The story begins in the late 1800s with the founding of the University of Denver, opening to its students in 1864 as the Colorado Seminary. Like many colleges founded in the late 19th century, however, lack of funding and enrollment resulted in a temporary closure of the Colorado Seminary. Even with the closure, the corporate entity remained, and through the efforts of Governor John Evans, founder of the University of Denver, the Colorado Seminary was reopened in 1888 with expanded facilities, more funding, new programs, and five full-time faculty members.

During the 1880s and 1890s, Rufus Clark donated a piece of his land to the Colorado Seminary that has allowed the creation of the “University Park Colony”, which today includes the “University Park Campus” of the University of Denver. In this same period, the Colorado Women’s College was founded in 1888 and construction of the first buildings began concurrently on each campus.

The turn of the 20th century marked a period of growth for both the Colorado Women’s College and the University of Denver (formerly known as the Colorado Seminary). Dr. Henry Buchtel became the first chancellor at the University of Denver and served in this position for twenty-one years, taking time off between 1907 and 1909 to serve as the Governor of Colorado. Under Buchtel’s administration, all of the university’s debts were paid off, enrollment doubled, and the College of Business was founded within the first decade of the new century. Simultaneously, the Colorado Women’s College opened its doors to its first students as a two-year college in 1909, with enrollment at 59 students its first year. The first decade proved successful for the college as it moved to a four-year institution, offering both BS and BA degrees. By the year 1915, the enrollment had reached an impressive 178 students.

The 1920s and 1930s were a period characterized as building for the future for both institutions. Even as Buchtel ended his term as the chancellor in 1920, many new buildings were being added, including the Mary Reed Library which opened in 1932. The University of Denver switched from a semester system to a quarter system and while the medical, dental and pharmacy schools were eliminated, Fine Arts, Social Work and Library Science programs were added. Meanwhile, the Colorado Women’s College once again became a two-year institution and it too continued to construct buildings like Foote and Porter Hall, which were completed during these two decades. Enrollment continued to grow, jumping almost another 100 students from 265 in 1929 to 358 students ten years later. Its significant achievement during this period was receiving accreditation by the North Central Association in 1932.

With the 1940s came the war years, as both campuses mobilized for World War II in support of the effort. The war caused the University of Denver to flourish with the sudden influx of students studying on the GI Bill. However, these numbers dropped rapidly in the early 1950s as the benefits were used up. During the 1940s, the University of Denver saw five chancellors, one who served twice. At the same time, the Colorado Women’s College flourished and paid off all of its capital debts in full by 1945.

The 1960s brought a “mixed bag” of changes for both the college and university. Football ended at the university in 1961 and three years later, the University of Denver celebrated its centennial. Soon after, in 1967, Maurice Mitchell took the position of chancellor. The Colorado Women’s College once again became a four-year college and enrollment reached an all-time high of 1,117 students in 1967. Most notably, Temple Buell pledged $25 million in trust and as a result, the college was renamed Temple Buell College.

During the beginning years of the 1970s decade, the name of Temple Buell College was changed back to the Colorado Women's College, marking the first reintroduction of the word “women” into the name of the college. Also, during this period, a re-engagement program was established, targeting working women over the age of 25— considered the progenitor to The Women’s College of today. In 1976, Marjorie Bell Chambers became the first woman president of the college. The same year, because of financial difficulties, the Colorado Women’s College proposed a merger with the University of Denver, which was declined. In light of this, the Board of Trustees voted to close the college, only to be kept open by an emergency infusion of $500,000. Shortly after, Marjorie Bell Chambers resigned as president enrollment dropped to 417 students, Sherry Manning was named the new president. On the DU campus, the institution launched a $50 million program to raise money for both buildings and programs.

The turn into the 1980s also marked a turn toward new beginnings. The Weekend College for re-entering women began with 127 students its first year. This innovation put the Colorado Women’s College, and subsequently, The Women’s College, on a different path that would allow the institution to serve a more diverse audience. Because financial hardship still threatened CWC’s livelihood, the NCA put it on probation, driving both the college and university to re-visit the possibility of affiliation. After a study conducted by both institutions, the Colorado Women’s College and the University of Denver merged in 1982. CWC held it’s last commencement that year. DU, committed to continuing women’s programs, incorporating The Weekend College into the College of Business. After acquiring the CWC campus, the university closed its downtown campus and moved the Law School and the Lamont School of Music to the “Park Hill” (formerly the CWC) campus. At the end of this decade, Daniel Ritchie was named chancellor of the University of Denver.

The 1990s brought rapid change to the institutions. Michele A. “Mike” Bloom was named the Executive Director of The Weekend College, and through her efforts, it was soon renamed as The Women’s College— the 2nd time “women” is reintroduced into the college name. The Women’s College subsequently became a separate academic unit and in 1997, Michele A. Bloom was named the first Dean. Enrollment reached a new high of 500 students. Capital fundraising at DU transformed the campus with new facilities including the Ritchie Center, the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, and several others. Cindy and Tom Marsico donated $10 million in 1999 to enhance the academic intensity and excellence in the undergraduate arts and sciences curriculum.

At the end of the decade, the Park Hill Campus was sold to Johnson and Wales University, necessitating moving the Lamont School of Music, The College of Law, and The Women’s College to the University Park campus. Merle Chambers, through the Chambers Family Fund, donated the lead gift of $3 million of the needed $9 million to create a center for the advancement of women which would house The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, HERS, and The Women’s College. Fundraising for the building exceeded expectations and was driven predominately by women donors from the Metro-Denver area.

At the turn of the 21st century, The Women’s College and the University of Denver are at the horizon of new beginnings and poised for future advancement and success. In 2004, the Merle Catherine Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women was opened. In 2005, Daniel Ritchie stepped down and Dr. Robert D. Coombe became chancellor of the university. The Women’s College achieved a landmark in 2006 with the graduation of its 1,000th student. And in 2007, Dr. Lynn M. Gangone became the 2nd Dean of The Women’s College. Mike Bloom was named Dean Emerita.

At present, we are fast approaching the turn of yet another decade, which will bring The Women’s College to the forefront of women’s higher education and place us as a leader in advancing the world through women— locally, nationally, and globally.