How Did Susanna Rowson and Other Reformers Promote Higher Education as an
Antidote to Women's Sexual Vulnerability, 1780-1820?

Document List

Abstract

Introduction

I. Women's Sexual Vulnerability, Calls for Reform, and Educational Change in the Early Republic

Document 1: Benjamin Rush, "Of the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic," 1786

Document 2: Mary Wollstonecraft, "Unfortunate Situation of Females, Fashionably Educated, and Left without a Fortune," 1787

Document 3: Judith Sargent Murray, "On the Equality of the Sexes," 1790

Document 4: Mary Wollstonecraft, "Introduction," A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792

Document 5: Excerpts from Susanna Rowson, Charlotte: A Tale of Truth, 1794

Document 6: Sarah Connell Ayer to Sarah Kittredge, 13 March 1810 and 25 April 1811

Document 7: Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis to Elizabeth Bordley, 22 March 1821

II. The Content of Women's Education in the Academies

Document 8: Benjamin Rush, "Thoughts upon Female Education," 1787

Document 9: Benjamin Say, "Address, by Doctor Benjamin Say," 1789

Document 10: Judith Sargent Murray, "No. XCI," 1798

Document 11: Susanna Rowson, "Preface," Reuben and Rachel; or, Tales of Old Times, 1798

Document 12A: Excerpts from Susanna Rowson, The New Pleasing Instructor; or, Young Lady's Guide to Virtue and Happiness, 1799

Document 12B: Susanna Rowson, "Writing and Spelling," The New Pleasing Instructor, 1799

Document 12C: Susanna Rowson, "Goodness of Heart," The New Pleasing Instructor, 1799

Document 13 A: Susanna Rowson, "Introductory Address for 1807," A Present for Young Ladies, 1811

Document 13B: Susanna Rowson, "Sketches of Female Biography," A Present for Young Ladies, 1811

Document 13C: Susanna Rowson, "XXVIII," A Present for Young Ladies, 1811

Document 14: Susanna Rowson, A Spelling Dictionary, 1815

Document 15: Susanna Rowson, Youth's First Step in Geography, 1818

Document 16: Advertisement for Susanna Rowson's school, 1819

Document 17A: Susanna Rowson, Excerpt from "Exercise VI. English History Continued," Exercises in History, Chronology, and Biography, 1822

Documen 17B: Susanna Rowson, "Exercise XIII. America," Exercises in History, Chronology, and Biography, 1822

III. The Effects of Academy Education

Document 18A: Ann Loxley, "Valedictory Oration, Delivered by Miss Ann Loxley," 4 June 1790

Document 18B: Eliza Shrupp, "The Following Valedictory Oration was Delivered by Miss Eliza Shrupp," 21 September 1791

Document 18C: Priscilla Mason, "The Salutatory Oration, Delivered by Miss Mason," 15 May 1793

Document 19: Eliza Southgate to "My Dearest Mother," 9 September 1802

Document 20A: Susanna Rowson, chapter 2, Charlotte's Daughter; or, The Three Orphans, 1828

Document 20B: Susanna Rowson, chapter 3, Charlotte's Daughter; or, The Three Orphans, 1828

Document 20C: Susanna Rowson, chapter 14, Charlotte's Daughter; or, The Three Orphans, 1828

Document 20D: Susanna Rowson, conclusion, Charlotte's Daughter; or, The Three Orphans, 1828

Endnotes

Bibliography

Project Credits

Related Links

Teaching Tool