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The Blue Book of Iowa Women A History of Contemporary Women

Compiled by Winona Evans Reeves, 1914.

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Mrs. Margaret McDonald Stanton

Margaret McDonald Stanton, teacher, member of the first faculty of the Iowa State College at Ames, was born in New Concord, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1845, and died at her home on the college campus, July 2, 1895.  A teacher is not alone one who teaches the rule of three and the facts and dates of history but one who moulds character and gives to young people ideals.  Margaret McDonald was educated in the public schools of Ohio, in the Muskingum College, and in the Young Ladies' Seminary in Mt. Pleasant, from which she graduated with honors.  She taught in the public schools for several years, spending her vacations in the home of an educated French family, to improve her French.  In 1871 she was elected to the chair of English and French in the State Agricultural College, as it was then called.  Vocational schools were then an experiment and there were very few co-educational schools.  Largely through her tact and wisdom did this co-educational college become popular and many girls came here to be educated.  On Feby. 22, 1877, she was married to Prof. E. W. Stanton, and in 1879 resigned her position as teacher, to make a home.  Four children were born to them, one died in infancy.  Margaret Hall, on the campus, is named in her honor, as is also the beautiful campanile in which a chime of sweet toned bells sound the hours, and every day from the tower is played some hymn, bringing to mind the faith, the noble character, and the womanly graces of the woman whose life inspired the erection of this monument.

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