American College for Girls

school, Istanbul, Turkey

Also known as: Constantinople Women’s College

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Last updated

June 18, 2026

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The American College for Girls, established in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in 1908, evolved from a mission high school into a significant institution of higher education for Turkish women. Under the leadership of Mary Mills Patrick, who served as president from its inception, the college adapted through various conflicts, including the Balkan Wars, the Turkish Revolution, and World War I. Initially serving minority Christian women, it transformed into a leading center for Turkish women's higher education. The college later affiliated with Robert College, a nearby institution for men.1

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Mary Mills Patrick
…American High School became the American College for Girls at Constantinople, later known as Constantinople Woman’s College. Patrick served as president of the college from its opening. Her summer studies at the Universities of Heidelberg, Zürich, Berlin, Leipzig, Paris, and Oxford resulted in a Ph.D. from the University of Bern,…
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…American High School became the American College for Girls at Constantinople, later known as Constantinople Woman’s College. Patrick served as president of the college from its opening. Her summer studies at the Universities of Heidelberg, Zürich, Berlin, Leipzig, Paris, and Oxford resulted in a Ph.D. from the University of Bern,…
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Istanbul
Health and education
…(founded in 1863) and the American College for girls (founded in 1871), both on the Bosporus.
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…(founded in 1863) and the American College for girls (founded in 1871), both on the Bosporus.
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