and third grade was also “handed over to college girls.”

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Prince of Wales Club established in 1926

The Prince of Wales Club is the oldest continually active riding club in the country. The club helps to educate riders, encourage good sportsmanship and develop appreciation for all horse breeds. The Prince of Wales Club also hosts and participates in a variety of equestrian events in the community. The club was named after Prince Edward VIII, who had a reputation for falling off of his horse.

Charter Signed

The club's original charter, now framed and hanging in the office at the Equestrian Center, declares that the club's intent is to "encourage and develop the efficiencies in understanding the techniques of riding." It is signed by 14 charter members; including humorist Will Rogers after the real prince declined to sign the charter.

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Film Festival lasts 12 years

Director Jillian Schlesinger said in a 2013 article, "Citizen Jane is great because you get to meet a lot of women from different generations, which is really valuable because it gives us an opportunity to connect in a really personal and intimate way about our craft and what we're all doing in the world of filmmaking."

Sponsored by Stephens College, the festival exhibited productions by female filmmakers around the world in addition to hosting a filmmaking summer camp for young women for 12 years.

The Citizen Jane Film Festival originated in 2008. It started out as a film lecture series at Stephens that developed into a four-day festival where filmmakers could display their work. The festival screened films exclusively made by women, including narratives, documentaries and short films. It allowed for professional filmmakers, up-and-coming talent and interested women to meet and strengthen the female film industry.

Stephens introduces the first aviation program for women

The 1940s were also pivotal for women and women’s roles in the world with World War II opening up new career opportunities.

The college also offered the first collegiate aviation program for women in 1944. The program was located at Columbia Municipal Airport from 1941 until 1960. The former airport is now the location of Cosmo Park. Nancy Corrigan, the second American woman to secure a commercial pilot license, was among the instructors. She also taught male aviators during the war. Stephens College used part of the Candlelight Lodge, formerly the Allton Hotel, as classrooms to teach aeronautics to Stephens College women.

The Academy closes in 1855

Reopens in 1856

In 1856, David H. Hickman secured the college’s charter, and students studied voice, English, and moral philosophy in a church building. The school came under Baptist control in 1856 according to John Greene. The Neidermeyer apartments were built to house the female students. Photo to Right - 1907, when the Niedermeyer Apartments were the Gordon Hotel. Photo from the Missouri State Historical Society, with the notation of no known copyright restrictions.

Stephens College opens Science Hall

Stephens hired James Jamieson, a St. Louis architect, for the preliminary sketches of new buildings on Stephens’ campus when the school’s enrollment began to grow. Jamieson joined with George Spearl in 1918 and formed the firm Jamieson and Spearl. Jamieson designed Wood Hall, Columbia Hall, and Hickman Hall.

According to the United States Department of the Interior, Hickman Hall was constructed on Stephens’ campus in 1922. The hall is one of five buildings in the Stephens College South Campus Historic District, located at 1200 East Broadway. The other four buildings are Senior Hall, Wood Hall, Columbia Hall, and the President’s House.

Following construction, almost all of the other buildings constructed on campus for the next 20 years used the same Jacobethan style as Hickman Hall. Most of these buildings were designed by Jamieson and Spearl as well. Jamieson and Spearl also designed buildings at Washington University, in St. Louis, Princeton University, Bryn Mawr College, and MU.

Information from COMO magazine.

The 1933 edition of the Stephensophia goes into detail once again about the various academic subjects of the day. In science, an instructor of botany, takes students on field trips to the Ozarks. The head of the Division of Humanities which comprises of art, literature, drama, music and religion says the primary purpose of teaching in the division is to give the student “opportunity for that self-realization that comes from active participation in any of the fine arts.” The second aim is “the creation of a tolerant attitude toward all forms of art and religions, an open-mindness that defers judgment until after it has been weighed and considered.” In music, the director of the conservatory gave a concert this year in New York. The Division of Social Studies seeks to aid the student in understanding the problems arising from the human necessity to live in groups, to analyze and evaluate in light of man’s past experience. Faculty include Major Rolf Raynor whose “excellence in his instruction in riding is evidenced by the fine showing that Stephens makes in the horse show held at Missouri University each year.” In the Division of Skills and Techniques, which houses languages and education, the Carmencita Spanish Club hosts speakers, dances and music this year to celebrate the culture.

100th anniversary of Stephens College

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President James Madison Wood, in his yearbook address, acknowledges the milestone by recalling the “little band of pioneers from Virginia and Kentucky” who unanimously adopted the resolution founding the Columbia Female Academy under the direction of Miss Lucy Wales. The first women of Stephens were from a time where food, clothes and luxuries were produced at home; not so with the modern women of 1933.

