Biography Catharine Beecher

1 biography

1.1 parents , siblings
1.2 education
1.3 female seminary
1.4 opposition indian removal bill
1.5 midlife in west
1.6 later life

biography
parents , siblings

beecher born september 6, 1800, in east hampton, new york, daughter of outspoken religious leader lyman beecher , roxanna (foote) beecher. sister of harriet beecher stowe, 19th century abolitionist , writer famous groundbreaking novel uncle tom s cabin, , of clergymen henry ward beecher , charles beecher.

education

beecher educated @ home until ten years old, when sent private school in litchfield, connecticut, taught limited curriculum available young women. experience left longing additional opportunities education. taught herself subjects not commonly offered women, including math, latin, , philosophy. took on domestic duties of household @ age of 16, following mother s death. beecher became teacher in 1821 @ school in new haven, connecticut. catharine engaged marry professor alexander m. fisher of yale university, died @ sea before wedding took place. never married.

female seminary

to provide such educational opportunities others, in 1823 beecher opened hartford female seminary, taught until 1832. private girls school in hartford, connecticut, had many well-known alumni, including catharine’s sister harriet, assisted @ school.

comprehending deficiencies of existing textbooks, prepared, use in own school, elementary books in arithmetic, work on theology, , third on mental , moral philosophy. last never published, although printed , used college textbook.

she making experiments, , practicing them upon girls, weighing food before ate it, holding graham flour , graham diet better them richer food. ten of pupils invited dine them @ restaurant. accepted invitation, , excellent dinner changed views. thereafter served more palatable food.

opposition indian removal bill

in 1829 , 1830, beecher led women s movement protest indian removal bill of president andrew jackson. first national campaign on part of women in united states.

in bill, jackson requested congress approve use of federal money resettle southeastern american indians, including cherokee, land west of mississippi river.

in response, beecher published “circular addressed benevolent ladies of u. states,” dated december 25, 1829, calling on women send petitions congress protesting removal. in circular wrote, “it has become certainty these people have lands torn them, , driven western wilds , final annihilation, unless feelings of humane , christian nation shall aroused prevent unhallowed sacrifice.”

congress passed bill, , indian removal act became law on may 28, 1830.

midlife in west

in 1832, beecher moved father cincinnati campaign more schools , teachers in frontier. there opened female seminary, which, on account of failing health, discontinued after 2 years. devoted herself development of extended plan physical, social, intellectual, , moral education of women, promoted through national board. 40 years, labored perseveringly in work, organizing societies training teachers, establishing plans supplying territories educators, writing, pleading, , traveling. object, described herself, “to unite american women in effort provide christian education 2,000,000 children in our country.” made field of labor in west , south, , sought aid of educated women throughout united states.

later life

in 1837, beecher retired administrative work. after returning east started ladies society promoting education in west. in 1847 co-founded board of national popular education william slade, ex-governor of vermont. in 1852 founded american women s educational association. goal recruit , train teachers frontier schools , send women west civilize young. became model future schools developed in west.

it claimed hundreds of best teachers west received went there under patronage of system. extent plans succeeded, , found beneficial, careers of teachers short, married.

in 1878 beecher died apoplexy.