Women Education / Letter between Two Female Teacher in 1855 NY

Description

Letter between Two Female Teacher in 1855 NY
Author:
[Women Education], 19th c.Women Employment
Title:
Letter between Two Female Teacher in 1855 NY
Description:
ALS : Autograph Letter Signed
[19th c. Women Education] Handwritten letter between female friends at different women seminaries. Jan. 19, 1855. "Emily" a teacher at Neversink Seminary in Port Jervis, NY writes to a friend Anna Atwood in Elmira, NY about starting a Literary Society and raising funds for it. 4 pages folded on a single sheet, with 1 page of cross-writing. With original Mailing envelope. Atwood was working at Elmira Collegiate Seminary (chartered 1853) just as it was being renamed Elmira College later in 1955; it is the oldest college still in existence which (as a women's college) granted degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men. Regarding the changes at Elmira Collegiate Seminary:"I have been thinking that perhaps I should not be able to recognize your Seminary now, for I remember your writing to me some time ago of some improvements that had been made. I presume a change would be less apparent in the persons that occupy it; there are some however whom I think I would recognize as friends."
Emily also gives updates on her school, Neversink Seminary: "We have just commenced another term of school. Our last closed on the 11th of Jan. We had only a week vacation; just time enough to see the folk at home, without making any visits...I must tell you something about our school last term. You will remember it marked an important era in my life. I like teaching very well, though I think I have found more pleasure in studying. I like it so long as I can keep my class interested. Sometime I can easily do this, at other times I find it more difficult then it is that I get discouraged, and think that it would be easier for me to learn a lesson and recite it myself than to see that a half dozen mischievous girls get theirs. I have a class of little boys in the Infant Department just learning to read. I enjoy teaching them very much, for I can easily keep their attention, beside it is encouraging to me to watch their improvement. We had last term fifteen family scholars. I think one will seldom find so pleasant a company of girls as were gathered here." She also writes about creating a literary society for her students: "Miss Jennings, who is ever planning something for the benefit of the pupils, suggested last term that we should form a "Literary Association" whose object should be the improvement of its members in the arts of Reading, Writing, Criticism, and Conversation."...She generally appoints for each evening, one young lady, to write an essay, another a tale, another a criticism, and another to prepare a review of some book. She also appoints one to recite a piece of poetry, and another to read an extract from some book. Two are also appointed to open the discussion of some question; after the discussion has been opened any member has a right to present her arguments. It is in the discussion that the conversational powers are cultivated. The members are called upon for their criticisms upon the compositions as they are read....The meetings have thus far been very pleasant, and I think very profitable. At the close of the term the Society gave a public entertainment. An admission was charged, that funds might be raised for the purpose of furnishing a reading room, with papers, periodicals etc. for the benefit of the members of the Society. Beside, the money taken in at the door, several donations were made to the Society." She adds a few lines on the subjects which she is teaching: "I am going now to commence a course of Historical Reading. I commenced French last term but one teacher who was a German, and who also taught music took French...and since then I have not taken it up again though we have a very good teacher." Original crease lines from mailing folds tender. In very good condition. An excellent piece of of history regarding women's education in the United States.
Seller ID:
17094
Subject:
Autographs, Letters and Archives, Education, Women Employment, Women History, Women's Education
Max
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