Ohio History Journal

OHIO

Archaeological and Historical

QUARTERLY.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN

IN THE OHIO VALLEY

PREVIOUS TO 1840

BY JANE SHERZER.

The section of country investigated in this paper under

the name of "The Ohio Valley" includes Western Pennsylvania

and West Virginia; Southern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; and

Kentucky and Tennessee. In West Virginia, in Southern Indiana

and Illinois there were no schools for the higher education of

women up to 1840. It is true, early in 1840, in Indiana there were

two schools started for the higher education of women, -the

Rockville Female Seminary on January 31, 1840, and the Craw-

fordsville Female Institute on February 24, 1840, but they will

not be treated in this paper. Neither will we discuss Jackson-

ville, Illinois, as it is outside of the boundary set for this

treatise although it was a great educational center, for the

Beechers had found their way thither. In 1830, or perhaps

even before that time, good female academies had been started

in that city. Nor can we take the time here to include the

female academies in Dayton, Ohio, or that vicinity.

The term, "higher education for women," in those early

years covered a course of study not equal to that of good high

schools of the present day, but the same may be said of colleges

for men, and it was higher in the sense of giving young women

an education much beyond the common branches of reading.

writing, and arithmetic. It differed from the colleges for men

mainly in the substitution of French for Greek, and in the

(1)

2         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

addition of music and art to the curriculum. The first insti-

tutions for the higher education of women were necessarily

private, for, although the states had established colleges and

universities for their boys, they had ignored the education of the

girls and excluded them from all their schools.

MRS. WILLIAMS' SCHOOL, CINCINNATI.¹

The first school for young ladies in the Ohio Valley was

thus advertised in the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette, July,

1802:- "Mrs Williams begs to inform the inhabitants of Cin-

cinnati that she intends opening a school in the house of Mr.

Newman, sadler, for young ladies on the following terms:-

Reading, 250 cents; Reading and Sewing, $3.00; Reading, Sew-

ing, and Writing, 350 cents per quarter."  Nothing further is

known of the school. It may seem of too primitive a character

to be here considered, but it was evidently intended for young

ladies, not for children, and it represents the first department

in all similar schools of that period.

REV. JOHN LYLE'S SCHOOL, KENTUCKY.²

In Kentucky the first of these schools was opened in Paris,

in  1806, by the Rev. John Lyle, a Presbyterian clergyman. It

prospered with an attendance of about two hundred pupils until

in 1810 the President resigned because the trustees objected

to the public reading of the Bible in the school, which seems to

have broken up the school.

FISK'S FEMALE ACADEMY, HILLMAN, TENNESSEE.3

Fisk's Female Academy at Hillman, Overton county,

Tennessee, was chartered September 11, 1806; a female academy

was chartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1811; and a female

academy at Maysville, Blount county, Tennessee; in, 1813. No

further information is obtainable in regard to these efforts.

1Ford, "History of Cincinnati," p. 172.

2Lewis, "History of Higher Education in Kentucky," p. 33 & f.

3 Blandin, "History of Higher Education of Women in the South,"

p. 273.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley.    3

MRS. LOUISA FITZHERBERT KEATS SCHOOL, WASHINGTON,

KENTUCKY.⁴

In 1807 in Washington, Mason county, Kentucky, Mrs.

Louisa Fitzherbert Keats opened a school for girls where many

of the prominent women of the state were educated. But it

was closed for some unknown reason in 1812.

MRS. BECK'S SCHOOL, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.⁵

Cumings. in his "Tour of the West", mentions also in

1807 "three good boarding schools for girls in Lexington, Ken-

tucky, having over a hundred pupils in attendance." We hear

nothing more of these, except the one of Mrs. Beck, "an English

lady of high reputation." Her rates were two hundred dollars

a year. The course offered reading, spelling, writing, arithme-

tick, grammar, epistolary correspondence, elocution and rhet-

orick, geography "with the use of maps, globes and the armillary

sphere", astronomy "with the advantages of an orrery", ancient

and modern history, chronology, mythology, and natural

history, moral and natural philosophy, musick,- vocal and

instrumental, drawing painting, and embroidery, artificial

flowers, and any other fashionable fancy work, plain sewing.

marketing, netting, etc. Cumings also mentions that a regular

course of education was given, proceeding through successive

branches.

LORETTO ACADEMY, LORETTO, KENTUKY.6

Under Catholic supervision the Loretto Academy, Loretto,

Kentucky, one of the most famous of the girls' schools in that

state, was founded in 1812 by Bishop Flaget and a Belgian

priest, the Rev. Charles Nerinck. There was one teacher, Miss

Anna Rhoades. Later she was assisted by the Misses Christine

Stewart. Anna Haven, Mary Rhodes, and Nellie Morgan. In

1816 Pope Pius VII organized them into a religious order and in

1829 the school was chartered. In 1837, July 16, Mary Jane

Lancaster was graduated, and upon her diploma are the names

4 Lewis, "History of Higher Education in Kentucky," p. 34.

5Thwaites, "Early Western Travels," IV. p. 184-5.

6Blandin, ps. 41-3, Lewis, 226-7 f.

