Lucinda Hinsdale Stone was the wife of James Stone, a Baptist minister and the first president of Kalamazoo College. She served the college as a teacher and principal of the Female Department from 1843 to 1863. She advocated the right of women to have an education and to teach at the college level. In 1890 Lucinda Hinsdale Stone travelled the length of Michigan’s Southern Peninsula to assist in fo
rmation of the Michigan Women’s Press Association. She was admired for her courage and dedication to these causes.
“Educator, Feminist and Mother of Clubs”
Lucinda and her husband James worked tirelessly to get legislation in Michigan passed that would allow women in Michigan to attend University. Ultimately resulting in the passing of this resolution by the Legislature of 1869. The resolution officially went into effect in January of 1870 allowing women to apply to and attend college at the university of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Until the time of her death, Lucinda was one of the foremost women in Michigan, and her reputation was national. She made a vigorous fight for higher education for women. She lived to see both Kalamazoo College and the University of Michigan open their doors to women. Stone was the first woman to receive from Michigan State University, the Honorary Degree, Ph.D. Her legacy positively influenced the women of Kalamazoo. She was prominent in patriot circles as well and it is fitting that our chapter be named in her honor.
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