Atchison Institute, a private school at Atchison, was founded in 1870 with Mrs. H. E. Monroe as the first principal. Cutler's History of Kansas says it was established as a coöperative enterprise of the instructors. The Kansas Monthly for June, 1879, says: "The Institute is located on Kansas avenue between Third and Fourth streets. The buildings are of stone, one 25 by 50 feet, and the other 20 by 30 feet, both three stories high. It has five well appointed recitation rooms and sixteen rooms for the accommodation of boarders from abroad. During the past six months 200 students have been enrolled, with an average attendance in the various departments of 144."

The property of the school was at that time valued at $25,000. Since then many important additions have been made and the Institute is still one of the well known private educational institutions of the state.