Birthday – February 23, 1787

Who is Emma Willard?

Emma Willard was an educationist who championed women's education and a women's rights activist at the same time. She founded the first school where women would receive higher education which was called Troy Female Seminary.

The school was located in Troy, New York, and as her school became more successful, she was able to travel worldwide to promote education among women in the 19^th century. After her death, her school was renamed Emma Willard School in her honor after her sudden death in 1870.

Five facts about Emma Willard

• Her maiden name was Emma Hart from her father’s family side.
• She is credited to have written a book called "The History of United States" which made people aware of its origin.
• She married John Willard, 28 years older than her, and they had one son together. When her husband died, she married again to Christopher Yates but was divorced from him in 1843.
• Samuel Hart, Emma's father, taught her to read and write and encouraged her to think for herself in whatever situation she wanted.
• She was a known poet and is credited with writing: "Rocked n the cradle of the deep."

Inspirational quotes from Emma Willard

“Who knows how good, and great race of men may arise from forming mother’s hands which may be enlightened by the good nature of their country?”

"If we are to rear the human plant to its utmost perfection, then we must be ready to fertilize the soil on which it grows."

"Any woman in the world is allowed to open any school on whatever place they want, and the government, law, or custom should prevent it from happening."

"The taste of men, in whatever capacity it should be, has been made to be the standard onto which the woman's character is established."

"There is no improvement if there is no alteration."

“It is obvious that theory alone can never make a good artist, and that it’s also obvious that practice without incorporating theory can never rectify existing errors. Hence, they should establish them”.

“We are also companions and existences of nature, not men's satellites."

"It is better to prepare for the harvest through putting in mind that it is equally important to prepare for blossom."

Emma Willard's Biography

Early Life

Born on February 23, 1787 in Berlin, Connecticut, Emma Willard was the sixteenth child of Samuel Hart and Lydia Hart. Her father loved her children very much and even encouraged them to read and think in their own way. At an early age, he noticed that Emma had a passion for reading. However, at the time, women were not allowed to go to school.

At home, Emma Willard was involved in sensitive topics such as politics, mathematics, and philosophy which were considered to be dominated by males in the 19^th century. When she was fifteen years old, she was enrolled at a school in Berlin in 1802. She was so sharp that she began teaching at the school after two years and took charge of it in 1806 for one term.

Husband and Children

Emma was married to John Willard who she met while working at the academy in Middlebury. He was 28 years older than her, and they had one son together. However, John had four other children from her previous relationships. After his death, Emma was married to Christopher Yates but was divorced in 1843.

Achievements

Emma Willard opened the Middlebury Female Seminary in 1814. Her decision to start a school that could teach women was inspired by her husband's nephew, who had given her a broad perspective and differences in women's opportunities to learn. She oversaw women being taught scientific and mathematical subjects, two of the subjects known to only be studied by men at that time.

After her success, she wrote a book in 1819 on how women could be given opportunities to get an education and were received well by academicians such as Thomas Jefferson. She also opened a school in Waterford, New York, and in 1821, the town council raised money to build a girl's school in Troy.

The school became among the best girls' schools in the United States where every subject was taught. She also published several books such as ‘A System of Universal History in Perspective’ in 1835.

Recognition

She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013 for championing education among women. In 1941, a memorial was erected in Middlebury for her achievements in education.

Personal Life and Death

Emma spent her later years traveling throughout the world, championing women to get the same education as men. She also wrote many articles on the education topic. On April 15, 1870, she died in Troy, New York and was buried at Oakwood Cemetery.