Leila McKee 1888-1904

Leila McKee was born in Kentucky in 1858. Her father was Vice-President of Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. She graduated from the Western Female Seminary and then received A.B. degrees from Centre College in 1885 and Wellesley in 1886. In 1892 she received an honorary M.A. degree from Centre College and a Ph.D. degree in 1892. Western College conferred a LL.D. degree on her in 1927. In 1888 she was selected as the second principal of the Western Female Seminary; during her term she was made president of the school. The 1890’s and the years of President McKee were the most important in the history of Western. One of the major changes was the Seminary became The Western College for Women, a liberal arts college for women. New courses were added as were male teachers, something Miss Peabody would not do. Alumnae Hall was built in 1892 and a dorm in 1905. The name of the dorm was McKee Hall in President McKee’s honor. In 1904 Miss McKee resigned and married James B. Welsh of Kansas City. She died in Kansas City in 1938.