Simmons University

The founding of Simmons University is fairly unique. Despite being an all-female college, the founder was male. John Simmons was a prominent clothing manufacturer and real estate developer. He died in 1870 and left his inheritance to create a female college. The process did not begin until 1899 because of the Great Fire of 1872, which held up the property inheritance. In 1899, a charter was granted and research began for the university. In 1901 the College acquired property in Boston on St. Botolph Street (near Northeastern) and leased other properties to temporarily hold classes until a permanent location could be secured. In 1903, the college purchased land next to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and finished construction of its main building in 1904. The early days brought the creation of the first dormitory, South Hall and the dining hall, the Refectory. Additionally, sports were an important part of the colleges development during the 1910s. The next few decades brought about further expansion of the college and by 1933, the college had 1577 students, 13 buildings and 9 different schools. WWII marked an important point for the schools expansion, which was enabled by the changing gender roles within society. After the war, the 1950s and 1960s brought further renovations to the aging campus as well as growth of the endowment. While the Cold War period brought disorder to many college campuses, changes occured on Simmons without major disruptions. The college continued expanding through the next 20 years, becoming increasingly relevant through the computer age and following Title XI. Additionally, they have been a leader on transgender rights. In November 2014, the school became the third women-centered college in the US to accept transgender women. The college also experienced a major title change in 2018 when the school officially became “Simmons University” in order to better fit the variety of different programs the institution offers. The University reorganized into 4 colleges with then different schools and departments within them.