HER PERPENDICULAR MAJESTY HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 1797 May 29, Monday: Marianne Ripley was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts to Jerome Ripley and a mother whose given name is not of record but who is understood to have been illustriously related to Benjamin Franklin (in that of her 4 great-grandfathers, one had been among Dr. Franklin’s many, many uncles). HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 1826 May 8, Monday: George Ripley wrote from Cambridge to his “tall, angular” elder sister Miss Marianne Ripley, “In your last letter you asked me what were my prospects on the subject which was nearest to my earthly happiness; then, I should have answered, all was black darkness. Now, my dearest Marianne, by a most unexpected train of events, the obstacles to our affection are removed; a just regard to prudence does not forbid us to cherish an attachment which has long been the secret idol of our hearts; and yesterday our circle of dear were edified by the intelligence of a new engagement! The details of all this I shall hereafter explain. You will know this being whose influence over me for the year past has so much elevated, strengthened, and refined my character. You will entirely sympathize with me. I cannot now write my parents, who, I am sure, cannot disapprove the step I have taken, when you expound to them all the circumstances, — which I wish you to do as copiously as you can. The whole matter meets with the most surprising approbation and sympathy from the whole society of Cambridge.” The Rensselaer field expedition toured the American Revolution battlefield at Oriskany, New York. They stopped for the night at Lenox. GEORGE W. CLINTON Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 2nd day came home in Capt Waldrons Packet - This is a much longer time than I am usually from home at Q Meeting time. - but so it is I have something to do with most of Societys concerns, & I cannot get along as others can. — I feel the pressure of the various engagements I am under on account of Society - they fall on one who is weak & entirely unable to bear much, but I desire to do the best I can & leave the Issue to him who does not forsake in the needful time. — tho’ I may acknowledge my Faith & my patience are often brought to very close test RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 1827 August 22, Wednesday: George Ripley got married with Sophia Dana, keeping this a secret from his father Jerome Ripley and a mother who was distantly related to Benjamin Franklin (her great-grandfather had been Dr. Franklin’s uncle). Shortly afterward his elder sister Miss Marianne Ripley would inform their parents as he had requested. HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 1840 Winter: The Reverend John Sullivan Dwight left his parish in Northampton to join the Brook Farm experiment of West Roxbury, Massachusetts. The Reverend George Ripley purchased Brook Farm. A few months later the Articles of Association would be drawn up, the stock would have subscribers, and HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY Institute officers would be elected (there was no thought at this time of Fourierism). The signers of the agreement would be: George Ripley, Sophia Ripley, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mrs. Minott Pratt, George P Bradford, Warren Burton, Samuel D. Robins and his wife Mary, David Mack, George C. Leach, Lemuel Capen HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 24 shares of stock would be purchased and about 1/3 of the amount would actually get paid (Mr. Ripley’s library, valued at $400, would be part of the tender for his portion). The shares were: George Ripley, holding numbers 1, 2, 3 ($1500) Sophia Ripley, 16, 17 Minot Pratt, 4, 5, 6 Nathaniel Hawthorne, 18, 19 William Allen, 7, 8, 9 Maria Pratt, 20, 21 Charles Dana, 10, 11, 12, Sarah F. Stearns, 22, 23 Marianne Ripley, 13, 14, 15 Charles O. Whitmore, 24 The farmhouse that was on the property when bought stood near the road that entered the farm, and would be referred to by the Brook Farmers as their “Hive.” In this farmhouse they would create a dining room that would HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY seat more than 50. Across the street from the farm there was a building they would refer to as their “Nest,” which would become Miss Marianne Ripley’s schoolhouse, and lodgings for her and for some other of the teachers, and pupils. “Miss Marianne Ripley presided over the primary department, and had with her in the Nest the two sons of George Bancroft, George and John; the two Spanish boys from Manila, Lucas and José Corrales; and James Lloyd Fuller, the youngest brother of Margaret Fuller.” She employed “a progressive child-centered pedagogy” that has been compared to the later reforms of Professor John Dewey. The