Philanthropist. Mary Monnett Bain was a pioneer in the history of the development of higher education for women in the 19th century. In 1856, Mary Monnett gave the Ohio Wesleyan Female College $10,000 for the purpose of constructing a modern building that would combine classrooms with a dormitory. The donation, which represented ten percent of her net worth, was made at a time when the majority of girls in the US were not educated beyond eighth-grade standards, and a college education for a woman was available only at a select few institutions of higher learning. The resulting building, named Monnett Hall in her honor, was a landmark on the Ohio Wesleyan campus for 120 years. The structure was also the largest residential facility for college-aged women in Ohio until 1920. The college's annual spring festival, Monnett Weekend, is named in her honor. Her portrait, for many years, was displayed in a place of honor on the university's campus (although it may no longer be displayed there). Monnett Clubs and OWU Alumni Clubs that are exclusively female meet in all 50 states. Mary Monnett Bain was also a substantial donor to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio during its great period of growth, which coincided with the first half of her life. In her personal life, Monnett married J.W. Bain; she was the stepmother to the widower J.W. Bain's children by his earlier marriage and had two children with him. She was also the maternal grandmother to Monnett B. Davis, United States Ambassador to Israel (1951-1953).
Philanthropist. Mary Monnett Bain was a pioneer in the history of the development of higher education for women in the 19th century. In 1856, Mary Monnett gave the Ohio Wesleyan Female College $10,000 for the purpose of constructing a modern building that would combine classrooms with a dormitory. The donation, which represented ten percent of her net worth, was made at a time when the majority of girls in the US were not educated beyond eighth-grade standards, and a college education for a woman was available only at a select few institutions of higher learning. The resulting building, named Monnett Hall in her honor, was a landmark on the Ohio Wesleyan campus for 120 years. The structure was also the largest residential facility for college-aged women in Ohio until 1920. The college's annual spring festival, Monnett Weekend, is named in her honor. Her portrait, for many years, was displayed in a place of honor on the university's campus (although it may no longer be displayed there). Monnett Clubs and OWU Alumni Clubs that are exclusively female meet in all 50 states. Mary Monnett Bain was also a substantial donor to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio during its great period of growth, which coincided with the first half of her life. In her personal life, Monnett married J.W. Bain; she was the stepmother to the widower J.W. Bain's children by his earlier marriage and had two children with him. She was also the maternal grandmother to Monnett B. Davis, United States Ambassador to Israel (1951-1953).
Bio by: SHaley
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