Troy Female Seminary
by

Shannon Patterson

Introduction

In 1821, Emma Hart Willard founded the Troy Female Seminary in Troy, New York.  The seminary was the first American educational institution to offer young women a college education equal to young men (Encyclopedia, 1999).   

Historical Contexts of the Day

In the early 1800's, women were not allowed to take college classes.  Classical and scientific studies were offered to young men, but the classes were closed to females regardless of their ability to learn and master the subject.  The academies for women only taught courses such as conversational French and embroidery.  The seminary opened prior to the first public schools for females opening in 1826 (Unsung, 2001)

About Troy Female Seminary

Seeking to offer educational opportunities to young women, Emma Willard sent a plan entitled "Plan for Improving Female Education", to Governor Clinton of New York in 1818.  He recommended her plan for a female seminary, and it was endorsed by the Legislature.  This endorsement not only represented the approval of the seminary, but also represented the first approval of equal educational rights for women. The plan for the seminary proposed a course of study with a broad-based that was academically rigorous.  The city of Troy was selected for the seminary due to its geographical convenience to the five females who had expressed a desire to attend a female seminary.  In order to begin construction of the seminary, the city of Troy raised $4,000 in taxes. (Encyclopedia, 1999)

With 90 women from across the United States enrolling in the first class, the seminary filled a need for female education.  Emma Willard, who served as an instructor and wrote many of the textbooks, taught courses in mathematics, science, foreign language, and literature.  With science classes that were more advanced than many of those offered at comparable men's colleges, the seminary proved it was a serious educational institution deserving of respect (Unsung, 2001). 

Emma Hart Willard remained the head of the Troy Female Seminary until 1838.  After she left, her son, John Hart Willard, and his wife, Sarah Lucretia Hudson, took over the operation of the seminary.  In Honor of its founder, the seminary was renamed Emma Willard School in 1895.  Today, Emma Willard School is a college-preparatory boarding and day school for girls from 9^th grade through the post-graduate year.  Not only does the school maintain the rigorous academic program established by its founder, but also young women can take advantage of visual and performing arts, independent study in the community, and a full range of interscholastic sports (Unsung, 2001).

Links

http://www.britannica.com/women/articles/Troy_Female_Seminary.html

http://www.historyswomen.com/EmmaHartWillard/html

http://mbhs.bergtraum.k12.ny.us/~tnellen/tc/willard.html

References