Honoring a legacy of Spartan women
Walking through the West Circle neighborhood, with its twisting sidewalks, Gothic architecture and old-style streetlamps, is a reminder of Michigan State University’s early years. Exploring the history of the area’s six residence halls reveals the spirit of the Spartan women for whom they re named.
The six buildings honor the legacies of Spartan women who changed the university s landscape Mary Mayo, Louise Hathaway Campbell, Linda Landon, Elida Yakeley, Maude Gilchrist and Sarah Langdon Williams. These women paved the way for future Spartan women to discover, create, innovate and advocate.
Mary Mayo
Mary Mayo, leader of Michigan’s rural women and advocate for children, called for the establishment of a women’s course at MSU. She believed the land-grant mission supported equal opportunity to education. Mayo’s determined efforts for the acceptance of women into the college changed the course of MSU history.