Wesleyan College: Macon’s landmark for women’s education

Editor’s note: The following story is part of a feature called Home Grown in which we take a look at the people and products that have made a name for themselves well beyond our Middle Georgia borders.

Macon’s Wesleyan College is a landmark for women’s rights in education.

Originally chartered in 1836, the college was the first in the world founded as a full college specifically for women. Now located on Forsyth Road in northern Macon-Bibb County, Wesleyan’s undergraduate enrollment has remained all-female.

In the 1850s, the college was also the first home to the Adelphean Society and Philomathean Society, now known as Alpha Delta Pi and Phi Mu. The groups were the first Greek letter organizations for women and now boast chapters across the country.

Kate Miller, a Phi Mu who graduated from Mercer University in 2006, said she enjoys seeing historical markers for the organization at Wesleyan.

“As a Phi Mu alumna living in Macon, I feel so honored to be surrounded by our rich history,” she said.

Macon’s Cannonball House also has collections dedicated to both groups.

This story was originally published November 15, 2016 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Wesleyan College: Macon’s landmark for women’s education."