22 Facts About Olympia Brown

Olympia Brown was an American minister and suffragist.

Olympia Brown was the first woman to be ordained as clergy with the consent of her denomination.

Olympia Brown was born on January 5,1835, in Prairie Ronde Township, Michigan.

The drive for education instilled by Olympia Brown's mother had compelled her to finish high school and advance to the university level.

Mount Holyoke and a college education were what Olympia Brown had hoped for.

Olympia Brown's excitement was tempered by the restrictions placed on women at Mount Holyoke.

Once Olympia Brown began her education at Antioch, she realized she had to catch up to higher standards.

Olympia Brown learned that despite the progressive nature at Antioch, there were still forms of discrimination.

Once Olympia Brown finished her schooling at Antioch, she decided her calling was to be a minister.

Olympia Brown arrived on campus in 1861 and graduated in 1863, becoming the first woman to graduate from an established theological school.

Olympia Brown decided to appeal to the Universalist Council, and traveled to nearby Malone, New York, to present her case to the Northern Universalist Association.

Some consider her ordination, approved by her regional Association, to be of greater significance than that of Antoinette Olympia Brown Blackwell, ordained in 1853 by the Congregational Church in South Butler, NY.

Olympia Brown Blackwell did not have formal support in her denomination beyond the local congregation.

Olympia Brown was the first woman to be ordained with official approval from a national denomination.

Olympia Brown spent some time at home with her family in Michigan, before beginning her first pastorate in Weymouth Landing, Massachusetts.

Olympia Brown was formally installed in July 1864, and ministered to the congregation for several years.

Olympia Brown went on to pastor a church in Bridgeport, Connecticut, being hired by the congregation despite initial reluctance by many parishioners who did not wish to have a woman pastor.

Now that Olympia Brown had dedicated her life to the movement, she looked to do all she could.

Olympia Brown believed that the second generation of suffragists suffered from poor leadership and erroneously focused their efforts at the state level.

Olympia Brown was married to John Henry Willis in 1873; she chose to keep her maiden name.

Olympia Brown spent her last years with her family in Racine, Wisconsin.

Olympia Brown continued to support women's rights and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.