Louise Helen Coburn was born 01 Sep 1856 in Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine and died 07 Feb 1949 in Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine and is buried at Southside Cemetary, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine. She never married.

Louise Helen Coburn along with five other ladies was the five founders of Sigma Kappa sorority.  She was one the first women admitted to Colby College, in Waterville, Maine, the first coed college in New England.  She was the second women to graduate from Colby.  In 1890  male students became concerned that the women were performing better that they were. The women were taking all the honors. As a result it was decided to split Colby into two separate schools, one for men and one for women. The women formed a petition. Because of the prominence of the family Louise Helen Coburn was heavily involved. The petition failed. "Despite her disapproval of the plan, she accepted the appointment to ensure Colby women received the best education possible. She pushed for women to be represented more in the college, and she became the first female Trustee of the college in 1911. She also served as the first President of the Colby Alumnae Association. She lobbied Colby to appoint its first female professor, Ninetta Runnals, and was a strong advocate that Colby should provide better housing for its female students, which it eventually did."

 She was a botanist and published several science books and pamphlets.  In addition she wrote   "Skowhegan on the Kennebec," a two volume history of the area. She was also know for her poetry. 

 The picture above is from her book Skowhegan on the Kennebec

This picture is from the Main Historical Society.

She is the second cousin four time removed of Cassandra Patterson