Beecher, Catharine Esther

Revision as of 15:58, 11 October 2007

Catharine Beecher

Catharine Esther Beecher (September 6, 1800 – May 12, 1878) was a noted educator, renowned for her forthright opinions on women’s education as well as her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of a kindergarten into children’s education. Beecher strongly supported allowing children to simply, be children and not prematurely forcing adulthood onto them. She believed that children lacked the experience needed to make important life decisions and that, in order for them to become healthy self-sufficient adults, they needed to be allowed to express themselves freely in an environment suited to children. It was these beliefs that led to her support of the system of kindergartens.

Early Life

Beecher was born in East Hampton, New York, the oldest of thirteen children born to Lyman and Roxanna Foote Beecher. Her father was an outspoken religious leader. Her siblings include her sister Harriet Beecher Stowe, the 19th century abolitionist and writer most famous for her groundbreaking novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, and two brothers who were both renowned Congregationalist ministers, Henry Ward Beecher and Charles Beecher.

The Beecher children were primarily educated at home until the family relocated to Litchfield in 1810. At this point Beecher bega attending Sarah Pierce’s academy for young women.

Educational Career

To provide such educational opportunities for others, in 1823 Beecher opened the Hartford Female Seminary, where she taught until 1831. The private girls school in Hartford, Connecticut, had many well-known alumni, including Catharine’s sister Harriet. Later, Catharine was engaged to marry Professor Alexander Fisher of Yale University, but he died before the wedding was to take place. In 1841 Beecher published “A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School” a book which discussed the underestimated importance of women’s roles in society. The book was edited and re-released the following year in its final form.

Beecher founded The American Woman’s Educational Association in 1852, an organization focused on furthering educational opportunities for women. She also founded the Western Female Institute in Cincinnati (along with her father Lyman) and The Ladies Society for Promoting Education in the West. She was also instrumental in the establishment of women’s colleges in Burlington, Iowa, Quincy, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Caskey, Marie. Chariot of fire religion and the Beecher family. Yale historical publications : Miscellany, 117. New Haven: Yale University Press 1978. ISBN 9780300020076
French, Earl A., and Diana Royce. Portraits of a nineteenth century family a symposium on the Beecher family. Hartford: Stowe-Day Foundation 1976. OCLC 2388045
Rugoff, Milton. The Beechers an American family in the nineteenth century. New York: Harper & Row 1981. ISBN 9780060148591
Stowe, Lyman Beecher. Saints, sinners and Beechers. Essay index reprint series. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press 1970. ISBN 9780836917208

External links

Works by Catharine Beecher. Project Gutenberg Retrieved October 11, 2007.
PBS Schoolhouse Pioneers Retrieved October 11, 2007.
Neman Library: The American Beecher Family Tradition Retrieved October 11, 2007.
PBS:The Story of American Public Education Retrieved October 11, 2007.

