Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1990 The journals of S. Elizabeth Dusenbury, 1852-1857: portrait of a teacher's development Ruth K. McGaha Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching Commons, Other Education Commons, Other History Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, and the Women's Studies Commons Recommended Citation McGaha, Ruth K., "The ourj nals of S. Elizabeth Dusenbury, 1852-1857: portrait of a teacher's development " (1990). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 11204. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/11204 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. 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Elizabeth Dusenbury, 1852-1857; portrait of a teacher's development McGaha, Ruth K., Ph.D. Iowa State University, 1990 Copyright ©1990 by McGaha, Ruth K. All rights reserved. 300N.ZeebRA Ann Arbor, MI 48106 The journals of S. Elizabeth Dusenbury 1852 - 1857 portrait of a teacher's development by Ruth K. McGaha A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department: Professional Studies in Education Major: Education (Historical, Philosophical, and Comparative Studies in Education) Approved: Members of the Committee: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. Department Signature was redacted for privacy. Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1990 Copyright (5) Ruth K. McGaha, 1990. All rights reserved. Mrs. Ronda Pollack, of the Portvllle Historical Society, who provided local background and myth on the Dusenbury family and the Portville area. Mrs. James Russ, of the Mayville, New York, Railroad Museum, who, as an antique railroad buff, willingly spent hours tracing the old railway lines for me. Ms. Lorna Spencer of the Cattaragus County Memorial and Historical Museum who found the "Autobiographical Notes" by Marilla Clarke Wheeler and sent them to me. Ms. Mary O'Brien of the George Arents Research Library at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, who made available the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary Catalogues and Accounting Ledgers along with other Genesee material. Ms. Carolyn Ocheltree, Research Assistant for the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church, who supplied The Earlv Schools of Methodism and The Faithful Witness. I am indebted to her perceptiveness in knowing these might be valuable. Mrs. Alfreda Locke Irwin, of the Smith Library at the Chautauqua Institution, who provided the final link in Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent's career as the shadow educator. Another research thrill was finding Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent's program for Genesee Wesleyan Seminary graduation at the Smith Library. Mrs. Martin Frenk and Jill Telfer of the Joliet Public Library in Joliet, Illinois, were warm and helpful during my research in their city. Mr. Mel Schrouder of the Joliet Historical Society recommended pertinent sources for information on early residents in Joliet. My Iowa State University Extension supervisor, Mr. James Almquist, deserves a note of appreciation. His commitment to education 'rubs off on all he meets. My sincere thanks to him for his enthusiasm for my academic endeavors and his willingness to allow me to work flexible hours to complete this project. Ms. Judith Allie, Ms. Delores Rabe, and Ms. Judy Boston, of the Extension staff, who patiently contended with my irregular schedule and have cheerfully continued to wish me well. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The support and encouragement rendered by a number of individuals made this dissertation possible. My sincere appreciation to: Mrs. Elizabeth Vincent Foster, the granddaughter of Elizabeth Dusenbury, who made the journals available to Dr. Kniker and consented to my use and transcription of them. Dr. Charles Kniker for his patience and guidance during every step of the process, for his critical reading of the entire manuscript, and his suggestions for improvement. His knowledge of the period and the Dusenbury-Vincent family provided insights beyond the possibilities of research. Whatever imperfections may be found in this study, however, are to be charged to the writer. Dr. Leon Apt for his direction in reading about the nineteenth century women, sharing his books and time, his enthusiasm, and his faith that I could do it. Dr. Thomas Andre for his expertise on the psychological problems encountered by nineteenth century women. Dr. David Owen who encouraged me to be creative and who so often cheered me with a wink and a laugh when I really wanted to quit. Dr. George Kizer who recommended collateral sources and data and gently and graciously encouraged me to try. Mrs. Anne Dusenbury of Portville, New York, who opened the Dusenbury family home to me, allowed me to stay in Elizabeth Dusenbury's room, rummaged through the Dusenbury attic for me in search of books and mementos, and helped in so many ways to make Elizabeth a living person for me. Ms. Luana Ellis, Librarian of the Portville Free Library, who not only assisted with the material in the Dusenbury Room of the Portville Free Library, but has continued to assist me in searching for additional material about the family and the Portville area in the nineteenth century. Her excited early morning call when she found the portrait of "our lady" will always remain one of the high points of my dissertation research. The Urbandale adult students who have consistently inspired me with their commitment to learning and their faith in education. I could not quit and let them down. Mrs. Dorothy Barnes, for her long hours at the computer, changing footnotes without complaint, coping with my erratic work style, and staying with me to the end. My daughter-in-law, Rosemary, who after reading only a little of the journals convinced me that Elizabeth Dusenbury had something to say to young women today. My husband. Dr. James McGaha, for his pride and belief in me, for insisting that it was "my turn," and being so willing to take "his turn" with domestic chores. His philosophy of education as the liberator of the human spirit has inspired and sustained me. His view that our highest duty is to be all we can be and his support of me as a person made this dissertation possible. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 6 The Educational Climate 6 The common schools 6 Textbooks 9 Lyceums 12 Normal schools 13 Other teacher training institutions 14 Protestantism 16 Other voluntary contributors 17 Training and certification 21 The teacher manuals 22 The popular press 23 Personal Documents 27 Journals 27 Letters 29 Poetry 32 Biographies 33 The Feminist Press . 37 The restricted lives 37 Body, mind, and religion 42 The Religious Milieu 44 CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 57 Historical Approach 57 Personal and Biographical Documents 58 Limitations 61 Procedure 65 CHAPTER IV THE SOCIAL CLIMATE, PORTVILLE, NEW YORK 66 Henry Dusenbury, Patriarch 72 iii Page Wives and Daughters 95 Mari11a Wheeler and Caroline Dusenbury 97 Household labor 102 Nineteenth century health and medicine .... 117 CHAPTER V SARAH ELIZABETH DUSENBURY 135 Lib's Reading List 173 Books 173 Magazines and Periodicals 189 CHAPTER VI OUT IN THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD IN JOLIET 191 CHAPTER VII EPILOGUE 223 CHAPTER VIII SUMMARY 234 Illinois 235 New York 235 Nineteenth Century America 237 Findings and Conclusions 239 Major Findings 244 Implications for Further Research 245 BIBLIOGRAPHY 247 APPENDIX A TEXT BOOK ADVERTISEMENTS CIRCA 1873 . 264 APPENDIX B GENESEE WESLEYAN SEMINARY CATALOG, 1850 268 APPENDIX C GENESEE WESLEYAN SEMINARY TUITION LEDGER 1849-1853 275 APPENDIX D BINGHAMTON ACADEMY ADVERTISEMENT, 1842 277 APPENDIX E CHARTER AND REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS, 1891 . 279 APPENDIX F ANALYSIS TEXT BOOK, 1846 . 290 iv Page APPENDIX G PORTVILLE, NEW YORK, CIRCA 1869 .... 298 APPENDIX H THE DUSENBURY HOME 300 APPENDIX I JOLIET, ILLINOIS, CIRCA 1855 ..... 302 APPENDIX J THE PERSONAL JOURNALS OF S. ELIZABETH DUSENBURY 304 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The lined pages, crisp with age, are covered with a delicate, faded script, but the Journals of Elizabeth Dusenbury Vincent breathe with a life of their own.