4         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

of the Directress, Mother Isabella Clark; Secretary, Generose

Mattingly; Bridget Spaulding, directress; and Bishop Flaget,

Ordinary of the Diocese. This school still flourishes and has

forty-five branch schools, taught by instructors, trained in the

normal department of the parent school at Loretto.

NAZARETH ACADEMY, NAZARETH, KENTUCKY.⁷

Almost contemporary with Loretto in its foundation was

Nazareth Academy. It was opened by three ladies whose number

was soon increased to five to assist Bishop Flaget. They came

December 1, 1812, to reside at St. Thomas, Kentucky. Several

additions having been made to their ranks and having been organ-

ized into a community of sisters of charity, they founded the

school of Nazareth in August, 1814. Although Bishop Flaget

originated the plan, yet upon Bishop David, his co-worker, fell

the greater part of the care of looking after the interests of the

sisters, and hence he is regarded as the real founder. The most

prominent of the early members of the order were Mother

Catherine Spaulding, the cousin of Archbishop Spaulding, the

seventh archbishop of Baltimore. The original school at St.

Thomas was both a day school and a boarding school. But in

1812 the Academy was moved to its present location seven miles

distant from the original one, and two miles north of Bardstown,

the new site being called Nazareth. The day school was dis-

continued at this time. On December 29, 1829, the school was

chartered as Nazareth Academy under a board of seven trustees.

Within six years after the change of location twenty thousand

dollars was spent in improving the place, and in 1824 there were

one hundred and twenty boarders. There are 67 branch schools

in Kentucky and other states of the South and West, teachers

being furnished for all these schools by a normal school con-

ducted in Nazareth. The patronage of the school has been large,

pupils coming from Kentucky and the Southern states.

CINCINNATI LANCASTER SEMINARY, CINCINNATI.8

Turning to Ohio again, it may be permissible to mention in

this paper a school of a different type,--the Cincinnati Lancaster

Lewis, "History of Higher Education in Kentucky," p. 228 f.

8Drake, "Picture of Cincinnati," p. 155-7.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley.    5

Seminary, founded by Rev. Dr. Wilson and Dr. Daniel Drake,

opened in 1815 and chartered by an Act of the General Assembly

of Ohio, February ₄th of that year under the name of Lancaster

Seminary.⁹ The school lots were at Fourth and Walnut Streets

in Cincinnati, the Presbyterian church executing a ninety-nine

year lease of these lots in return for the privilege of selecting

twenty-eight poor children to be educated. In 1814 a two-story

brick building was erected with two oblong wings stretching 82

feet back from Fourth street. This building was light and airy

and was considered the finest public edifice west of the Alleghe-

nies. One wing was for males and one for females, with no

passage between except by the portico. It had sittings for 1400

pupils. It was composed of Junior and Senior departments, sub-

divided into male and female schools. They were taught in the

same room but sat on opposite sides, according to Mr. Henry

Bradshaw  Fearon, an Englishman, who traveled through the

United States in 1817. In his "Sketches of America" he also

says that he saw 21 males and 19 females in the same room. It

is said that young women took diplomas in some of the classes.

This Seminary was governed by a board of seven trustees, of

which Jacob Burnett was the first President. The school was

supported by stockholders who elected the board. To share-

holders the price per quarter was eleven shillings and three

pence; to all others thirteen shillings and six pence. No infor-

mation is given in regard to the course of study except that

higher branches of literature were taught in the Senior depart-

ment, and that there were purchases of philosophical apparatus.

General Lytle gave $10,000 worth of land and much cash; Judge

Burnett $5,000 besides a quantity of land; and others gave much

cash and land to the school, making the endowment $50,000. It

was organized later on as the Cincinnati College, but met with

reverses so that it was closed, and in 1845 the building burned

to the ground. The Lancaster method consisted in using the

older pupils for tutors and even instructors, and the system is

said to have worked well.

9Ford's "History of Cincinnati," p. 179.

6         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

MR. WING'S SCHOOL, CINCINNATI.¹⁰

Ford's history of Cincinnati tells of a school similar to the

Lancasterian, kept by Mr. William Wing in 1829, who was suc-

ceeded by his son, Edward Wing. It was at the corner of Sixth

and Vine streets with the entrance on Sixth street. The floor

was like that of a theatre, rising from the south end to the north

end. The teacher sat on a stage at the south end and thus had

oversight of the entire room. The boys occupied the east side

and the girls the west side, next to Vine street.

REV. SLACK'S SCHOOL, CINCINNATI.¹¹

There was also, in the north wing of the College building,

kept by the Rev. Mr. Slack, a school distinguished by a collec-

tion of valuable apparatus and courses of lectures on various

branches of study.

NASHVILLE FEMALE ACADEMY, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.12

In 1816 in Nashville, Tennessee, in response to a desire of

the people for something in the way of education of a higher

order for their girls, the Nashville Female Academy was estab-

lished by a stock company of fifty members. July 4, 1816,

Robert White and Thomas Claiborne bought three acres of land

from David McGravack for $1,500, but it was not until August

4, 1817, that the school was opened and October 3 of the same

year that a charter was granted by the legislature. The charter

appointed a board of seven trustees,-Robert White. Robert

Searcy, Felix Grundy, John P. Erwin, John Baird, Joseph T.

