Life and Early Career of Emma Hart Willard
Emma Hart Willard was born on February 23,
1787 in Berlin, Connecticut. She was the sixteenth child born to her father,
Samuel Hart and his wife. Her family was known well within Berlin due to her
father being a successful farmer and liberal thinker within society; as well as
being a former militia captain in the State of General Assembly and the
Revolutionary war. It has been reported that Emma's ancestors were among the
most prominent settlers from New English. As a young child, Emma enjoyed
engaging in conversations about important topics such as philosophy and
politics. During the 19th century, women were not allowed to conduct conversations
about these subjects due to the fact that it was believed that women were not educated
enough to fully understand the concepts of Philosophy and Politics. Although
Emma attended her hometown school, most of her learning came from within her
home. Reading was important concept within the Hart household that she became
an amazing reader.
Emma understood the importance of an education and at the age of twelve she decided to teach herself Geometry; she began studying at the Berlin Academy under the guidance of Thomas Miner, the founder of Berlin Academy, at the age of fifteen. While studying at Berlin academy during her first year of attendance, Emma began teaching at the academy. Her experiences at the Berlin Academy awoke a passion within Emma for learning and determine to help other young women receive a higher education. It was in 1807, that Emma was offered the position as a Principle at the Women's Academy in Middlebury, Vermont at the age of twenty years old.
Two years after accepting the Principal position, Emma married Dr. John Willard, a widower with four children, in 1809. Since she was married, women were not allowed to have careers or pursue an education; Emma secretively studied from the college books of a male relative who lived with within their household. It was at the point that Emma realized the education women were being cheated due to society's ideas that women have no need to have a college education. She knew that women had much to contribute to society just as men; it was her dream to live in a society where the education of women was taken seriously.
Emma understood the importance of an education and at the age of twelve she decided to teach herself Geometry; she began studying at the Berlin Academy under the guidance of Thomas Miner, the founder of Berlin Academy, at the age of fifteen. While studying at Berlin academy during her first year of attendance, Emma began teaching at the academy. Her experiences at the Berlin Academy awoke a passion within Emma for learning and determine to help other young women receive a higher education. It was in 1807, that Emma was offered the position as a Principle at the Women's Academy in Middlebury, Vermont at the age of twenty years old.
Two years after accepting the Principal position, Emma married Dr. John Willard, a widower with four children, in 1809. Since she was married, women were not allowed to have careers or pursue an education; Emma secretively studied from the college books of a male relative who lived with within their household. It was at the point that Emma realized the education women were being cheated due to society's ideas that women have no need to have a college education. She knew that women had much to contribute to society just as men; it was her dream to live in a society where the education of women was taken seriously.
The Proposal and the Beginning of
Troy Female Seminary
Due to her families financial lack, Emma opened a school within her Middlebury home in 1812. She introduced her students to the concept of Mathematics. However, she was careful not to imply that a woman's education should be equal to the education men out of fear of having her home-school shut down for presenting the idea of equality. After a rocky start within her home school, Emma attained a larger location in Troy, New York, where she could reach more young women.
Determine to expand the education of young women everywhere, Emma wrote the proposal,"A Plan for Improving Female Education" to New York legislators. She knew that this proposal needed to make a positive impact in order to gain supporters. The proposal was published, copied and sent to former President Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and current President, James Monroe; it also attracted the attention of Governor Dewitt Clinton and other important men within the industrial town of Troy. At the time the proposal was considered controversial. The New York Legislature was shocked at the idea of women being taught Human Anatomy and refused the approval of such ideas. However, the town of Troy believe that Emma's ideas would build a stronger society and economy. The town raised its taxes and donated over Four Thousand Dollars. The Troy Female Seminary, (Emma Willard School), was opened in September of 1821, with ninety young women enrolled within its first year.
The new school attracted wealthy families from all areas of the United States. Many families wanted their young women to be educated and knew that Troy Female Seminary was the first step to helping women attain an education. With a tuition of two hundred dollars a year, middle class women could not afford to attend the female seminary until Mount Holyoke Female Seminary opened in Massachusetts, 1837. Emma was able to return to teaching full-time after the death of her husband in 1825.
The curriculum for Troy was more advanced than boys academies in subjects as Astronomy, Botany, Physiology and Geology. Although Emma encourage the learning of subjects that were considered "male-thinking subject," she also knew that a women should center her life at home and becoming a teacher. Due to the shift in women's education, Emma began offering classes that focused on home economics to encourage women who were home-makers to attend Troy.
Determine to expand the education of young women everywhere, Emma wrote the proposal,"A Plan for Improving Female Education" to New York legislators. She knew that this proposal needed to make a positive impact in order to gain supporters. The proposal was published, copied and sent to former President Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and current President, James Monroe; it also attracted the attention of Governor Dewitt Clinton and other important men within the industrial town of Troy. At the time the proposal was considered controversial. The New York Legislature was shocked at the idea of women being taught Human Anatomy and refused the approval of such ideas. However, the town of Troy believe that Emma's ideas would build a stronger society and economy. The town raised its taxes and donated over Four Thousand Dollars. The Troy Female Seminary, (Emma Willard School), was opened in September of 1821, with ninety young women enrolled within its first year.
The new school attracted wealthy families from all areas of the United States. Many families wanted their young women to be educated and knew that Troy Female Seminary was the first step to helping women attain an education. With a tuition of two hundred dollars a year, middle class women could not afford to attend the female seminary until Mount Holyoke Female Seminary opened in Massachusetts, 1837. Emma was able to return to teaching full-time after the death of her husband in 1825.
The curriculum for Troy was more advanced than boys academies in subjects as Astronomy, Botany, Physiology and Geology. Although Emma encourage the learning of subjects that were considered "male-thinking subject," she also knew that a women should center her life at home and becoming a teacher. Due to the shift in women's education, Emma began offering classes that focused on home economics to encourage women who were home-makers to attend Troy.
Later Life...
Emma retired and left Troy Female Seminary in 1838, at the age of fifty-one years old. After her departure from Troy, Emma continued to publish articles on the education of women, write textbooks on history and geography and poems.
After a successful career and becoming an inspiration to women everywhere, Emma passed away on April 15, 1870 in Troy, New York.
After a successful career and becoming an inspiration to women everywhere, Emma passed away on April 15, 1870 in Troy, New York.