USA > Tennessee > Davidson County > Nashville > History of Nashville, Tenn. > Part 43
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The following regulations were adopted by the trustees: There were to be two sessions of the academy each year, each containing five and a half calendar months; and between the sessions there was to be a vaca- tion of one-half a month. The studies were divided into four classes- viz., (I) the rudiments of spelling and reading; (2) reading, writing and English grammar; (3) arithmetic, geography (with use of globes), and composition; (4) history, philosophy, and the ornamental branches. The rates of tuition depended upon the course of study pursued. and were. as follows: First course, $12.50 per session; second course, $15 per session; third course, $20 per session; and for the fourth course, $25 per session-to be paid in advance in each case. These charges included fire-wood, house rent, servants, etc.
400
HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.
The trustees of the academy were: Robert Whyte, Felix Grundy, John P. Erwin, James Trimble, and Robert Searcy. Rev. Mr. Craighead preached the dedication sermon at the academy on Sunday, August 3, 1817; and on the succeeding day, at 12 o'clock M., the first session was. opened by the Rev. William Hume. The number of students present was about sixty-five.
This institute of learning was incorporated by the Legislature October 3, 1817 .* Section I of the act was as follows:
"SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee that all and every person or persons, or the legal representa- tives of such persons, who are or shall become subscribers to the associ- ation or company formed at Nashville for the purpose of establishing a female academy, and who are or shall be proprietors of the real or per-
* Fisk's Female Academy was chartered at Hilham, Overton County, September 11, 1806. A female academy was chartered at Knoxville in 1811, and the female academy at Maysville,. Blount County, was chartered in 1813. These are all the female academies that were char- tered in Tennessee before the establishment of the Nashville Female Academy.
It has been stated frequently that there were no female academies in either Massachusetts. or New York, or, in fact, in any Eastern State, before 1818 ; but this appears to be a mistake .. Rev. William Woodbridge, in an article entitled " Reminiscences of Female Education," in Vol. XVI., American Journal of Education, gives a few instances of young ladies being taught as. individuals, and then says: " In 1779, during a long vacation, after the British troops invaded New Haven, two students of Yale College had each a class of young ladies, who were taught. arithmetic, geography, composition, etc., for the term of one quarter. One of these students. [Rev. Mr. Woodbridge himself ] during his senior year in college, in the severe winter of 1779-So, kept a young ladies' school in New Haven, consisting of about twenty-five scholars, in which he taught grammar, geography, composition, and the elements of rhetoric. The suc- cess of this school was such as to encourage a similar school in another place, and with about the same number of scholars. These attempts led to the opening of a similar school at New- buryport, which was supported for two quarters only. Before that period the Moravians had opened a school for females in Bethlehem. In 1780, in Philadelphia, for the first time in my life I heard a class of young ladies parse in English. After the success of the Moravians in fe- male education, the attention of gentlemen of reputation and influence was turned to the sub- ject. Drs. Morgan, and Rush (the great advocate of education), with others whom I cannot. name, instituted an academy for females in Philadelphia. Their attention, influence, and paternal care were successful, and from them sprung all the following and celebrated schools of their city. . . About the year 1785 young ladies were taught in higher branches of education by Dr. Dwight in his academy at Greenfield, in the State of Connecticut, and his influence was. exerted with great effect in improving the state of female education. In the year 1789 a fe- male academy was opened in Medford, within five miles of Boston, so far as I am informed the first establishment of the kind in New England. This was the resort of scholars from all the Eastern States. The place was delightful and airy, containing ample and commodious. buildings, and fruit-gardens of about five acres."
The only female academies incorporated in New England previous to the incorporation of the Nashville Female Academy, of which any authentic data are accessible at the present writ- ing, are the Bradford Female Seminary, at Bradford, Mass., incorporated in 1804; the Middle- sex Female Academy, at Concord, Mass., chartered in 1806; and the Pittsfield Female Acade- my, at Pittsfield, Mass., incorporated in 1807.
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sonal property belonging to the said company, shall be, and they and their successors and assigns are hereby declared to be, a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the 'President, Trustees, etc., of the Nashville Female Academy.'"
The rules for the government of the academy were as follows: Each person who should subscribe $150 before the second Monday (the 10th ) of November, 1817, should be joint proprietor in the stock of the company ; and $400 was the outside amount that could be required of any stock- holder. There were to be seven trustees, one of whom should be Presi- ident, and all of whom should be elected by the stockholders on the first Monday in January in each year. There were to be also a Secretary and a Treasurer. By Section 3 of the act of incorporation the follow- ing gentlemen were appointed as trustees of the academy, to serve until the first Monday in January, 1818: Robert Whyte, Robert Searcy, Fe- lix Grundy, John P. Erwin, John Baird, Joseph T. Elliston, and James Trimble. Robert Whyte was the first President of the Board of Trust- ees of the academy as an incorporated institution.
