Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/795

 of schools of a higher character than had been established in the country before. She applied herself assiduously to increase her own personal abilities as a teacher, by the diligent study of branches with which she had before been unacquainted. She introduced new studies into her school, and invented new methods of teaching. She also prepared "An Address to the Public," in which she proposed "A Plan for Improving Female Education."

This plan met with the approval of Governor de Witt Clinton, who wrote to Mrs. Willard, expressing a most cordial desire that she would remove her institution to the State of New York. He also recommended the subject of her "Plan" in his message to the legislature. The result was, the passage of an act to incorporate the proposed institute at Waterford, and another to give to female academies a share of the literary fund; being, it is believed, the first law ever passed by any legislature with the direct object of improving female education.

During the spring of 1819, Mrs. Willard accordingly removed to Waterford, and opened her school. The higher mathematics were introduced, and the course of study was made sufficiently complete to qualify the pupils for any station in life. The first young lady who was examined publicly in geometry, and perhaps the first instance in the country, was Miss Cramer, since Mrs. Curtis.

In the spring of 1821, difficulties attended the securing of a proper building for the school in Waterford, Mrs. Willard again determined upon a removal. The public-spirited citizens of Troy offered liberal inducements; and in May, 1821, the Troy Female Seminary was opened under flattering auspices, and abundant success crowned her indefatigable exertions. Since that period, the institute has been well known to the public, and the name of Mrs. Willard, for more than a quarter of a century, has been identified with her favourite academy. Dr. Willard died in 1825; Mrs. Willard continued her school till her health was impaired, and in 1830 she visited France. She resided in Paris for several months, and from thence came to England and Scotland, returning in the following year. After her return, she published a volume of her travels, the avails of which, amounting to twelve hundred dollars, were devoted to the cause of female education in Greece. It may be proper to add, that she gave the avails of one or two other publications to the same object. The plan of the school for the education of native teachers in Greece originated with Mrs. Willard, and was carried forward through many difficulties and some opposition from those whose aid was expected. Often desponding as to the final result of the attempt, Mrs. Willard laboured but the more zealously, and gave largely of her own substance to secure the desired advantages for Greece. The plan was ultimately crowned with success.

In 1838, Mrs. Willard resigned the charge of the Troy Seminary, and returned to Hartford, where she revised her celebrated Manual of American History, for the use of schools. The merits of this work, her smaller United States History, and Universal History, have been attested by their very general use in seminaries of education.

Since 1843, she has completed the revision of her historical works, revised her Ancient Geography, and, in compliance with invitations, has written numerous addresses on different occasions, being mostly on educational subjects. Two of these were written by request of