More chronicles of a pioneer school, from 1792 to 1833, being added history on the Litchfield Female Academy kept by Miss Sarah Pierce and her nephew, John Pierce Brace

Front matter

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 02871 8762

Foreword

THE “ Chronicles of a Pioneer School” were compiled some years ago from all the material available at that time. Lately, some dozen manuscript volumes came to light containing additional names of pupils and valuable data as to their studies and charac¬ teristics, largely from the pen of Mr. John P. Brace, one of the principals of the school.

As it has been said by competent authority that the “ Chronicles ” furnish a valuable addition to the history of New England from 1792 to 1833, which was the period of the life of the school under its founder, Miss Sarah Pierce, it seems as if this new matter should be added to what has already been published for the bene¬ fit of that history and of that of the descendants of the girls who attended the school; especially as to the names of those girls. It was found impossible to collect a full list of the three thousand young women who came under Miss Pierce’s influence, in spite of the most careful and lengthy research. Hence it seems wise to print these “More Chronicles of a Pioneer School” as an appendix, by way of adding to, and rounding out, the history contained in the former volume, now out of print. To make this work clear to readers who have not seen the “Chronicles” it is necessary to re¬ peat some of the leading statements made by authorities regarding its origin and the position it held in the country.

The names of those persons who attended Miss Sarah Pierce’s School and which are mentioned in the first volume, “ Chronicles”, as well as those in this the second volume, are grouped together in alphabetical order in an Index of Pupils. This index precedes the general index.

While it has been known that pictures painted in water colors and embroidered on silk or satin have come down to us as part of early American Art, it is but lately that we learn of an ex¬ hibition of pictures, maps and charts forming a part of the closing

FOREWORD viii

exercises of Miss Pierce’s School. Mr. Brace writes that after the guests had fully examined the exhibition, the prizes, mottoes and diplomas were given out. Therefore, halftone reproductions from a few examples that may have been included in some of these exhibitions are added and speak well for Miss Pierce’s and others’ ability as teachers of art.