The first public examination in this institution began on January 12, 1818, and ended on the 15th. On Monday, the 5th of the month, the following persons were elected trustees for that year by the stockhold- ers : Robert Whyte, Robert Searcy, Felix Grundy, James Trimble, Jo- seph T. Elliston, John Baird, and John P. Erwin. Robert Whyte was elected President; John P. Erwin, Secretary; and M. C. Dunn, Treas- urer.
The second session of this academy commenced February 2, 1818, under the direction of Dr. Berry and his wife. Mr. Leroy was profess- or of music, and was assisted by his wife and her sister. There were in attendance at that term one hundred and eighty students. Miss Gar- dette, of Philadelphia, and Miss Payson, of Portsmouth, N. H., were engaged as " auxiliary tutoresses," in May, 1818. The semi-annual exam- ination of this school, July 13 and 14, 1818, was attended by a large num- ber of citizens, including the trustees.
The third session of this school commenced August 12, 1818, and closed December 19 following, and was still under the care and super- vision of Dr. Berry and his wife. The number of students was one hun- dred and eighty-six. On Monday, January 4, 1819, Robert Whyte, Fe- lix Grundy, James Trimble, John P. Erwin, Joseph T. Elliston, William Hume, and Oliver B. Hayes were elected trustees. Robert Whyte was again elected President; John P. Erwin, Secretary; and Joseph T. El- liston, Treasurer. The fourth session commenced January 17, 1819, and closed June 25, Dr. Berry and wife still in charge, assisted by Miss
26
402
HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.
Payson, Miss Carl, Miss Owen, and Mrs. Jane Maney. The number of students received was two hundred and eighteen.
In July, 1819, Dr. Berry and wife retired from connection with the academy, and on the 23d of August John P. Erwin resigned his posi- tion as trustee, and was followed by Thomas Claiborne. Mr. Claiborne was appointed Secretary. On the 2d of December, 1819, James Trimble resigned, and John P. Erwin was elected a trustee in his stead. Felix Grundy resigned, and Thomas Crutcher was elected a trustee in his stead. Thomas Claiborne resigned, and Alfred Balch was elected a trustee in his stead. John P. Erwin was elected Secretary. The fifth session commenced July 19, 1819, and closed on the 23d of Decem- ber. Rev. William Hume was principal as the successor of Dr. Berry, and was assisted by Miss Payson, Miss Carl, Miss Childs, Miss Stearns, Miss Owen, and Mrs. Maney. The number of students received that term was one hundred and thirty-seven.
On Monday, January 20, 1820, Robert Whyte, John P. Erwin, John Baird, Oliver B. Hayes, Matthew Barrow, Thomas Crutcher, and Henry Crabb were elected trustees. Robert Whyte was elected Pres- ident; John P. Erwin, Secretary; and Matthew Barrow, Treasurer. The sixth session commenced January 17 and closed June 21, 1820. Rev. Mr. Hume remained the Principal, and was assisted by Miss Pay- son, Miss Childs, Miss Stearns, Miss Carl, and Miss Farrington. The number of students was one hundred and eleven. On the 17th of July, 1820, Matthew Barrow resigned as Treasurer, and was succeeded by Thomas Crutcher, who was appointed in his stead. The seventh session commenced on this same day and closed December 20, 1820. The same teachers were employed, and the number of students was one hundred and nineteen.
On Monday, January 8, 1821, Robert Whyte, John P. Erwin, Matthew Barrow, John Nichol, John Baird, Thomas Crutcher, and Joseph T. El- liston were elected trustees, and the same officers as for the preceding year. During the eighth session there were in attendance one hundred and twenty-seven students; and during the ninth, one hundred and two. On Monday, January 14, 1822, Robert Whyte, John P. Erwin, Henry Crabb, James Overton, Oliver B. Hayes, John Baird, and Thomas Crutch- er were elected trustees, and the same officers as before. The tenth ses- sion commenced January 21. The teachers were the same, and the num- ber of students ninety-three. The eleventh session commenced July 22, the teachers remaining the same, and the number of students ninety.