Elliston, and James Trimble, who were to act until the first Mon-

day in January. Then they were to give way to a new board

of seven trustees chosen by the stock-holders of the Academy.

Every year thereafter a new board appointed in the same way was

to supplant the old one. The Academy grounds and buildings

occupied five acres in the center of the city of Nashville, near

what is now the Tulane Hotel, extending from Church to

10 Ford, p. 174-5.

11Ford, p. 174.

12 Merriam, "Higher Education in Tennessee," ps. 245-6.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley.   7

McLemore and Cedar streets. The first principals were, from

1817-19, Dr. Daniel Berry and Mrs Berry, formerly of Salem,

Mass. The Rev. William Hume succeeded Dr. Berry, but he

died from cholera in 1833."¹³ Then came Dr. R. A. Lapsley, who

retired in 1838 on account of ill health. Rev. W. A. Scott was

the next principal, remaining until 1840, when the Rev. C. D.

Elliott and Dr. R. A. Lapsley became joint principals. Dr.

Lapsley soon retired, and Dr. Elliott became sole principal, con-

tinuing until the close of the school in 1861.

The course covered four years: primary,two years; academic,

four years; collegiate, four years. There were two sessions a

day, 9-12 A. M. and 2-4 P. M., with one day vacation at Christ-

mas. The patronage was large.

The campus was very beautiful with its grassy turf and

magnificent forest trees. "There were three separate buildings

in front, the center one three stories high, the others two stories.

They had a frontage of 180 feet, and extended back 280 feet.

The center building was of grey brick, with colonial doorways

and connecting galleries with paved courts". It contained a

chapel, recreation hall, and other attractive features. The recrea-

tion hall was 120 feet long and 40 feet wide, with a gallery at

one end and a platform at the other. Besides the piano there was

what was called a "dancing piano". The latter ground out polkas,

mazurkas, and reels by turning a crank. In this hall the girls

danced three-quarters of an hour every evening after supper.

Much stress was laid on dignity, and grace of carriage, and awk-

wardness was carefully corrected.  Courtesy was demanded

from everyone connected with the school and honor was the at-

mosphere. A matron could not enter a pupil's door without

knocking and waiting for permission.   Correspondence was

sacred. No teacher was permitted to accept a gift with a money

value from a pupil nor to correct a pupil in the presence of

others. The school was never endowed but depended entirely

on tuition fees, yet annually there were admitted five daughters

of Masons, five daughters of Odd Fellows, and all the daughters

of ministers actively engaged in the ministry. The discipline was

very strict. The girls were never allowed to speak to acquaint-

13 Blandin, p. 275 ff.

8         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

ances when they took their daily walks or attended church. But

one day in 1825, when General LaFayette visited Nashville, he

was received at the Academy and the girls were released from

restraint.

The annual May Day picnic was a great event and com-

mencement a grand occasion, the exercises continuing three or

four days, as every maiden read an original essay. The di-

plomas bore curious Cupid devices with curving wings in pen

and ink drawings, duly dated, signed, and sealed by faculty and

trustees. The following is the quaint form used in the inscrip-

tion:- "These presents shall certify to all whom they may con-

cern  that  .... .............. ..... has  completed  the  course

of study prescribed by the Institution, and that her diligence in

pursuit of knowledge and her uniform good conduct whilst a

member of the Academy may receive their appropriate reward,

we have granted unto and conferred upon her this diploma as

a testimonial of our approbation of her correct deportment and

of her literary attainments". In 1840 there was an enrollment

of 198, the pupils coming from distant places by stage coach

and on horseback. Evidently the Nashville Female Academy

was a typical boarding school.

LAFAYETTE SEMINARY, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.¹⁴

In 1821 Lafayette Seminary was founded in Lexington,

Kentucky, In 1825, on the sixteenth day of May, it was visited

by Lafayette. It then had nine instructors and 135 pupils, and

in the four previous years had had a total of 366 pupils from

thirteen different states. It claimed to furnish every facility for

making thorough and accomplished scholars. In 1826 it was

known as Lafayette Female Academy, and had for its principal

Josiah Dunborn, A. M. The studies taught were Grammar,

Rhetoric, Logic, Languages, Astronomy, Natural and Moral

Philosophy, Composition, Arithmetic, Geography, History,

Mathematics, Painting and Drawing, Writing, and Dancing.

14Lewis, "History of Higher Education in Kentucky," p. 34.

Blandin, p. 154.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley.    9

The tuition was $50.00 and board was $150.00. Extra branches

were $40.00.15

CINCINNATI FEMALE ACADEMY, CINCINNATI.16

In 1823 John Locke, M. D., established the Cincinnati Fe-

male Academy on Walnut street between Third and Fourth

streets. There were teachers in the French language, music,

penmanship, and needlework, and an assistant in the prepara-

tory department. Twelve gentlemen formed a Board of Visit-

ors who examined the pupils and superintended the Academy.^l7

The price of tuition, exclusive of music and the French lan-

guage, was from four to ten dollars a quarter. In August of

each year there was a public examination at which medals and

honorary degrees of the Academy were awarded. Following

the annual examination there was a vacation of four weeks.

