C ATHARINE B EECHER By Heather Towhey Mr. Boyt 7 th Period

C ATHARINE ’ S E ARLY L IFE : Born September 6,1800 in East Hampton, New York Daughter of religious leader Lyman Beecher Had 13 siblings (including famous author Harriett Beecher Stowe.) Her mother died when she was 16 so being the eldest, she took on household duties and care of her siblings. At age 9 she attended the Litchfield Female Academy in Connecticut and was inspired by her teacher, Sarah Pierce. Was engaged to a professor from Yale University in 1821 but he died at sea before they got married, devastating her.

C RITICISM OF A MERICAN S OCIETY : She felt that society underestimated women’s roles and importance. Believed that women had qualities that made them more suited for teaching. Believed women and men to be intellectually equal. Believed that women shouldn’t participate in politics but instead should teach male children to be free thinkers and help them shape their political ideas. Also believed that a woman’s place was at the home and school to provide for husbands and children.

B EECHER ’ S METHODS TO I MPROVE W OMEN ’ S E DUCATION : Founded a girls school in Hartford, CT with her sister Mary and taught Latin classes and her students did exceptionally well at Latin exhibitions and people gave the school donations because they did not expect girls to do that well and with the donations, she expanded the school into Hartford Female Seminary. To get her message across, she traveled around the country giving lectures in schools and writing books and pamphlets on the topics she believed in. She gained many followers who she formed into women’s societies that campaigned for education opportunities for women and trained women to be teachers.

C ATHARINE ’ S S UCCESS AT R EFORM : 1841-Published “A Treatise of Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School.” which advised girls on how to take care of a house and their health opened Hartford Female Seminary: taught there until founded American Woman’s Educational Association; founded Western Female Institute in Cincinatti; founded Ladies Society for Promoting Education in the West: These societies trained women to be teachers and sent them West to help build schools. Instrumental in establishing women’s colleges in Burlington, Iowa; Quincy, Illinois; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I NTERESTING P OINTS IN C ATHARINE ’ S W ORK : Too conservative to endorse women in the clergy but became “unofficial” preacher to women. Wrote against women’s suffrage but her sisters supported it. Her books preached a moralistic, anti-modern message(promoted self-sacrifice, modesty, and frugality) and contained hints on baby care and cooking. Felt women’s role was to run households and be good mothers and wives, which was a paradox since she hated housework and never married or had kids.

H OW F AR C ATHARINE W ENT TO A CHIEVE H ER G OAL : Although she was a reformer who pushed for modifications in some aspects, in others she was especially conservative. She was dedicated in creating more education opportunities for women. She formed societies and gave lectures to gain followers. She released pamphlets and novels to advertise her opinion and views of things.

L ASTING I MPACT ON A MERICAN S OCIETY : She supported children’s education and supported todays system of Kindergarten. Advocated the inclusion of Physical Education daily in schools. Developed a program of calisthenics performed to music. She gave women a more respected role in the teaching profession.

“If all females were not only well educated themselves but were prepared to communicate in an easy manner their stores of knowledge to others: if they not only knew how to regulate their own minds, tempers, and habits but how to effect improvements in those around them, the face of society would be speedily changed.” – Catharine Beecher

W ORKS C ITED : resources/biography/biographies/catharine- beecher/