On Monday, January 13, 1823, Robert Whyte, Thomas Crutcher, John Baird, Oliver B. Hayes, John P. Erwin, James Overton, and Felix Rob-
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ertson were elected trustees, and the same officers were elected as for the year before. The twelfth session commenced January 20, the same teachers being present, and the number of students ninety-eight. The thirteenth session commenced July 21, under the same teachers, the num- ber of students being one hundred.
On Monday, January 12, 1824, Robert Whyte, Thomas Crutcher, John Baird, Oliver B. Hayes, Felix Robertson, John P. Erwin, and James Trimble were elected trustees, and the same officers as before. The fourteenth session commenced January 19, the same teachers being in charge with the exception of Miss Farrington, and the number of stu- dents one hundred and eighteen. The fifteenth session commenced July 19, the same teachers being present, and the number of students ninety. On the 9th of October, 1824, Andrew Hynes was elected a trustee in the place of James Trimble, deceased. No election was held in January, 1825, for trustees, the old board, together with the old officers, serving through the year. On January 24, 1825, Alfred Balch was elect- ed a trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Baird. No- vember 25, 1825, James P. Clark was elected a trustee in the place of Felix Robertson, resigned. On Monday, January 9, 1826, Robert Whyte, John P. Erwin, Thomas Crutcher, Joseph T. Elliston, James P. Clark, Oliver B. Hayes, and Alfred Balch were elected trustees for that year. Robert Whyte was elected President; John P. Erwin, Secretary ; and Thomas Crutcher, Treasurer. On November 24, 1826, Alfred Balch and Robert White resigned, and Joseph T. Elliston was elected to the presidency of the Board of Trustees, which had been filled up to that time by Mr. White.
On Monday, January 8, 1827, Joseph T. Elliston, Michael C. Dunn, Robert Farquharson, Thomas Crutcher, James Rinks, Alfred Balch, and James P. Clark were elected trustees. Upon the declination of Joseph T. Elliston to serve, Felix Robertson was elected in his place, and was also chosen President of the Board. Robert Farquharson was elected Secretary; and Michael C. Dunn, Treasurer. On Monday, January 14, 1828, Felix Robertson, Thomas Crutcher, Robert Farquharson, Thomas Claiborne, Alfred Balch, Nicholas B. Pryor, and James P. Clark were elected trustees. Thomas Claiborne declining to serve, John Nichol was elected in his place, and the same officers were elected as the previous year. On Monday, January 12, 1829, Felix Robertson, Thomas Crutcher, Alfred Balch, John Nichol, James P. Clark, Nicholas B. Pry- or, and Robert Farquharson were elected trustees. The same officers were elected as the year before, except that Thomas Crutcher was elect- ed Treasurer.
404
HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.
The election for trustees for the years 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1833 were not recorded, and hence the names of those who were elected cannot be given with certainty. On Monday, January 13, 1834, John Harding, Robert Woods, Andrew Hynes, John Nichol, James P. Clark, Thomas Crutcher, and Joseph T. Elliston were elected trustees. Thomas Crutch- er was elected President; James P. Clark, Secretary; and John Hard- ing, Treasurer.
The number of students in attendance at this institution for the year 1825 was IIO; for 1826, 123; for 1827, 109; for 1828, 89; for 1829, 108; for 1830, 124; for 1831, 139; for 1832, 134; for 1833, 133; for 1834, 149; for 1835, 181 ; for 1836, 169; for 1837, 156; for 1838, 173; for 1839, 258; for 1840, 198; for 1841, 189; for 1842, 182; for 1843, 153.
The following table shows the number of students of the various classes named from 1844 to 1866, inclusive of both years:
YEAR.
Pupils .*
Boarders.
Ornamentals.t
Teachers.
Graduates.
YEAR.
Pupils. *
Boarders.
Ornamentals.t
Teachers.
Graduates.
1844
194
I8
3I
IO
II
1854.
367
I38
455
26
37
1845.
175
30
48
II
9
1855
363
I3I
440
26
30
1846
195
41
63
I2
6
1856
371
172
5,36
27
38
1847
200
53
91
I2
6
1857 .
.420
19I
563
27
45
1848
258
62
IIO
II
8
1858.
432
225
587
32
38
1849
217
71
130
I2
12
1859
50I
243
590
36
57
1850
305
83
I53
16
14
1860.
513
256
593
38
61
I851
3.36
90
190
16
26
1861.
325
164
375
32
43
1852.
310
96
224
20
25
1866.
267
II2
247
12
23
1853
316
I20
372
24
26
*Including both day and boarding scholars.