The Academy possessed competent apparatus for illustrations

in Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, and for teaching

the simple elements of the different branches to the younger

pupils. The demonstrative method of teaching was employed

by which a knowledge of things instead of words alone was

imparted. In fact, it was Pestalozzi's method of instruction.

Patrons were carefully informed that the idea entertained by

some persons that the system of Pestalozzi tends to infidelity

was unfounded.

About four years were required to pass through the pre-

scribed course of study in order to obtain the honorary degree

of the Academy. Mrs. Frances Trollope, who in 1828 visited

Cincinnati, in her book on "Domestic Manners of Americans,"

speaks with surprise of an exhibition where the higher branches

of Science were among the studies . . . and where "one

lovely girl of sixteen took her degree in Mathematics

and another was examined in Moral Philosophy".

15School Exercises of Lafayette Female Academy, Lexington, Ky.,

1826," Caroline Clifford Nephew.

16Ford's "History of Cincinnati," p. 174.

17 Drake & Mansfield, "Cincinnati in 1826," p. 42 f.

10         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

PICKETT'S BOARDING SCHOOL, CINCINNATI.18

In 1823 the Cincinnati Female College or school, kept by

Albert and John W. Pickett from New York State, seems to

have been especially popular.     Their method of teaching was

the analytic or inductive.  Their course of study embraced the

ordinary branches taught in a female academy, including the

Latin, Greek, and French languages, Music and Drawing. The

school occupied a suite of rooms in the south wing of the Cin-

cinnati College edifice.   Flint's Western Monthly Review       of

April, 1830, gives an account of the commencement exercises,

when eleven gold medals were distributed        for proficiency in

Latin, Greek, French, Mathematics, Music and Painting.

I have in my possession a letter written by one of the

pupils of Mr. Pickett's school, dated September 29, 1837. This

quaint epistle gives such a vivid description of the college life

of a girl in those early days that it is here inserted:

"CINCINNATI, September 29th, Friday afternoon, 1837.

DEAR LIZZY:-

As I have finished my copy and as it is some time until we are

called up with our writing, I will commence a letter to you. I am sitting

in the third story of Pickett's Female Institution, next Mary Starbuck,

amidst a number of girls who were all entire strangers to me two

weeks ago, but Harriet Haven and Adelia Goshorn. I am pleased quite

beyond my expectation, with my school, and my schoolmates, and my

new home, and everything else in the City, but I must confess I was

very homesick the first several days that I attended school, in consequence

of seeing none but strange faces and Mr. Pickett my teacher was strange

to me and the rules of the school were so new, and very different from

Miss Havens, but now as I am acquainted with all the young ladies in

the senior department I am  very happy in my new situation. I will

now tell you about our journey down here. Father and I started from

Hamilton at 5 o'clock Tuesday, September 12th in the packet Clarion,

the ladies' cabin was very crowded, Mrs. Campbell was also going down,

we took tea at 8 o'clock on the boat. I sat up all night with some of

the ladies among whom was a Mrs. Hunt, newly married lady and her

husband from Connecticut with whom I became acquainted, she pleased

me very much by telling me of her travels over the United States, they

were very informing and interesting to me. We arrived at Cincinnati

very early in the morning, Father and I left the boat and went to Carters,

18 Drake & Mansfield, "Cincinnati in 1826," p. 43 f.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley.           11

that afternoon we visited the different schools accompanied by Mr.

Barnes, we were pleased with them all but more with Picketts. On

Fryday evening father left me for Hamilton. I felt I can't tell how

at being left alone twenty-five miles from my nearest and dearest

relatives. I am boarding at Dr. McGuire's on George Street, a private

family, they have but one child and that a little boy. Mrs. McGuire

was formerly Louisa Walden, the lady who painted that beautiful Gera-

nium in Georgetta Haven's Album, she is a graduate of Dr. Lockes, her

sister Elizabeth is here spending some time with her, she is a young

lady of my age and very mild and pleasant, we have fine times together.

Next week we have no school on account of the convention of teachers

which will be very great, gentlemen from all parts of the Union are

coming to it some have already arrived, our school was this morning

visited by a Mr. Scott of Tennessee, one of the members. I promised

myself a great deal of pleasure in expectation of some of the girls

coming to the convention, but I am afraid I shall be disappointed for

Mr. McGuire speaks of taking us all to Perrinsville a village about

twenty miles below Cincinnati to spend the week. I attended the theater

one evening last week, the performance was the "Robbers wife" and

"Soldiers Daughter." Mrs. Shaw is the only theatrical star in the city

and she will leave in a few days, but the whole Ravel family will be

here in a week or two, which consists of eighteen persons, the great

french dancers, they will draw full houses. The new theater is situated

on Sycamore Street, it is very richly decorated with Chandaliers and

paintings and curtains part of which are white satin.

Last Sunday I was out all afternoon in a gig riding with a friend.

We went eight miles below Cincinnati past the Hunting park, we past

some of the most splendid country seats.

I believe I have told you all I know of any consequence and

school is very near out so I must finish as soon as possible. Reply

soon, Direct your letter to me in care of Dr. T. McGuire, Cincinnati,

it is immaterial about the street. Give my love to all my acquaintances,

reserving a large share for your self. Answer this by a long letter.

