Enlarging the Female Sphere: Higher Education for Women in the 19th Century with Colleen Formby
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Tuesday June 24, 2025 7pm EST
"Enlarging the Female Sphere: Higher Education for Women in the 19th Century" with Colleen Formby
Wesleyan College, chartered as Georgia Female College on December 23, 1836, was the first college for women in the United States that granted degrees as well as diplomas. When the college opened its doors in 1839, 90 young women were enrolled in the first session. An early course of study included natural philosophy, mental and moral philosophy, astronomy, botany, chemistry, physiology, geology, history and ancient and modern languages. Wesleyan’s curriculum was designed not for entry into the workforce, but to produce upper-class mothers who would in turn produce strong leaders.
Academically, the curriculum was equal to that of young men of the time, suitable for the
production of mothers who were being groomed to raise leaders for the local and national stage. One of the college agents, Lovick Pierce, announced to the public in the Georgia Messenger the impending opening of the college and publicized the course offerings included in the curriculum of English letters and sciences, consisting of literature, composition, French, mathematics, science, philosophy, history, and religion. Trigonometry, Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Evidences of Christianity, and Grammar and Composition made up the coursework for the senior class in the second term. Languages‒Latin, Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish‒were on offer for an additional fee. Vocal and instrumental music, drawing, and painting were also available for an additional charge.
Other institutes and colleges quickly followed suit in increasing the offerings of subjects to women, and Oberlin College pioneered "the joint education of the sexes" enrolling women students beside men from its opening in 1833. The Oberlin Collegiate Institute held as one of its primary objectives: “the elevation of the female character, bringing within the reach of the misjudge and neglected sex, all the instructive privileges which hitherto have unreasonably distinguished the leading sex from theirs.” Oberlin fused its commitment to coeducation with its support for the education of African Americans, and was the first to admit them to study and gain degrees alongside white students.
This presentation will look at some of these colleges and institutes, their offerings for education of women, and student life. If you’ve ever been told that 19th century women were for the most part uneducated, this will definitely change your mind!