History

Marquette University opened its doors in September 1881 and — more than 20 years later, in 1909 — began admitting religious and lay women. It was the first Catholic university in the world to offer coeducation as part of its undergraduate program. Today, more than 50 percent of Marquette students are women, and the university offers a women's and gender studies major and minor.

Times change, but the memories of the events and people in them live on. See the pictures. Read the stories. Click on the collections below to experience the history of women at Marquette.