I am your loving

friend AMELIA C. HITTELL.

MISS ELIZABETH FISHER.

Adelia Goshorn attends school every day, she in the first junior

class, she is in our room with her class three forenoons in the week,

she is a very intelligent girl I believe, I have but a few opportunities of

speaking to her.

A. C. H.

MISS ELIZABETH FISHER,

Rossville,

Ohio."

12        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

CINCINNATI BOARDING SCHOOLS.¹⁹

According to Drake and Mansfield the oldest female board-

ing school in Cincinnati was kept by the Misses Bailey, "women

well qualified and of high respectability", assisted by Mr. F.

Eckstein. It was located on Broadway between Market and

Columbia streets. The date of its founding is unknown. All

the elementary, as well as the higher, branches of female educa-

tion, including the French language,  Music, Painting, and Draw-

ing, were taught in this institution.²⁰

There was also a school kept by Mrs. Ryland, an English

woman of much culture.

In 1833 Mrs. Caroline Lee Heintz, the celebrated novelist,

together with her husband, a cultured Frenchman, had a popular

school for a short time.21  In the same year is mentioned one

on the site of St. John's Hospital, kept by Miss Catherine Beecher

and her sister, Harriett. But Harriett soon married Professor

Stowe and Catherine became a missionary for female education

in the West. Miss Mary Duton, as assistant, then took charge.

but after a time she gave up and went to New Hampshire, where

she maintained a flourishing school for many years.

SCIENCE HILL ACADEMY, SCIENCE HILL, KENTUCKY.²²

March 25, 1825, the Rev. John Tevis, a Methodist clergy-

man, and Mrs. Tevis opened a school for girls at Science Hill,

Shelbyville, Kentucky. This school is still in existence, although

it has always been a private enterprise without endowment.

Before the War many hundreds of girls attended, often staying

four or five years without returning home. During the War

many girls from the South remained two or three years with

Mrs. Tevis at her own expense, some never hearing from home

during that time. At first the school enrolled but twenty pupils.

only four of whom were boarders. It is known as "An English

and Classical school for Girls", furnishing a thorough course of

19Drake & Mansfield, p. 43.

20Ford, 174-5.

21Ford, p. 175.

22 Blandin, p. 154  ff.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley. 13

first-class quality, which prepares for the leading colleges for

women. "No sham" is the motto of teachers and pupils.

STEUBENVILLE FEMALE SEMINARY.²3

April 13, 1829, the Rev. Charles C. Beatty and wife founded

the Steubenville Female Seminary at Steubenville, Ohio. It had

a decidedly religious basis and was successful. Quoting from

one of their announcements: The location of the Seminary is

considered peculiarly eligible in healthfulness of the surround-

ing country, and character of the place for morality and intel-

ligence. The large and commodious buildings stand in one edge

of the town, and in a commanding situation on the Ohio river,

with sufficient ground adjoining to admit of exercise and rec-

reation within its own limits. Besides the large, imposing main

edifice there are contiguous buildings 165 feet in length. There

are fifty lodging rooms designed for two pupils, each sufficiently

lighted and ventilated. But as the young ladies study in the

General Hall and not in their rooms, it is thought neither neces-

sary nor conducive to health to have fire in the sleeping cham-

bers.

The seminary is divided into two distinct departments. The

pupils occupy separate school rooms and are subjected to a

somewhat different arrangement and method of management and

instruction. Still, they are only treated as older and younger

children of the same family. The preparatory or girls' school

comprises none in general older than twelve. In order to enter

the applicant must be able to read. It consists of two classes:

Introductory, for those who are merely reading and spelling,

together with receiving oral instructions on various subjects;

Primary, who are in addition attending to Writing, Arithmetic,

Geography, History, English, Grammar, and first lessons in

Botany, Natural Philosophy, Geometry, etc.   The Principal

School, or Young Ladies' Department, consists of all who enter

the seminary over ten years of age. For admission to this a

pupil must either be that old or have passed through all the

studies of the Preparatory school. It is divided into three

23 "Outline of Steubenville Female Seminary," in bound volume of

Addresses.

14        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

classes, Middle, Junior, and Senior. Into the first all are ad-

mitted who have entered this school; and they continue in it until

they are prepared to enter the higher classes. The studies of

this class will be (for those who have not previously attended

to them), Writing, Reading, Orthography, Arithmetic, Geog-

raphy, Modern and Ancient, with drawing maps, History, ancient

and modern, but especially of our country, English Grammar,

Composition, Natural Philosophy, Natural History, Biblical,

Roman and Grecian Antiquities, Watts "On the Mind," Human

Physiology, Political Class Book, etc. The studies of the Junior

and Senior classes are each designed to occupy a year and pre-

pare the young lady for graduating with honor to herself and the

institution. No one is admitted to them who has not passed a

satisfactory examination on the subjects which precede, nor in

ordinary cases until she shall have been for some time a member

of the Seminary. The studies will be Botany, Chemistry, As-

tronomy, Geometry, Algebra, Rhetoric, Criticism, Intellectual

and Moral Philosophy, Logic, Evidences of Christianity, Analogy

of Natural and Revealed Religion, etc. In recitations these regu-

lar divisions are not kept separate, but all the pupils are ar-

ranged in temporary classes as may best promote the good of

individuals. Text books for the several classes are carefully

selected and but rarely changed. Music, Drawing, and Painting

are apart from the regular studies of the classes. Ancient and

Modern languages may either be studied with the regular classes

or omitted as is seen proper. A liberally educated gentleman

from Europe is permanently engaged to give lessons in French.

