Society to Encourage Studies at Home facts for kids
The Society to Encourage Studies at Home (often called SH) was a special school that started in 1873. It was the first "correspondence school" in the United States. This means students learned by sending letters back and forth with their teachers. Anna Eliot Ticknor started this school in Boston, Massachusetts. The Society helped women learn new things from their own homes.
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How the Society Started
Anna Eliot Ticknor (1823–1896) created the Society in 1873. Her father, George Ticknor, was a historian and professor at Harvard University. Anna wanted to help women learn and study regularly. She believed all women should have a chance to learn.
The Society was a bit like an English group called the Society for the Encouragement of Home Study. But Anna's American Society was different in important ways.
What Made It Special
The English group only helped wealthy women who had a lot of free time. Anna's Society helped women from all backgrounds. It even helped women who were busy with housework. It showed them how to use their time for learning.
The English group had a set plan for everyone to follow. Students had to learn on their own. But the American Society offered special plans for each student. Teachers and students talked often through letters. This made learning more personal.
Also, the English group made students travel to London for a final test. Anna's Society did not require this. It was hard for many students to travel far. Plus, many students did not have much money. The Society made learning easier for them.
Who Was Involved
The courses were only for women. Over 24 years, 7,086 students learned through the Society. More than 200 teachers volunteered their time to help.
The Society closed in 1897 after Anna Ticknor passed away.
Notable Teachers
Many smart women were teachers for the Society. They included:
- Ellen Swallow Richards (science)
- Vida Dutton Scudder (English)
- Lucretia Crocker (science)
- Katherine Peabody Loring (history)
- Alice James (history)
- Lucy Elliot Keeler (history)
- Florence Trail (ancient history)
- Elizabeth Thorndike Thornton (history)
Famous Students
Some students of the Society became well-known. These included:
- Mary Parker Follett
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Lending Library
The Society also had a large lending library. It had thousands of books. Students paid a small fee to help pay for the books. The teachers did not get paid for their time. They volunteered to help women learn and grow.
