A Preliminary Report on the Documentation and Archaeological Research Concerning the Georgia Female College of Madison, Georgia, 1850-1880.

The first colleges or females in Georgia were organized under the auspices of religious denominations, the First being one in Macon organized by the Methodist Church. It was given the name "Georgia Female College", but before it could be put into operation an economic depression contributed to the bankruptcy of the project. Later it was reorganized and today is known as Wesleyan College, of Macon. In Madison, Georgia, a group of local Baptists determined that a school for females should be undertaken, and that it should offer education beyond the Academy level. It was, therefore, called "The Madison Collegiate Institute", and was incorporated by the Georgia Legislature by an act approved January 17, 1850. Rev. Charles M. Irwin, pastor of the Madison Baptist Church, was appointed agent for the school to raise funds for its endowment. The obituary for John B. Walker, a Morgan County resident, states that Walker built the College at his own expense (The Madisonian, December 22, 1883). Soon after the Madison Collegiate Institute opened its name was changed to "The Georgia Female College", but this change was not approved by the legislature until December 3, 1851.