The East Tennessee Female Institute was originally established in Knoxville in 1826 as the Knoxville Female Academy, with the purpose of providing educational opportunities for girls. It was chartered by the legislature. In 1846 it was renamed the East Tennessee Female Institute. In 1892 it moved to a facility in the 700 block of West Main Avenue. As the city provided more and better educational opportunities through the high school level, and UT readmitted women, the institution was no longer needed, and the trustees leased the building to UT, subsequently transferring the title of the building to UT. The building was known as Tennessee Hall while used by UT.