Vocal Music will be attended to as a general exercise in both

departments, and particularly taught when desired. The Prin-

cipal has the general care of the school in regard to the methods

of instruction. In organizing at the commencement of each term,

she, together with the Superintendent, is chiefly occupied in ar-

ranging the various studies, forming various classes, and at-

taching to them the respective teachers in their appropriate de-

partments. Afterwards she instructs some of the classes, and

also visits occasionally the several teachers in their class rooms

to see that the same methods of instruction and the same degree

of accuracy are maintained by all. The duties devolving upon

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley. 15

the governess have reference principally to regular school hours.

During these she is to preside in the hall, to assemble and dismiss

the school, to attend to the sending out and return of classes, and

to maintain order and quiet there during the hours of the recita-

tion. She also instructs or superintends the instruction in Pen-

manship. All permissions are sought from, and excuses rendered

to the Governess, who also countersigns the regular reports made

to the parents. The instruction of the scholars in the various

branches is committed to the teachers, who are selected with the

greatest care. So far as may be, each teacher is confined to a

few branches of study.

In order that the undivided attention of the class be most

effectively secured the recitations are conducted in separate

rooms. In matters in which household arrangements are con-

cerned, as the care of the lodging rooms and table, and espe-

cially attendance on those who are sick, the young ladies are

under the supervision of the matron, and domestics are only ac-

cessible to their directions through her express permission. The

equipment of the school consists of maps, globes, and various

astronomical, philosophical, and chemical apparatus, a cabinet,

and a library consisting of two departments, one comprising about

four hundred volumes selected especially for the pleasure read-

ing of the young ladies; the other containing about the same

number of scientific and class books for the use of the scholars

and teachers, and the explanation of the various branches of

study. Besides these there is a library commenced by the So-

ciety of Inquiry on Missions, and the extensive private library of

the Superintendent is open to all the school.

Health is regarded as a thing of the first importance.

Pupils are required to take exercises of various kinds in the open

air. School exercises are short that they may frequently change

their posture. In the middle of every morning and afternoon

session there is a recess, during which they are encouraged to a

free use of their limbs and tongues, as well as a free flow of the

animal spirits. Calisthenics is taught as a regular part of the

course, and all the pupils practice in them every day. The able

and excellent physician watches constantly over the health of

the whole establishment, and has even kindly delivered systematic

16        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

lectures of the most valuable character to the school upon the

care of the physical frame, the prevention of diseases. Human

physiology is also a subject of study.

The Bible is more or less studied every day. The religious

principles inculcated are those common to all Evangelical Protest-

ants. The government of the institution, both as to the family

and school, should be understood as that of authority entirely

parental and mild, but decided and firm. Reports are sent to

parents and guardians every two months. They are made from

daily memoranda kept by all the teachers. The year is divided

into two sessions, with a vacation at the close of each, in the

months of August and April. Each session is divided into two

quarters.

Terms for boarders where only two are in a room are, per

quarter, $35.00; where more than two are in a room, or for mem-

bers of the preparatory school, $33.00. No extra charge is made

for remaining during the vacations. Extra charges are made for

instruction in instrumental music and the use of the piano, -

$10.00. Lessons in drawing and painting, - $4.00; French, $5.00;

Washing, per dozen, 36 cents; when fire is required in sleeping

room  for the winter session, each,-$8.00.  Some articles of

stationery and the use of some books are furnished without

charge. The winter session begins on the last Monday of Octo-

ber, and the summer session on the last Monday of April. Special

facilities will be afforded to those who are desirous of qualifying

themselves as teachers. In the winter session, regular lectures

and instruction will be given for this purpose. For those attend-

ing this class who do not intend to be teachers, there will be an

additional charge of $5.00.

The friends of the Seminary have selected a number of

gentlemen in the place to act as visitors of the school, and to

confer with the Superintendent. From them valuable sugges-

tions and aid are received by the Superintendent and Principal".

The above has been quoted in detail because it gives the

most complete outline of such institutions that the writer has

been able to find. The Steubenville Female Seminary seems to

have been one of the most pretentious and one of the best of the

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley. 17

higher institutions of learning for women in those early days.

It flourished for many years and was only recently closed.

OXFORD FEMALE ACADEMY, OXFORD.

In Oxford, Ohio, in response to a demand from the faculty

of Miami University that their daughters might have an opportu-

nity of higher education such as their sons were receiving in the

Miami University, there was opened a school for girls in 1830.

