Julia Sears facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julia Sears
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Julia Ann Sears, c. 1872
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| Born | 1839 Massachusetts
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| Died | 1929 (aged 88–89) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Educator |
Julia Sears (1839–1929) was an amazing educator and a strong supporter of women's rights. She made history in 1872 by becoming the first woman to lead a public college in the United States. This school was called Mankato Normal School. Today, it is known as Minnesota State University, Mankato. In 2008, the university honored Julia Sears by naming a student residence hall after her.
Contents
About Julia Sears
Julia Sears was born in 1839 and lived until 1929. She was a very important person in education and for women's rights. She grew up in Massachusetts and later became a professor.
- Born: 1839 in East Dennis, Massachusetts
- Graduated: 1859 from Bridgewater State University
- President: 1872-1873 at Mankato Normal School
- Professor: 1875-1907 at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
- Died: 1929
Her Family's Background
Julia Sears came from a family with a long history in America. Her family line started with Richard Sares around 1630. Many of her family members were involved in education or religion. For example, Edmond Sears, a relative, wrote the famous Christmas song "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" in 1849.
Julia's father, Constant, was born in 1802. He was a sea captain before he retired. After retiring, he became a cranberry farmer. Her mother, Deborah, was born in 1801. Both her parents passed away in 1861.
Julia's Early Life
Julia Ann Sears was born on March 19, 1839. Her parents were Constant and Deborah Sears. She was born in East Dennis, a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Julia was the youngest of five sisters. She had no brothers. This might have helped her become very independent.
When Julia and her sisters were young, they attended religious summer camps. These camps were led by Methodist ministers. Julia often played games where she pretended to be a teacher. This was a hint about what she would do later in life.
Julia's Education
Julia Sears went to a local school in East Dennis. She attended from age five to fifteen. It is thought she also went to East Dennis Academy from 1854 to 1858. During this time, she decided she wanted to be a teacher.
From 1858 to 1860, Julia attended Bridgewater Normal School. This school trained people to become teachers. Students had to promise to become teachers. If they didn't, they had to pay a fee. Julia worked closely with the school's principal, Marshall Conant. He loved math and science. This might have inspired Julia to become a math professor. She earned a General Diploma, which was like a high school diploma today.
Her Teaching Career
After finishing school, Julia Sears taught at a normal school in Cape Cod from 1860 to 1866. In 1866, she moved to teach at Western State Normal School. This school is now called Farmington State Normal School.
Later, she taught at the Prescott School for Boys and Girls in Charlestown, Boston. From 1869 to 1871, she was a Head Assistant in Boston. During this time, she also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Leading Mankato Normal School
In 1871, Miss Sears began teaching at the Mankato Normal School. This school is now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato. After just one year, Julia Sears made history. In 1872, she became the president of the school. This was a huge achievement. For many years, people didn't widely know about her accomplishment. Other women later thought they were the first female college presidents.
When she spoke to the first group of female graduates, she said:
You are stepping out into life at a time when you hear not the sound, 'thus far in education may you go and no farther, this place you may fill, but not that'; but, instead, universities and colleges open wide their doors and bid you enter, and any place you are fitted to fill is no longer denied you.
Julia's strong words were still new and surprising for her time. She had to leave the university after only one year. But many students and people in the Mankato community supported her. This support turned into a protest known as the Sears Rebellion. Some students were even expelled because of it.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving Mankato, Julia Sears became a math professor. She taught at Peabody Normal School in Nashville, Tennessee. This school is now part of Vanderbilt University. In Nashville, she worked hard to support women's rights. She especially fought for women's right to vote. She stayed at Peabody until she retired in 1907. A portrait of her, painted in 1904, is still in the Peabody library.
When she passed away in 1929, the campus newspaper praised her. They said her teaching was famous for its "precision, her accuracy, her fairness, her brilliant demonstrations." They also noted her "ability to inspire the ambition of all those she taught." This quote is written on the wall of a student hall named after her. This hall was built in 2015 at Minnesota State University, Mankato. It reminds everyone of her lasting impact.
Images for kids
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Julia Ann Sears, c. 1872
See also
In Spanish: Julia Sears para niños
