Hartford Female Seminary facts for kids
Hartford Female Seminary, from an 1896 diploma
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| Type | Female seminary |
|---|---|
| Established | May 20, 1823 |
| President | Catharine Beecher |
| Location |
,
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US
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The Hartford Female Seminary was a very important school for girls in Hartford, Connecticut. It was started in 1823 by a famous woman named Catharine Beecher. This school was one of the first big places in the United States where young women could get a good education.
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A New Kind of School for Girls
The Hartford Female Seminary quickly became popular. By 1826, almost 100 students were learning there. This school was special because it offered new and exciting classes. For example, it had physical education courses for girls. This was a big deal because, back then, it was quite unusual for girls to have gym classes!
Catharine Beecher, who founded the school, wanted it to be the best it could be. She even got help from another important educator, Mary Lyon. Together, they worked to make the school even better. The Hartford Female Seminary helped change how girls were educated in America. It closed down later in the 1800s.
Where the School Was Located
The school started in a small way. First, it was in a room on the third floor of a building in Hartford. Then, it moved to the basement of the North Church.
In 1827, the school got its own new building. This building was at 100 Pratt Street in Hartford. It was designed in a beautiful style called neoclassical.
Famous People Connected to the School
Many interesting people were part of the Hartford Female Seminary. Some were students, and others were teachers.
Students Who Became Famous
- Rose Terry Cooke
- Fanny Fern
- Annie Trumbull Slosson
- Virginia Thrall Smith
- Harriet Beecher Stowe - She also taught at the school.
- Mary E. Van Lennep
- Sarah Woodruff Walker
Teachers at the School
- Kate Foote Coe
- Harriet Beecher Stowe - She started teaching here in November 1827.
