by Megan
The Western College for Women (later named the Western Female Seminary) was opened to students on September 19, 1855. Reverend Daniel Tenney (the founder of Mount Holyoke in New Hampshire) dreamed of a seminary for women in Oxford, Ohio. Once land was purchased, and the building almost finished, Mount Holyoke sent over teachers at the Reverend's request. One of those who were sent over was Helen Peabody, who was selected to be the principal of the Western Female Seminary. The Western Female Seminary was known as the "Mount Holyoke in the West," because it was based on Daniel Tenney's Mount Holyoke. For the students attending the college, the cost was 60 dollars a year.
Oxford was becoming know as a center of education. It was the home of many colleges, including Miami University for men, and would eventually house other colleges.
Under the Ordinance of 1787, the land northwest of the Ohio river was used to provide for government facilities. Owners whose land was within this territory had to pay an annual "rent" to Miami University. The Western Female Seminary had to pay 113 dollars in the year 1953.
College lasted for three years. Those three classes were divided into three groups, the Junior Class, the Middle Class, and the Senior Class. The courses taught for the Junior Class were Review of English Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography, Analysis of the English Language, Ancient Geography, Natural Philosophy, Algebra, Geometry, Botany, Latin, History, and Parker's Aids and Exercises on Composition. For the Middle Class Latin Geometry, Trigonometry, Botany, Book-keeping, chemistry, Astronomy, Philosophy, Evidences of Christianity, History, and Composition. For the Senior Class Latin, Geology, Natural Theology, Mental Philosophy, Moral Philosophy, Political Economy, Butler's Analogy, Logic, Critical Readings in English Classics, and Composition. The extra courses provided were Drawing, Painting, French, Greek, Reading and Calisthenics. The curriculum of the Western Female Seminary was rated very highly. Not many other colleges provided as many required courses, especially not the existing colleges for women.
On January 14, 1860, the first Western Female Seminary went down in flames.
It was very early in the morning and the rain soon turned to sleet. Not one person was lost during that fire, and through the destruction of their college, and the sleet, Helen Peabody's voice rang out with a prayer of thanksgiving "for our deliverance."
Dr. Scott, the president of the Oxford Female College, let the people of the Western Female Seminary stay at his college. A defective flue had caused their entire building to burn down.
On April 7, 1871, the second Western Female Seminary burnt down. "At two in the morning smoke and flames from and overheated kitchen come pouring through the registers. The fire made much more rapid progress that had been the case of the fire in 1860." Once again no one died in the fire.
Helen Peabody came to the Western Female Seminary in the late summer of 1855. She was encouraged to become the principal of the new seminary. Her decision to come was hard to make because a ten day old baby was left in her care. She decided to go to the Western Female Seminary, and left the baby in her sister's care. She left because she thought it was God's will for her to teach in Oxford. Helen Peabody became the first principle of the Western Female Seminary.
Helen Peabody did not enjoy the Miami students admiring her Seminary students. To this day, it is thought that Peabody Hall is haunted by her ghost. Things have been known to fly throughout the halls, and for doors to open and shut at their own will. When something is wrong at Peabody Hall, Helen takes care of it.
Helen was a strong-willed person. She led her students, offered them strength, advice, and prayer. She was the woman standing amidst her burning school, saving her students and offering a prayer.
In 1888 Helen Peabody retired at the age of sixty-two.
In 1974 the Western Female Seminary joined with Miami University.
The Western Female Seminary was part of the start of good colleges for women in the late 1800's.
