Boscobel College facts for kids

Boscobel College for Young Ladies was a school in Nashville, Tennessee. It was started in 1889. Back then, it was called the Nashville Baptist Female College. The Tennessee Baptist Convention helped create it. The college was open for 25 years, from 1889 to 1916. One of its main goals was to offer higher education for young women at the lowest possible cost.

At its busiest time in the 1890s, Boscobel College had over 100 female students. Many of these students lived at the school. In 1898, the college proudly announced that its teachers, music, and art programs were excellent. They promised to prepare young ladies for their future lives and responsibilities.

The College Campus

The school was built around a large house in East Nashville. This house used to belong to Anna Shelby Williams. The mansion was made of special blue bricks and had fancy marble fireplaces from Italy. It sat on a hill covered with trees, looking over the Cumberland River. The campus covered ten acres of wooded land. It was located on Sevier Street, near South Seventh Street (which was called Foster Street back then).

The name "Boscobel" was first given to the property by John Shelby. He built the original mansion for his daughter, Anna Shelby Williams.

After the college closed, the property changed hands. In June 1917, it became home to the National Baptist Seminary and Missionary Training School. This school operated until 1931. By 1940, the old buildings were torn down and sold for parts. Today, much of the land where the school once stood is now the James A. Cayce Homes. This is Nashville's oldest and largest public housing area.

Why the College Closed

Boscobel College closed its doors in 1916. This happened because of a big fire in East Nashville. Other schools for young women in the area also closed around the same time. For example, Radnor College closed in 1914. Buford College closed in 1920. Columbia's Athenaeum college closed in 1907. And Franklin's Tennessee Female College closed in 1913.

Important People at Boscobel

Many people helped make Boscobel College what it was. Here are some of the key roles and individuals:

College Leaders

• Presidents: The college had several presidents over the years. Some notable ones included J.P. Hamilton (1891), John Galen Paty (who served twice), Zuinglius Calvin Graves (1893), Henry G. Lamar, Sr. (1897), Carey Albert Folk (1899–1904), and Cynthia Rust (1904–1912). Luane Everett was the last known president in 1912.
• Regents: These individuals helped manage the college. Dr. John O'Brian Rust was a regent from 1896 to 1904. Mrs. N.J. Ellis was a regent in 1916.
• Trustees: The Board of Trustees oversaw the college's operations. In 1914, Rev. William N. Lunsford was the President of the Board, and William Hume was the Secretary.
• Principals: These were also important leaders. John Galen Paty served as a principal. Alice Foxworthy Glasscock was the Lady Principal. Eliza Crostwait and I.P. Hamilton also held this role.

Teachers and Staff

Boscobel College had many dedicated teachers.

• Mrs. Annie M. Woodall was the director of the School of Expression. She studied voice and expression in Paris, New York, and Chicago. She was also a soloist and choir director at Trinity Church in Nashville.
• Minnie Gattinger taught fine art and German. She was a talented artist who studied in Philadelphia and Paris. She even showed her work at a famous art show in Paris in 1896.
• William Owen Carver taught philosophy, Latin, Greek, German, and psychology.
• Grace Boyd Kennon taught ethics, philosophy, and science. She also taught Native American students in the Indian Territories.
• Ophilia Bayer taught music.
• Eliza Jane McKissack also taught music around 1897.

Former Students

Many young women attended Boscobel College.

• Agnes Shepard Bates became a music teacher.
• Edith A. Roper earned her A.B. degree from Boscobel in 1894. She later taught science at several colleges, including Boscobel itself.
• Sarah Lois Grime earned a B.A. from Boscobel. She went on to get more degrees and became a faculty member at Texas A&I University.
• Inez Carter graduated in 1908 and taught in public schools.
• Reine Alexander (1887–1961) taught mathematics at Baton Rouge High School and later became its principal.

Images for kids

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