Today Michigan women attend and graduate from public colleges and universities at higher rates than their male peers. But such was not always the case. Despite being considered one of the most progressive, pro-public education states in the country, Michigan systematically denied women access to the state’s top public schools until 1870.

In 1855, sisters Abigail and Delia Rogers decided to take the fight for co-education to Lansing, where they founded the Michigan Female College in the Michigan State Capitol. The school lasted fourteen years, during which time the Rogers joined James and Lucinda Stone of Kalamazoo, and many others in lobbying the State to fund higher education for women and open the University of Michigan and the Agricultural College (now MSU) to female students. Ultimately the Rogers successfully worked themselves out of a job when, in 1870, the University and College finally acquiesced and enrolled their first female students.

Join Capitol Historian Valerie Marvin to learn more about this fascinating, if often over-looked chapter of Michigan history.