Susan Tolman Mills
Encyclopedia
Susan Tolman Mills was the co-founder of Mills College
(formerly the Young Ladies Seminary at Benicia, California
).
(then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary) in 1845.
Mills taught at Mount Holyoke until she married the missionary Cyrus Mills in 1845. They taught in Sri Lanka
(then Ceylon) for many years, returning to Massachusetts
in 1854.
). Susan served as a teacher at the school. They moved to California
in 1864.
was initially founded as the Young Ladies Seminary at Benicia
in 1852. It was under the leadership of Mary Atkins, a graduate of Oberlin College
.
In 1866, Susan and Cyrus bought the Young Ladies Seminary and renamed it Mills Seminary.
In 1871 the school was moved to Oakland, California
and the school was incorporated in 1877. The school became Mills College
in 1885. In 1890, after serving for decades as principal (under two presidents as well), Susan became the President of the college and held the position for 19 years.
, on December 12, 1912.
Susan Tolman Mills is buried at Sunnyside Cemetery, located on the Mills College
Campus.
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
(formerly the Young Ladies Seminary at Benicia, California
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
).
Background
Mills was born on November 18, 1825, in Enosburgh, Vermont. She graduated from Mount Holyoke CollegeMount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a liberal arts college for women in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It was the first member of the Seven Sisters colleges, and served as a model for some of the others...
(then Mount Holyoke Female Seminary) in 1845.
Mills taught at Mount Holyoke until she married the missionary Cyrus Mills in 1845. They taught in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
(then Ceylon) for many years, returning to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1854.
Punahou School
In 1860 Cyrus Mills became president of Oahu College (now known as Punahou SchoolPunahou School
Punahou School, once known as Oahu College, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii...
). Susan served as a teacher at the school. They moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1864.
Mills College
Mills CollegeMills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
was initially founded as the Young Ladies Seminary at Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
in 1852. It was under the leadership of Mary Atkins, a graduate of Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
.
In 1866, Susan and Cyrus bought the Young Ladies Seminary and renamed it Mills Seminary.
In 1871 the school was moved to Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and the school was incorporated in 1877. The school became Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
in 1885. In 1890, after serving for decades as principal (under two presidents as well), Susan became the President of the college and held the position for 19 years.
Death
Mills retired in 1909 and died in Oakland, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, on December 12, 1912.
Susan Tolman Mills is buried at Sunnyside Cemetery, located on the Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
Campus.