ยก Including those whose " Tuition extra " equaled cost of tuition of day scholars.
Between 1861 and 1866 the school was not in session, closing immedi- ately after the fall of Fort Donelson.
The principal teachers in this academy were as follows: Dr. Daniel Berry and wife for the years 1817, 1818, and 1819; Rev. William Hume, from the retirement of Dr. Berry to 1833, when he was followed by Dr. R. A. Lapsley, who remained until 1837. Dr. W. A. Scott then taught one year, when Rev. C. D. Elliott and Rev. R. A. Lapsley were joint principals until 1844, in which year Rev. C. D. Elliott became Prin- cipal and so continued until the close of the school in 1866.
The buildings of the Nashville Female Academy were located on Church Street east of the Chattanooga depot. They had a front on Church Street of one hundred and eighty feet, and extended back two hundred and eighty feet, and were nearly all two stories high. They were so constructed as to give sunlight to all the rooms, and so connected by porticoes and corridors as to afford easy communication without exposure
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EDUCATIONAL.
in inclement weather. The grounds included one entire square of about five acres, and were well shaded originally by native oaks and cedars, and afterward by planted trees. In 1862 the Federal soldiers took possession of these grounds, and all school exercises were suspended. In 1865 the Shelby Medical College buildings on Broad Street were rented and the exercises of the academy were resumed, under the name of the Lanier Female Academy. In the meantime a new contract was entered into be- tween Rev. D. C. Elliott and the trustees of the academy, continuing him as Principal until 1878. Under this contract he removed into the old academy buildings, still in part occupied by the Federal soldiers.
In 1865 a bill of complaint was filed by certain trustees and stockhold- ers in the academy against Rev. C. D. Elliott for the purpose of ousting him from possession of the property, and under the circumstances all ef- forts to re-establish the academy were abandoned until the suits in con- nection with the same should be settled. These suits were finally in 1878 decided in favor of the trustees, and the property was sold to W. M. Duncan. Thus the Nashville Female Academy, one of the oldest and the largest female school in the United States, ceased to exist.
From the time of the founding of the settlement at the Bluff to the present writing there have been many private schools in Nashville. The first of these came up the Cumberland in the flag-boat of Colonel John Donelson's fleet. It was in charge of Mrs. Ann Johnson, sister of Gen- eral James Robertson. Mrs. Johnson was at that time a widow, but she afterward married John Cockrill. The children composing this school were those of General Robertson and some twenty or thirty others be- sides. These Mrs. Johnson organized into a school which she taught on week-days and Sundays. This school landed at the Big Salt Lick on Sunday, April 24, 1780, after a winter voyage of about four months. How long Mrs. Johnson taught this school after it landed at the Bluff tradition does not inform us, but probably two or three terms at least. David Hood was one of the early teachers, and previous to 1780 a Mr. Menees was engaged in the same useful and laudable vocation. "Then in 1785 the Rev. Thomas Craighead, at Spring Meeting-house, continued father's work, begun at Sugar Creek, North Carolina, preaching the word, administering the sacraments, saying long prayers, and for the same religious motives, teaching youths who came to him." This work of Rev. Thomas B. Craighead is fully mentioned in connection with the history of Davidson Academy.
From this time on other private schools were established and taught as the necessity was felt or as teachers could be secured, and their services paid for. It is altogether probable that in 1815 Mrs. Christian Irby
406
HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.
taught the first school exclusively for girls. In 1814 J. C. Fremont, father of Major-general John C. Fremont, commenced teaching in Nash- ville. Under date of January 9, 1815, he advertised as follows:
" FRENCH LANGUAGE.
" Having removed to Mr. Porter's new brick house on Main Street, I intend to keep a night school for those gentlemen who wish to learn the French language. THE BROADSWORD EXERCISE will be taught from 2 to 5 every day. The next quarter for the dancing-school will commence Thursday morning the 12th inst."
