Flora Richardson & the 1st Commencement

Portrait of Flora Richardson.

Flora Richardson's diploma, 1873.

Small scrapbook with newspaper clippings from the first commencemnt program including valedictory exercises. 

 

The Eighth Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Students of the University of Kansas, 1873-4 listing the degrees conferred at the 1873 commencement.

Ephemera from the first commencement.

Even though the University of Kansas began enrolling students in 1866, it was not until 1873 that there were seniors who were actually qualified to graduate with a college degree. The four students at that first commencement were Ralph Collins, Lindorf Deloss Lockhart Tosh, Murray Harris, and Flora E. Richardson who had the distinction of not only being the first KU student to ever cross the stage to receive a diploma, but she was also the first class valedictorian.