- Educated in her early years by her intellectual parents, who stressed reading
the classics and mathematics; exposed to botany on her family’s farm
in Berlin, Connecticut
- More formal education provided at Berlin Academy, Middlebury Academy in
Vermont, and in 1812 at the Pittsfield (Mass.) Female Academy.
- Acquired through reading and exposure to others a knowledge of Latin, Greek,
French, and Spanish; the sciences—including botany, chemistry, and geology;
and mathematics.
- Exposed to the educational theories of the day of Jullien, Combe, Locke,
Gallaudet, Emerson, Rousseau, Neeker.
- 1799-1817 – Teacher in Hartford, Connecticut district
schools; schools in Berlin and New Britain, Connecticut. Taught in an academy
in Sandy Hill, New York before becoming principal. Career interrupted because
of marriage to Simeon Lincoln, birth of three children; returned to teaching
upon his death in 1823.
- 1823-31 – Troy Female Seminary, Troy, New York – teacher under
tutelage of her famous sister, Emma Willard; also served as acting principal.
Career interrupted because of second marriage to John Phelps of Vermont, birth
of two children.
- 1838 – Returned to teaching; became principal of the West Chester,
Pennsylvania Young Ladies’ Seminary.
- 1840 (approximately) – Principal of a female seminary in Rahway,
New Jersey
- 1841-1856 – Principal of the Patapsco Female Institute, Ellicott
City, Maryland
- 1856-1884 – In her retirement years, writer, lecturer, supporter
of numerous social causes, in particular support of the Union effort during
the Civil War.
Writer
Essays
- 1838 – On the Duties and Responsibilities of the Teacher
Textbooks
- 1829 – Familiar Lectures on Botany
- 1833 – Botany for Beginners
- 1834 – Geology for Beginners
- 1834 – Chemistry for Beginners
- 1835 – Progressive Education
- 1836 – Natural Philosophy for Beginners
- 1836 – Lectures on Natural Philosophy
- 1837 – Lectures on Chemistry
Books expressing her educational views
- 1833 – Caroline Westerly
- 1848 – Lectures to Young Ladies; Ida Norman
- 1858 – Christian Households
- 1859 – Hours with my Pupils
- 1864 – Our Country
Contributed articles on various phases of education to periodicals
and newspapers.
Lecturer
- 1838 – College Professional Teachers – “Female Education”
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Awards
- Second Woman named to the American Association for the Advancement
of Science; Active in the Maryland Academy of Science
In general, was known for the popularization of the sciences as
proper subjects for girls’ education; championed physical education; changed
the concept of girls’ education from “polite folderol” to
a substantial “mental discipline” based on sciences, mathematics,
and modern and ancient languages. This educational philosophy is best outlined
in her essays, The Female Student; and Lectures to Young Ladies.
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