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Tall bifolium. Three pages of neatly handwritten text specifying the "By Laws of the Rodgers Female Institute" signed by S. Eleole Lee, dated April 23, 1859. Neat, old folds, else fine. Although out-of-fashion today, during the 19th century private academies and institutes played a major role in American education that operated in rural and often southern communities in lieu of the public grammar schools established in larger northeastern cities. These schools were generally residential, and if students could not be housed on site, they would lease rooms in nearby boarding houses. There, students mostly older boys and young men, but also older girls and young women received and advanced education that was both academic and practical. Girls studies often included embroidery, needlework, music, and the social graces in addition to mathematics, history, a foreign language, geography and declamation. A search of online and subscription databases revealed no records or information about a "Rodgers Female Institute." However, there were several references to a "Rodgers Female Academy" having been established in Monticello, Arkansas in the late 1850s. It closed with the outbreak of the Civil War, and the building was used as a Confederate field hospital. It is quite possible that these are the by-laws of that short-lived school. Regardless, this is a scarce first-hand record of the types of the rules and regulations imposed on students, specifically female students, in 19th-century academies. The By Laws list ten provisions. In summary: "(1st) The name & age of each pupil must be enrolled on admission to the school. (2nd) The President . . . will form the classes, & assign to each pupil such studies as he thinks proper. . . (3rd) Seats will be assigned to each pupil, & no one will be permitted to change her seat without special leave. Each pupil will be held responsible for any damage she may do to . . . any part of the college premises. (4th) Pupils are requested to be present at the morning exercises & no one will be permitted to leave . . . without special leave. (5th) No pupil will be excused . . . except in cases of sickness. . . (6th) The standing of each pupil in her classes will be . . . read before the school each week. A similar report for the whole session will be read at the close of each term. (7th) No Pupil will be permitted to use snuff, sweet gum or balsam at school. (8th) No pupil will be permitted to receive the attentions of a young gentleman other than a near relative while at school . . . nor will any pupil be permitted to attend dancing parties, social parties, or riding parties. . . (9th) Pupils must not visit each other to stay all night or to take meals at other places than their regular boarding houses. . . (10th) For violation of the above rules, pupils may be reprimanded, suspended, or expelled.".
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