Midway College , a 205 acre working farm, generously provides a tranquil, tree-shaded setting for Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival, and is a short walk from Midway's historic downtown. (Jump to Campus Map)

Founded in 1847, Midway College celebrated its 160th birthday in 2007. Kentucky’s only college for women has, in recent years, become known for its accelerated co-educational evening programs.

Midway College Founder,  Dr. L.L. Pinkerton   Jan. 28, 1812 - Jan. 28, 1875

from Kentucky Female Orphan School to Pinkerton High School to Midway Junior College to Midway College

Dr. Lewis Letig Pinkerton was a physician, teacher and pastor of Midway Christian Church.  A progressive man, Pinkerton served the congregation of Midway Christian Church for over 20 years, helped establish Second Christian Church for African Americans (thought to be one of the oldest African American Christian Churches in the United States), and even worked as a physician for the Union Army in the Civil War.  He was a visionary who sought to welcome the stranger in his midst. 

After preaching to a congregation in Richmond, Kentucky that was struggling with how to deal with an orphaned blind female, Pinkerton returned to Midway Christian Church and told them he had discovered a tremendous need on the frontier.  He and another member of the congregation, James Ware Parrish, then founded the Kentucky Female Orphan School, eventually to become Midway College. 

Excerpted from Midway Magazine 2006.   Text written by Randi Ewing.

Dr. L.L. Pinkerton believed, as have so many others, that the way out of poverty and ignorance is education. Picture a prayer meeting at Midway Christian Church in the 1840's. The weather is stormy so only one brave man, James Ware Parrish, an elder, ventures out. That night, as those two men sat on a pew, they shared a dream of a school which would be devoted to educating young women. That dream has grown into what is today Midway College. That dream has grown from providing a high school and junior college education to offering a bachelor's degree in many fields.

Wouldn't Dr. Pinkerton be amazed to know that his dream now offers a "bridge to a brighter future" through evening business degrees for men and women and an on line degree path on over 18 campus'  throughout Kentucky? 

Excerpted from letter by Edna Shearers Barber '72 '94
Midway College Alumni Association President