Kalamazoo was an object of derision with some of the professors
of the University, because it was, they averred, of doubtful
gender. But a liberal-minded public grew more and more in favor
of epicene colleges. Literary seminaries had been established for
coeducation at Albion, Olivet, Adrian and Hillsdale, but some of
their charters were not exactly of a collegiate grade, and it was
doubtful whether under the new constitution, new college charters
would be granted, so that Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor had the field.
In January, 1845, a bill was introduced in the legislature to
organize literary institutions under a general law, no collegiate
degrees being allowed, unless on the completion of a curriculum
equal to that of the State University. The championship of this
bill fell to Dr. Stone, for while it would have no special effect
on Kalamazoo, it concerned the cause of coeducation in the State,
and the friends of the University made it a kind of test of what
the State policy should be in reference to the higher learning
for women. Dr. Tappan, then the able president of the University,
appeared at Lansing, supported by Rev. Dr. Duffield and a force
of able lawyers, to oppose it, and the far-seeing friends of
education in the legislature and in the lobby, rallied with Dr.
Stone for its support. For several weeks the contest was carried
on with earnestness, almost with bitterness, before the
legislative committees, before public meetings called in the
capitol for discussion, and on the floor of both houses. Dr.
Tappan made frantic appeals to Michigan statesmen not to disgrace
the State by such a law, which he prophesied would result in
"preparatory schools for matrimony," and, shocking to
contemplate, young men would marry their classmates. Among the
friends of the measure present, were President Fairfield,
Professor Hosford, and Hon. Mr. Edsell, of Otsego, all graduates
of Oberlin, who had married their classmates, and "been glad ever
since." They replied, "What of it? Are not those who have met
daily in the recitation-room for four years, as well prepared to
judge of each other's fitness for life-companionship, as if they
had only met a few times at a ball, a dress party, or in private
interview?" The legislature was an intelligent one, and the bill