In 1886, Rose June Colby became the first woman to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan. Her pioneering dissertation, “Some Ethical Aspects of Later Elizabethan Tragedy, Preceded by an Examination of Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy,” marked a significant academic achievement. Born on June 4, 1856, in Cherry Valley, Ohio, Colby moved to Ann Arbor during her teenage years. Her parents prioritized education, seizing the opportunity when the university began admitting women in 1870.
Starting at Ann Arbor High School, Colby graduated in 1874 and followed her sister to Michigan. She described her university years as transformative, stating, “From the time [the university] opened to women when I was 14 and knew I was to go to Michigan, it gave a settled purpose and wider outlook.” Her education at the University of Michigan was rigorous and enlightening, fostering a relentless intellectual curiosity.
Colby earned her bachelor’s degree and then taught high school, briefly attending the Harvard Annex, now Radcliffe College, before returning for her master’s and Ph.D. Her dissertation was not only a milestone for U-M but also positioned her among the first women in the U.S. to receive a Ph.D.
Despite her academic achievements, Colby faced challenges securing a university professorship and returned to high school teaching. In 1892, she joined Illinois State Normal University, now Illinois State University, where she taught English literature for 40 years. Colby also served as dean of women, supported the Sapphonian Society, and was actively involved in the women’s suffrage movement.
Colby retired in 1931 but continued writing and lecturing until her death in 1941 at the age of 84.
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