Miss Bethania Crocker, the daughter of a Congregational clergy-

man of Massachusetts, was put in charge. This young girl, al-

though but sixteen years of age, had been given a thorough educa-

tion by her father, including Greek, Latin and Hebrew. She

was aided in her work by the counsel of President Bishop of

Miami University, and Professors McGuffey and John Winfield

Scott. After three or four years this talented young woman

married the Rev. George Bishop, son of President R. H. Bishop

of Miami University.²⁴ The Misses Smith and Clark from the

East then continued the school, one of these women being the

sister-in-law of Henry Ward Beecher. They soon were married

and gave place to other principals, among them the Misses Lucy

and Ann North, all of whom married professors from Miami or

clergymen.25

February 27, 1839, the school was chartered as the Oxford

Female Academy by a special act of the Legislature for a period

of thirty years, the incorporators being John W. Scott, William

Graham, James E. Hughes, William W. Robertson, Herman B.

Mayo, George G. White, and James Leach, and the capital stock

was limited to $10,000. The corporate concerns of the said

Academy were to be managed by a Board of seven trustees, who

were to be elected annually by the stockholders. This school

formed the nucleus of The Oxford College for Women, at the

present time a prosperous, standard college, the oldest Protest-

ant school for women in the United States conferring the B. A.

degree.

24 Porter, "History of First Presbyterian Church of Oxford,"

ps. 36-9.

25Upham, "Old Miami," ps. 136-53.

Vol. XXV - 2.

18        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Only one catalog of those early days is in existence,-a

catalog of the year 1838-9, in the possession of Mrs. DeNise

DeNise (Mary E. Schenck of Franklin, Ohio; of the class of

1839), now of Burlington, Iowa, the oldest living graduate of

the Institution.²⁶ The teachers at the time were Miss Ann L.

North, Principal; Miss Marion Crume, Assistant; Miss Sarah E.

Werz, Instructor in Vocal Music; and Mrs. M. N. Scott, In-

structor in Instrumental Music. There were fifty-four pupils in

attendance, the roll including Caroline L. Scott, who was to

become the wife of President Benjamin Harrison. The Academy

was divided into two departments, each department divided into

two classes. In the first department First Class, were taught

Reading, Writing, Spelling, Ray's Eclectic Arithmetic, First Les-

sons of Philosophy for Children, Parley's History of Geology

and History of Animals, First Book of History, tuition per quar-

ter $3.00. In the second class were Goldsmith's History of

Greece and Rome, Smith's Grammar, Colburn's Mental Arith-

metic, Goodrich's History of the United States, Malt Brun's

Geography, Human Physiology, Davies' Arithmetic, and Com-

stock's Natural Philosophy, commenced; tuition per quarter $3.75.

The Junior class (second department) studied Davies' Arithmetic

and Comstock's Natural Philosophy, (continued), Kirkham's

Grammar, Whelpley's Compend of Ancient and Modern History,

Watts "On the Mind," Colburn's Algebra, Mrs. Lincoln's Botany,

Paley's Natural Theology, Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric, Jones'

Chemistry, Geography of the Heavens, Geology, Legendre's

Geometry (commenced), tuition per quarter $5.00. In the Senior

class the subjects were Legendre's Geometry (continued),

Hedge's Logic; Paley's Evidences of Christianity; Newman's

Political Economy; Kames' Criticism; Mental Philosophy; But-

ler's Analogy; Wayland's Moral Philosophy; and Davies' Algebra.

For instruction in the French language, Drawing, Painting, and

Instrumental Music, additional charge was made.  The daily

study of the Holy Scriptures, Writing, and Vocal Music were

continued through the whole course. A weekly composition was

required of every pupil, to be read and carefully criticized. A

paper edited and furnished with original pieces by the young

28 "Catalog of the Oxford Female Academy," 1838-9.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley. 19

ladies afforded an advantage to those who wished to improve

their talent of writing. Every scholar, on her entrance into

school, was examined in the fundamental branches, as Spelling,

Reading, etc., and if found deficient, was expected to devote

some time to their acquisition and, if possible, to become well-

versed in them "as a thorough acquaintance with the elementary

studies is indispensable to a correct education". Particular care

was taken to have the young ladies thorough in all they studied,

and "no one was permitted to pursue such a variety of branches

at one time as to dissipate and weaken rather than strengthen

the intellectual faculties."

"The year is divided into two terms and vacations. The

winter term commences the first Monday of October, and closes

the first Wednesday of March. It is succeeded by a vacation of

two weeks. The summer term commences the third Wednesday

of March and closes the third Wednesday of August. It is suc-

ceeded by a vacation of about six weeks. Those who pass a thor-

ough examination in the preparatory studies will be admitted

into the Junior class. Those who pass a similar examination in

the elementary branches and those of the Junior class may be ad-

mitted into the Senior class. Those who, in addition, are well

acquainted with the studies of the Senior class, will, at the close

receive a testimonial of having completed with honor the course

of study in this Institution. Pupils of the Academy are favored

gratuitously with a course of weekly lectures in Natural Science.

with an extensive apparatus and means of illustration, by Prof.

Scott of Miami University."

Recently it was the privilege of the writer to spend a few

hours with Mrs. DeNise DeNise of Burlington, Iowa. Although

in her ninetieth year she has full possession of all her faculties

and converses about her school days in Oxford with the vivacity

of a young woman. With two other prospective pupils she drove

to Oxford from Franklin, a distance of 28 miles, in a private

conveyance. With several of her classmates she lived in the

home of Mr. Harry Lewis, one of the family to which the hus-

band of Mrs. Phillip Moore belongs. The pupils from a distance

were thus taken care of in the homes of the people of Oxford,

and formed the first cottage system, which has had in recent

20        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

years its fullest development at Smith College. She described

the school room vividly, -a long rectangular room, with a plat-

form at one end on which sat the presiding teacher. Benches,

ranged around the walls, were occupied by the students during

the day. The class reciting was summoned to the seats imme-

diately in front of the instructor. The curriculum was the one

above described.

