Hartford Female Seminary

Hartford Female Seminary
Hartford Female Seminary, from an 1896 diploma
TypeFemale seminary
EstablishedMay 20, 1823; 201 years ago (1823-05-20)[1]
PresidentCatharine Beecher
Location, ,
US

Hartford Female Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut was established in 1823, by Catharine Beecher, making it one of the first major educational institutions for women in the United States. By 1826 it had enrolled nearly 100 students. It implemented then-radical programs such as physical education courses for women.[2] Beecher sought the aid of Mary Lyon in the development of the seminary.[3][4] The Hartford Female Seminary closed towards the later half of the 19th century.

The school was first hosted in a third-floor room in a building at Main and Kinsley Streets in Hartford, then in the basement of the North Church. In 1827 the school moved into a new neoclassical building at 100 Pratt Street (41°46′04″N 72°40′30″W / 41.7677°N 72.6751°W / 41.7677; -72.6751).[5]

Harriet Beecher Stowe taught at the school beginning in November 1827.[5]

  1. ^ "May 20: Catharine Beecher Opens Hartford Female Seminary". Today in Connecticut History. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. ^ The Beecher House Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today Mansfield University, 2007.
  3. ^ Catherine Beecher Archived 2003-11-25 at the Wayback Machine City University of New York
  4. ^ Carini, P.Catharine E. Beecher material , 1822-1878 Mt. Holyoke College, 1998.
  5. ^ a b Hedrick, Joan D. (1995). Harriet Beecher Stowe: a life. p. 50. ISBN 978-0-19-802310-4.