On the Ist of December, 1815, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, from Kentucky, opened an academy for young ladies in Nashville. They taught the pro- nunciation of the English language in connection with reading, penman- ship, arithmetic, English grammar, belles-lettres, and geography, with the use of globes. Their terms were $8, $10, and $12 per quarter, and they charged $25 per quarter for board. How long they continued to teach is not known, but it could not have been long-not much over one year at the outside-as in March, 1816, Mr. and Mrs. Abercrombie " moved their academy to the brick house formerly occupied by Mr. Arnold as an academy, near Mr. West's cotton factory." Mr. and Mrs. Abercrombie began teaching in Nashville in January, 1816, "having removed their academy from Belmont to Nashville, and rented the property of Mr. Boyd, lately occupied by Mr. McLemore," for the purpose of teaching reading, writing, orthography, English grammar, geography, with the use of maps, composition, drawing, painting, fine and plain needle-work, tam- bour marking on canvas, etc. Mr. Abercrombie also continued to teach music, and to teach his scholars to sing with taste. His terms were $16 per quarter. For board and the branches other than music, his terms were $120 per quarter, tuition alone being $20 per quarter. In order to attract attention to the value of music as an accomplishment, Mr. Aber- crombie on the 3d of May, 1816, gave a vocal and instrumental concert, assisted by several ladies and gentlemen of the place. About this time Alexander Johnson and James H. Thompson opened a school for teach- ing vocal music in Nashville.
Robert Davis was another of the early teachers in this city, having opened a grammar school on Monday, May 13, 1816, in Mr. Barrows's school-house, in which he taught reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, etc., at $4 per. quarter. For the elements of algebra he charged $6 per quarter.
E. Lownesboro commenced teaching a school on Water Street on Tuesday, October 28, 1817. The branches taught were reading, writ- ing, and arithmetic, at $5 per quarter.
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EDUCATIONAL.
A. Rogers opened a school on the Lancasterian principle some time in May, 1818. He had about sixty pupils. In his school these branches were taught: Spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, ge- ography, Euclid's elements, theoretical surveying, and the general prin- ciples of logic, moral philosophy, and belles-lettres. In the following October a committee consisting of John Johnson and Alexander Porter paid a visit to this school of Mr. Rogers's, which was conducted on such a novel basis. They published a report of their observations and con- clusions, in which they complimented Mr. Rogers and the Lancasterian method in the highest terms. They said the Lancasterian system en- abled one teacher to instruct several hundred scholars, and consequently at a reduced rate for each scholar, and it also saved in a great measure the expense of school books. As with many other of the private teach- ers of that early day, it is not easy to say how long this Lancasterian school was in operation, as it has never been customary for teachers or others to advertise the termination of their labors.
Mrs. Meeney taught school several terms in Nashville about the years 1820 and 1821. Her charges were $6 per session of five months.
T. Veltenair began to teach music on the piano, violin, etc., in 1821.
Henry E. Salmon was the " lightning calculator " of those days. On April 2, 1823, he advertised to teach a "new and recent discovery," at Captain Kingsley's hotel, none being admitted during the moments of tu- ition but learners. His room was open for learners from daylight to 9 o'clock P.M., for five successive days and nights. His new system he called "figureometry." He said: "It rests simply in operative exhibition of simple interest, per cent. per annum, or the profit per centum on mer- chandise of the pound currency or sterling ( not the dollar), never before known in any quarter of the world. Thus when the simple interest is desired of any number of pounds, shilling, and pence, at any rate per cent. from one-fourth to one thousand, it can be produced in dollars and cents ninety-nine times out of a hundred, in a single line, with such facility, velocity, and address as cannot fail to excite in the learner, or even in the spectator, a pleasing astonishment; and the more so when he shall have considered that this new art, simple and easy as it is, has actually hitherto escaped the practical sagacity of the learned in the four quarters of the world." Each learner was charged $5, which was half the regular price, and was required to sign a paper pledging himself not to teach the new art to any person for two years from the date of signing the pledge, unless released therefrom by the publication of a book which Mr. Salmon had in preparation, setting forth the principles of the art.
408
HISTORY OF NASHVILLE.
During six months of the year 1823 Mr. Riviere was engaged in teach- ing the modern languages to private pupils; and in August of the same year was engaged as a teacher of French, Spanish, and Italian in the Nashville Female Academy.
Mrs. Scott's seminary for young ladies opened for the receipt of pupils on Monday, January 19, 1824. It was on Cedar Street, next door to the office of Ephraim H. Foster. Her terms were $10 per session for the first class, $12 for the second, and $16 for the third, one-half to be paid in advance.
Dr. De St. Leger's Academy was in operation as early at least as 1821. His plan was to receive young misses on Monday, Wednesday, and Fri- day of each week; and young lads on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of each week, at $10 per quarter. They were taught the common English branches, history, belles-lettres, Latin, Hebrew, Greek, book-keeping, commercial correspondence, and French.
There were many other private schools opened from time to time, as the necessities of the people seemed to require; but to give an account of each and all in this volume would be impracticable, even if it were desirable. Some of the others, however, it is deemed proper to enu- merate.
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