Hellmuth Ladies' College (founded September 1869; closed 1899) was a private college for women in London, Ontario. The college was founded by Reverend Isaac Hellmuth[1] and was inaugurated by Prince Arthur. The college had no official connection with a church; but under the patronage of its founder and namesake, it was thoroughly Anglican.[2] Princess Louise became its patroness on her visit in 1878.[3] The college was devoted to the study of arts and sciences. It was located on Richmond Street North, just south of Windermere Road on the hill overlooking the Thames River. Hellmuth Ladies' College was complemented by Hellmuth College — for young men, founded 1865 — also of London, Ontario.[4] Hellmuth Ladies' College closed sometime between 1899 and 1901. The properties were acquired by the Sisters of St. Joseph and transformed into Mount St. Joseph Orphanage.
 Hellmuth Ladies' College (c. 1895) Courtesy of The Ivey Family London Room (genealogy), London Public Library, London, Ontario | |
| Motto | Get Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Active | 1869–1899 |
| Affiliation | Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Huron |
| President | Right Rev. Isaac Hellmuth (1819–1901) Rev. Theodore Irving, LL.D. (1809–1880)[a] |
| Principal | Rev. Edward Noble English (1851–1918) Rev. Henry Faulkner Darnell (1831–1915) |
| Location | , , |
| Mascot | Beaver |
Property
- The land
In 1867, Isaac Hellmuth purchased 150 acres with a hill overlooking the Thames River, and commissioned the design and construction of Hellmuth Ladies’ College.[5]
- The main building
The main building was designed by Gundry & Langley, a Toronto-based architectural firm headed by Thomas Gundry (1830–1869) and Henry Langley (1836–1907).[6][7] Since the closing of the college in 1899, the building served as a convent and orphanage. It stood until 1976, when it was demolished. Mount St. Joseph Academy for girls continued in that location until 1985. As of 2011, the building and its grounds are the official home of Windermere On The Mount, a retirement residence operated by Revera.
The main building took on a new role in 1899, when it was purchased by the Sisters of St. Joseph, a Roman Catholic order of sisters dedicated to caring for orphans and the elderly, educating young girls, and ministering to the poor. Under its new name, Mount St. Joseph Mother House, the building and property served as both an orphanage and a convent for the sisters.
- The chapel
Isaac Hellmuth erected a small chapel, just a short walk from the main building, and named it St. Anne's Chapel, in honor of the then Lady Principal, Anne Mills.
- Norwood House
Residence of Bishop Hellmuth.
Diplomas, certificates, medals
Hellmuth Ladies' College conferred diplomas, certificates of standing, and medals. Silver medals were awarded for general proficiency; silver and gold medals were awarded for proficiency in special subjects, including divinity, mathematics, science, and languages.[8][9]
Administration and selected faculty
Notable alumnae
- Victoria Grace Blackburn (1865–1928), journalist and author[22]
- Kate Sara Chittenden (1856–1949), professor of music; received the Dufferin Bronze Medal for Art in 1873,[g]
- C. Lucile Dora, professor of the Romance languages and literature, University of Oklahoma[23][h][24]
- Evelyn Johnson (1856–1937), poet[i][25]
- Maggie Langdell (née Margaret Ellen Huson; 1856–1907), 1875 diploma from Hellmuth, 1880 marriage to Christopher Columbus Langdell (1826–1926), Dean of Harvard Law School[26]
- Madge Macbeth (née Madge Hamilton Lyons; 1881–1965), author and first woman president of the Canadian Authors Association[27]
- Marian Osborne (née Marian Georgina Francis; 1871–1931), poet[28][29]
- Anna Diller Starbuck (1868–1929), professor of music[17][30]
Publications
- The Hellmuth World, the newspaper of Hellmuth Ladies' College
- Notable contributors:
- Louise Amelia Knapp Smith Clappe (1819–1906)[31]
Student organizations
Chi Omega, a U.S. based sorority, chartered its Phi chapter at Hellmuth Ladies' College in 1899. Its one-year presence at Hellmuth stands as Chi Omega's only international expansion in the sorority's one hundred and thirty-nine years of existence.[32] and Hellmuth's only Greek sorority.
References
- Notes
- Inline citations
External links
- "The Western University, London, Ontario," The Illustrated London News, November 23, 1878 (copy at Google Books)
- Architect's drawing of the Hellmuth Ladies' College building Archived 2012-05-06 at the Wayback Machine elevation, June 23, 1868, courtesy of the Toronto Public Library
- Records of Hellmuth Ladies' College, Huron Diocese Archives
External links
Media related to Hellmuth Ladies' College at Wikimedia Commons