“Founded primarily for a religious purpose, Stephens College has never emphasized the importance of the religious phase of cultural education, with its appeal to all that is finest and noblest in the girl-nature.” We’re told she holds Sunday School in the auditorium and attracts hundreds of students with special themes such as “Blonde Sunday” and “Date Sunday.” A special feature of the class is Glee Club, which promotes pep songs and special music. In 1924, Burrall Bible Classes are still attracting 1,000 some students from Stephens and MU and is said to be the largest Sunday School class of its kind in the world. Burrall, we’re told, is “our sincere and beloved friend whose personal inspiration and lessons in practical Christianity have given us new ideals of service and Christian living.”

Religion arrived on campus.

Thousands attend from Stephens and MU

It’s 1921 and Miss Jessie Burrall--and religion--have arrived on the Stephens College campus. Burrall came in February of that year to head the newly reorganized religious education department. The Stephensophia reports the department is now one of the most vital departments on campus. One student said, “I didn’t know I could enjoy a Sunday School class as much as I enjoyed the Burrall Class. Miss Burrall certainly is a live wire.”

Columbia Female Academy

Founded in 1833

It was 1830 when Lucy Ann Wales made her way — alone — from her home in Weymouth, Massachusetts, to what was then the tiny frontier town of Columbia, Missouri. Lucy Ann came originally to teach the children of some of Columbia's most privileged residents, but in 1833 she was hired to be the first headmistress of the Columbia Female Academy — the original name of what would become Stephens College. The academy was founded on August 24, 1833. The Columbia Female Academy was born out of necessity. Missouri Militia Gen. Richard Gentry was elected chairman of a group dedicated to the education of Columbia women. He also had five daughters who needed an education, so he helped organize the institution.

Woods spends 35 years at Stephens

President James Madison Wood’s spent 35 years at the helm of Stephens College from 1912 to 1947. He wrote in his farwell speech, “My final word to you, then, as Stephens women, is to hold true to your purpose—and to your ideals. You will live in a world beset with problems and needs. Your contribution to that world is indispensable if it is to rebuild itself into some semblance of order and goodness. Where men have failed, in their dependence on dollar diplomacy, you will not fail. My faith in you sustains and supports my faith in the future.”

Stephens Grows

During Woods tenure at Stephens, he helped transform Stephens from the smallest to the largest private junior college in the United States. Students wrote about him in the Stephensophia saying, “Visitors wonder at the temerity of a college president who places on his office door the sign ‘Please Do Not Knock” and at the unbelievable vitality of that man who all day long welcomes with an unhurried air and friendly smile the throngs of students who stop in—to discuss college problems, their own personal difficulties or more often merely to say a word of greeting or just to talk.”

The Ten Ideals are born.

In 1921, a new tradition that’s still recognized on campus today.

Inherent in the culture of Stephens College is the tradition of the Ten Ideals, which originated in 1921 and which represent the core values that enrich and inspire our lives. Each year, 10 students (“The Ten”) are selected as personifications of individual ideals. The Ten are revealed at Honors Convocation, a long-standing campus tradition that celebrates outstanding students, faculty and alumnae.

1. Respect for our own dignity and the dignity of others, embodied in a sense of social justice
2. Courage and persistence
3. Independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency
4. Support for others through the willingness to take and give criticism, acceptance and love
5. Sensitivity to the uniqueness and fragility of the natural world of which we are part
6. Responsibility for the consequences of our choices
7. Belief in our changing selves and in our right to change
8. Creativity in the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of life
9. Intelligence that is informed and cultivated, critical yet tolerant
10. Leadership which empowers others

Dr. Patsy Sampson Arrives

Patsy Sampson, president of Stephens College from 1983 to 1994, was the first female president at the women’s college. Sampson came to Stephens from Drake University in Iowa, where she was the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and a psychology professor. One coworker said, “She was very generous about opening her home to students and groups.” Dr. Sampson advocated being a servant leader to her students. She wished to do more than simply guide her students; she wanted to be an instrument that furthered their educations.

Lasting Impact

During her time, Sampson fought to save the college’s historic Senior Hall, the oldest building on campus. She helped the school fundraise $3.5 million for renovations and worked on cultivating relationships with wealthy alumnae capable of giving major gifts to the college. Dr. Sampson had a lasting impact on the educational structure of the college, archivist Alan Havig said. “The best I can say is that she met challenges, and she met them fairly well,” Havig said.

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