Another one of the early graduates was Mrs. William C.

Woods (Juliette Elmina Jameson of Eaton, Ohio), who was

graduated as valedictorian about 1833. She was the mother of

Mrs. W. T. Poynter, now the Principal of the Science Hill Aca-

demy at Shelbyville, Kentucky.

THE SCHOOLS OF CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE.27

In Clarksville, Tennessee, the oldest girls' school was "Mrs.

Killebrew's Boarding and Day School for Young Ladies". "Many

most elegant women were educated at this school which con-

tinued until 1835." In 1833 Dr. L. D. Ring taught a high school

for girls at the Masonic Hall. It was called "high" because he

taught the classics, including French. In 1835 the Rev. Mr. Rus-

sell and wife taught successfully for a year or two the Masonic

Female Institute in Masonic Hall. They were succeeded by Mrs.

Whitman.

WASHINGTON FEMALE SEMINARY, WASHINGTON, PA.

In Western Pennsylvania no efforts were made for the

education of girls until November 26, 1835, when a meeting for

the organization of a female seminary was held and the Washing-

ton Female Seminary was opened in the spring of 1836.28 The

first principal was Mrs. Frances Biddle, who was succeeded in

1840 by Miss Sarah B. Foster, afterwards Mrs. Hanna. It has

continued until the present day without assuming the rank of a

college, but preparing for the best of our women's colleges.

27 Blandin, p. 285.

28 Letter from President J. D. Moffat, Washington & Jefferson

College.

The Higher Education of Women in the Ohio Valley. 21

COLUMBIA FEMALE INSTITUTE, COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE.²⁹

Under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal church the

Columbia Female Institute in the suburbs of Columbia, Tenn.,

was founded in 1836 by the Bishops Leonidas Polk and James

Harvey Otey. The castellated structure stood on a hill sur-

rounded by forest trees. The Rev. Franklin G. Smith was the

principal from 1838 until 1852. Bishop Otey wrote in 1852:-"I

have spent the best energies of my soul and passed the most

vigorous years of my life in its (the Institute's) cause, or it

would have been hopelessly ruined by its load of debt. For five

or six years I have labored incessantly, being sometimes absent

for six months from my house and family, in my efforts to raise

funds for its relief. I have worked hard and worked long with-

out hope of fee or reward other than the humble expectation of

being serviceable to the people among whom Providence has cast

my lot". Nothing further is known of its work in those early

days except that it was established with a view to giving a col-

legiate course to girls under the direction of the Episcopal church.

HOWARD COLLEGE, GALLATIN, TENNESSEE.³⁰

Howard College was founded in 1837 at Gallatin, Tennessee.

It later became the property of the Odd Fellows, and was char-

tered in 1856.

Summarizing, we may say that Kentucky, Tennessee, and

Ohio were the pioneers in the higher education of women in

the Ohio Valley up to 1840. The schools were, on the whole,

similar in type, varying in their curriculums, in quantity and

quality. Ohio, with its modest beginning in 1802, was the first of

which we have record. Kentucky and Tennessee were especially

active and popular in the boarding school education for young

women, having large patronage from other states. Two of the

schools in Ohio, the Lancaster and Wing schools in Cincinnati.

were really co-educational, although professing to separate the

females from the males. Ohio may claim the distinction not only

of making the first step in the education of women in the Ohio

29 Blandin, ps. 282-4.

30 Blandin, p. 284 f.

22          Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Valley, but also of having the only school from that early date,

i. e., The Oxford College for Women, continue its existence up

to the present time as a standard college, all the other schools

for women in the Ohio Valley having either closed their doors

after a brief existence or else having continued as preparatory

schools or Junior colleges.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Blandin, "History of Higher Education of Women in the South

Prior to 1860."

Lewis, "History of Higher Education in Kentucky."

Merriam, "Higher Education in Tennessee."

Drake & Mansfield, "Cincinnati in 1826."

Whitehill, "History of Education in West Virginia."

Knight & Commons, "The History of Higher Education in Ohio."

Thwing, "A History of Higher Education in America."

Woodburn, "Higher Education in Indiana" (Bureau of Education,

No. 10). Bound Volume of Addresses.

Sprague, "Annals," IV.

Thwait, "Early Western Travels," IV, XXVII, XXVIII.

*Crew, "History of Nashville."

Drake, "Picture of Cincinnati."

Ford, "History of Cincinnati."

"School Exercises of Lafayette Female Academy," 1826.

Catalog of Oxford Female Academy, 1838-9.

Catalog of Steubenville Female Seminary.

Ohio, "Historical Sketches of Higher Education."

Porter, "The Presbyterian Church of Oxford."

Upham, "Old Miami."

"History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County."

Phelan, "Tennessee."

*Dexter, "History of Education in United States."

*Not in library.