Lasting Influences of MSU’s Early Students

By Alex Wesorick

I’m a junior student at MSU, and I have been working for Dr. Stacey Camp this semester, looking for information about some of our school’s oldest students. The original goal of the semester was to identify individuals found in a photo of the college’s first observatory, taken in 1888. Three individuals had already been identified: Professor Rolla Carpenter, Dr. Nelson Slater Mayo, and the only woman in the photograph, Mary Carpenter. She is also Rolla’s sister, and Nelson was her husband. 

While searching the archives we noticed one of the earliest women was Jennie Towar, who graduated in the year 1886. Looking into her revealed that her family was rather influential for early East Lansing, so it was decided to shift focus onto her family. Jennie was born to George and Elvira Towar on December 5, 1865, in Ingham county. She was their youngest child, with two brothers. It is noted that her father helped develop a plot of land that would be named Towar Gardens, which is now a neighborhood north of East Lansing (Towar, Towar Family Papers). 

While Jennie attended MSU (then Michigan Agricultural College), there were no dormitory options for women. Later, Abbot hall would be turned into a female dormitory, and Morrill Hall would be the first MSU dormitory built specifically for women, but this would not be until 1896 and 1900, respectively (“On the Banks”). Due to this, Jennie had to commute to campus. She graduated with a bachelor’s in science (it is unclear in what) and married Charles S. Whitmore in 1889. She moved to New York state with him and together they had a son, Maurice Towar Whitmore. Jennie Towar was a member of East Lansing’s Women’s club, a charter member of People’s Church, and helped found a Women’s home which was located on W. Willow street (“Jennie Towar Whitmore”). After the death of her first husband, Jennie married James A. Woodard, who would die in 1914. Jennie finally moved back to East Lansing, where she would pass on the 11th of February in 1957, at 91 years old. 

While searching the archives we noticed one of the earliest women was Jennie Towar, who graduated in the year 1886. Looking into her revealed that her family was rather influential for early East Lansing, so it was decided to shift focus onto her family. Jennie was born to George and Elvira Towar on December 5, 1865, in Ingham county. She was their youngest child, with two brothers. It is noted that her father helped develop a plot of land that would be named Towar Gardens, which is now a neighborhood north of East Lansing (Towar, Towar Family Papers). 

While Jennie attended MSU (then Michigan Agricultural College), there were no dormitory options for women. Later, Abbot hall would be turned into a female dormitory, and Morrill Hall would be the first MSU dormitory built specifically for women, but this would not be until 1896 and 1900, respectively (“On the Banks”). Due to this, Jennie had to commute to campus. She graduated with a bachelor’s in science (it is unclear in what) and married Charles S. Whitmore in 1889. She moved to New York state with him and together they had a son, Maurice Towar Whitmore. Jennie Towar was a member of East Lansing’s Women’s club, a charter member of People’s Church, and helped found a Women’s home which was located on W. Willow street (“Jennie Towar Whitmore”). After the death of her first husband, Jennie married James A. Woodard, who would die in 1914. Jennie finally moved back to East Lansing, where she would pass on the 11th of February in 1957, at 91 years old. 

Citations: 

Towar, J. A. (1882–1956). Towar family papers (UA.10.3.418) University Archives and Historical Collections, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

“On the Banks of the Red Cedar.” Msu.edu, 2025, onthebanks.msu.edu/Exhibit/162-567-45/dormitory-life/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

“Jennie Towar Whitmore (1865-1957) – Find a Grave…” Findagrave.com, 2022, www.findagrave.com/memorial/26042767/jennie-whitmore. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

“On the Banks of the Red Cedar.” Msu.edu, 2025, onthebanks.msu.edu/Object/162-565-3807/1884-football-team/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

“Former ROCA Presidents – Archives – ROCA.” ROCA, 22 Oct. 2025, www.roseworthy-roca.com.au/archives/former-roca-presidents/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

Towar, J. D. (1933). History of the city of East Lansing. East Lansing, Mich.: East Lansing Public Library.

Russell, Jennie. “The Rock at MSU.” On the Banks of the Red Cedar, Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections, Mar. 2023, onthebanks.msu.edu/Exhibit/162-567-11/the-rock-at-msu/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.