Sarah Parke Morrison

Born in Salem, in 1833, to educationally enlightened parents, who ran the county seminaries, her life may have been predetermined by her environment. Obtaining her secondary education, at a time before women were accepted into public universities, she would graduate from the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, in Connecticut. Afterwards, she began her own career in education, securing a teaching job with the Glerdale Female College, in Ohio, where she rose to the position of Assistant Principle. After leaving the school, she followed this, by completing her post-gracuate studies at Vassar Female College.

In 1867, she became involved in her father's efforts to petition Indiana University, to accept women students, when he offered her $5 to write an appeal to the Board of Trustees. The appeal was granted and when no female students had applied, prior to the new fall semester, Sarah decidedly chose to lead the way, becoming the first female student enrolled at Indiana university. Her exceptional educational background, and determination to set the female standard, excelled her through four years of study, in two years, and she became the first female graduate of the university in 1869.

She returned to IU, in 18/0, to obtain her master's degree and served as the university's female student advisor. During this rime, the university's female enrollment had increased significantly and there were increasing calls for a female professor. In 1873, Sarah became the first female faculty member of Indiana University, when she accepted the position of Ad Junct Professor of English Literature, ultimately securing the trifecta of female firsts for IU.

After a brief teaching stint at the university, Sarah went on to serve the educational system, in numerous capacities and with several institutions, for most of the entirety of her life, in her private time, she authored numerous poems and several books, and also became an active leader, heavily involved, with the Society of Friends, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement, fighting for female equality until the end.

While living with a younger sister, Sarah departed this life in 1919, and is buried in their family's plot, in the Indianapolis Crown Hill Cemetery.