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Founded in 1890, Bennett College evolved from a small progressive school into one of New York State’s notable institutions for women’s education, reflecting changing roles for women across nearly a century of American history.

Bennett College began under the direction of two sisters Linda Dows Cooksey and Margaret Worcester Dows Dunham and the teacher May Friend Bennett. The school operated on its campus in Millbrook, New York, from 1907 until its closing in 1978. The vision and leadership of its founders and faculty guided the school through several moves, from its meager beginnings in a parlor room in Westchester County to historic Halcyon Hall, as well as the expansion of the Millbrook campus to accommodate a growing student body, evolving curriculum, and extracurricular offerings. During its nearly ninety-year history, the College experienced major national events including the women’s suffrage movement, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.