children referred to her as “Her Perpendicular Majesty.” She also “reigned over the Kitchen Group and cultivated the flowers on the terraces.” HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY 1841 September: This was the Brook Farm experiment’s membership roster as it has been derived from their Articles of Association documents dated September 29, 1841 and February 17, 1842, from their Constitution dated February 11, 1844, and from various minutes of their meetings preserved by the Massachusetts Historical Society. We instantly notice that it is not a particularly accurate record of what had been going on, as witness the fact that Nathaniel Hawthorne is being shown as being admitted to membership in the association a month after his attorney has filed the necessary legal papers to disassociate him: Date of Name Birthplace Birthdate Occupation Admission September 1841 Reverend George Ripley Greenfield MA 1802 minister September 1841 Mrs. Sophia Dana Ripley Cambridge MA 1803 wife of minister September 1841 Marianne Ripley Greenfield MA 1797 teacher September 1841 Charles A. Dana Hinsdale NH 1819 student September 1841 Minot Pratt Weymouth MA 1805 printer September 1841 Maria Pratt Boston MA 1806 wife of printer September 1841 Nathaniel Hawthorne Salem MA 1804 writer September 1841 Sarah F. Stearns Massachusetts circa 1820 student September 1841 William Allen Vermont 1815 schoolteacher at Concord September 1841 Charles O. Whitmore ? ? ? September 29, Wednesday: The Articles of Association of the Subscribers to the Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education: ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE SUBSCRIBERS TO THE BROOK FARM INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION. Articles of Association made and executed this twenty-ninth day of September, one thousand eight-hundred and forty-one, by and between the several persons and their assigns, who have given their signatures to this instrument and by it associated themselves together for the purpose and objects hereinafter set forth: — Art. I. The name and style of this Association shall be The Subscribers to the Brook Farm Institute of Agriculture and Education; and all persons who shall hold one or more shares of the Association shall be members; and every member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters relating to the funds of the Association. Art. II. The object of the Association is to purchase such estates as may be required for the establishment and continuance of an agricultural, literary, and scientific school or college, to provide such lands and houses, animals, libraries and apparatus, as may be found expedient or advantageous to the main purpose of the Association. HDT WHAT? INDEX MISS MARIANNE RIPLEY MARIANNE RIPLEY Art. III. The whole property of the Association, real and personal, shall be vested in and held by Four Trustees to be elected annually by the Association. Art. IV. No shareholder shall be liable to any assessment whatever on the shares held by him, nor shall he be held responsible individually in his private property on account of this Association; nor shall the Trustees, or any officer or agent of the Association, have any authority to do anything which shall impose personal responsibility on any shareholder by making any contracts or incurring any debts for which the shareholders shall be individually or personally responsible. Art. V. All conveyances to be taken for lands or other real estate purchased by the Association in pursuance of these articles shall be made to the Trustees, their successors in office or survivors as joint tenants, and not as tenants in common. Art. VI. The Association guarantees to each shareholder the interest of five per cent annually on the amount of stock held by him in the Association, and this interest may be paid in certificates of stock and credited on the books of the Association; provided, however, that each shareholder may, at the time of the annual settlement, draw on the funds of the Association, not otherwise appropriated, to an amount not exceeding that of the interest credited in his favor. Art. VII. The shareholders on their part, for themselves, their heirs and assigns, do renounce all claim on any profits accruing to the Association for the use of their capital invested in the stock of the Association, except five per cent interest on the amount of stock held by them, payable in the manner described in the preceding article. Art. VIII. Every subscriber may receive the tuition of one pupil for every share held by him, instead of five per cent interest, as stated above, or tuition to an amount not exceeding twenty percent interest on his investment. Art. IX. No share shall be transferred from one person to another without consent of the Trustees, nor shall any such transfer be valid without their signature.