College of the Sisters of Bethany

College of the Sisters of Bethany

Originally named Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka
Type	Private
Active	February 2, 1861–1928
Religious affiliation	Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
Location	Topeka, Kansas, USA

The College of the Sisters of Bethany is a defunct school located in Topeka, Kansas. The school was chartered by the Kansas Territory on February 2, 1861 (although Kansas was officially admitted to the Union four days earlier) and was originally named Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka^[1] but changed its name on July 9, 1872.^[2] Classes began with 35 students and 2 teachers on June 11, 1861.^[3] The school operated under the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas church until it closed in 1928.^[4]

The "territorial charter" was approved by the legislature on January 29, 1861—the same day that President Buchanan signed the Act of Congress admitting Kansas into the Union as a state. However, Territorial governor Samuel Medary returned the bill with objections. The legislature considered his objections and passed the bill with enough of a majority to overcome the governor's objections on February 2. This was the last legislative act of the Kansas Territorial government.^[5]

References

1. Higher Education in Kansas, p128
2. Thirty years in Topeka: a historical sketch by Frye William Giles, p187
3. Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. Volume I Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.
4. The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas history
5. Thirty years in Topeka: a historical sketch by Frye William Giles, p184