Credits

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-{{Claimed}}{{Contracted}}
+{{Images OK}}{{Claimed}}{{Contracted}}
 {{epname|Beecher, Catharine Esther}}
 [[image:Beecherc.jpg|thumb|Catharine Beecher]]
+'''Catharine Esther Beecher''' (September 6, 1800 &ndash; May 12, 1878) was a noted [[educator]], renowned for her forthright opinions on women’s [[education]] as well as her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of a [[kindergarten]] into children’s education. Beecher strongly supported allowing children to simply, be children and not prematurely forcing adulthood onto them. She believed that children lacked the experience needed to make important [[life]] decisions and that, in order for them to become healthy self-sufficient adults, they needed to be allowed to express themselves freely in an environment suited to children. It was these beliefs that led to her support of the system of kindergartens.
-'''Catharine Esther Beecher''' (September 6, 1800 &ndash; May 12, 1878) was a noted educator, renowned for her forthright opinions on women’s education as well as her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of a [[kindergarten]] into children’s education.
+==Early Life==
+Beecher was born in East Hampton, [[New York]], the oldest of thirteen children born to Lyman and Roxanna Foote Beecher. Her father was an outspoken religious leader. Her siblings include her sister [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]], the 19th century [[abolitionist]] and writer most famous for her groundbreaking novel ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'', and two brothers who were both renowned Congregationalist ministers, [[Henry Ward Beecher]] and [[Charles Beecher]].
-Beecher, born in [[East Hampton, New York]], was the daughter, of outspoken religious leader [[Lyman Beecher]].  Her, numerous other well-known family members include her sister [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]], the 19th century [[abolitionist]] and writer most famous for her groundbreaking novel ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'', and two brothers who were both renowned Congregationalist ministers, [[Henry Ward Beecher]] and [[Charles Beecher]].
+The Beecher children were primarily educated at home until the family relocated to  [[Litchfield]] in 1810. At this point Beecher bega attending [[Sarah Pierce’s academy for young women]].
-She was educated at home until she was ten years old, when she was sent to a private school where she was taught the limited curriculum available to young women. The experience left her longing for additional opportunities for education, and she taught herself subjects not commonly offered to women.
+==Educational Career==
 To provide such educational opportunities for others, in 1823 Beecher opened the [[Hartford Female Seminary]], where she taught until 1831.  The private girls school in [[Hartford, Connecticut]], had many well-known alumni, including Catharine’s sister Harriet.  Later, Catharine was engaged to marry Professor Alexander Fisher of [[Yale University]], but he died before the wedding was to take place.  In 1841 Beecher published “A Treatise on Domestic Economy for the Use of Young Ladies at Home and at School” a book which discussed the underestimated importance of women’s roles in society.  The book was edited and re-released the following year in its final form.
 Beecher founded [[The American Woman’s Educational Association]] in 1852, an organization focused on furthering educational opportunities for women.  She also founded the [[Western Female Institute]] in Cincinnati (along with her father Lyman) and [[The Ladies Society for Promoting Education in the West]]. She was also instrumental in the establishment of women’s colleges in [[Burlington, Iowa]], [[Quincy, Illinois]], and [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].
-Beecher strongly supported allowing children to simply, be children and not prematurely forcing adulthood onto them.  She believed that children lacked the experience needed to make important life decisions and that, in order for them to become healthy self-sufficient adults, they needed to be allowed to express themselves freely in an environment suited to children.  It was these beliefs that led to her support of the system of kindergartens.
+==References==
+*Caskey, Marie. ''Chariot of fire religion and the Beecher family''. Yale historical publications : Miscellany, 117. New Haven: Yale University Press 1978. ISBN 9780300020076
+*French, Earl A., and Diana Royce. ''Portraits of a nineteenth century family a symposium on the Beecher family''. Hartford: Stowe-Day Foundation 1976. OCLC 2388045
+*Rugoff, Milton. ''The Beechers an American family in the nineteenth century''. New York: Harper & Row 1981. ISBN 9780060148591
+*Stowe, Lyman Beecher. ''Saints, sinners and Beechers''. Essay index reprint series. Freeport, N.Y.: Books for Libraries Press 1970. ISBN 9780836917208
 ==External links==
-*{{gutenberg author|id=Catharine_Beecher|name=Catharine Beecher}}
+*{{gutenberg author|id=Catharine_Beecher|name=Catharine Beecher}} Retrieved October 11, 2007.
-* [http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/beecher.html PBS Schoolhouse Pioneers]
+* [http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/beecher.html PBS Schoolhouse Pioneers] Retrieved October 11, 2007.
-*[http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/catherine.htm Neman Library: The American Beecher Family Tradition]
+*[http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/catherine.htm Neman Library: The American Beecher Family Tradition] Retrieved October 11, 2007.
-*[http://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/beecher.html PBS:The Story of American Public Education]
+*[http://www.pbs.org/kcet/publicschool/innovators/beecher.html PBS:The Story of American Public Education] Retrieved October 11, 2007.
 [[Category:Biography]]