Episode 1 of 2

Charter of the Maine State Seminary

When
1855
Where
Lewiston, Maine
Part of
Bates College founded by abolitionists

Oren Burbank Cheney founded the Maine State Seminary in 1855, establishing it as the first coeducational college in New England.

The Maine State Seminary was chartered in 1855 in Lewiston, Maine. It implemented a liberal arts and theological curriculum, distinguishing itself as the first coeducational college in New England. This foundation reflected Cheney's commitment to equality and religious freedom.

Sources

  1. Bates College Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.