Figure 1.--MOst 19th century photography was studio portraits. Stereoscopes were a rare exception. This is stereoscope produced by J.A. French in Keene, New Hampshire. He had a studio which did stereotypes as a side. This one was No. 483. -- 'Just Started for School'. Here we see children in a rural area or small town, presumably near Keene. The stereoscope has been hand tinted. A farm house is inthe background. We are not sure, but the school may be the building to the right. The children, mostly girls, are carefully posed. One boys wears a suit with long pants. A younger boy wears a button-on outfit with bloomer knicker. The girls wear dresses, many with pinafores. Notice the lunch pails the children carry.

America was still largely rural in the 1860s although manof the major cities were well etablished. Industry had begunto grow in the North, but most Americans lived on farms or in small towns. As a result, most Americans received their education in small one or two room schools. Thus the children of different ages had the sanme teacher. Classroom manaagement was a major undertaking. The teachers before the Civil War (1861-65) were mostly male, but by the Civil War we begin to see more and more lady teachers, almost always young single women. Education played a major role in the women's movement. Because Protestants believed it was necessary for individuals to read the Bible, both boys abd girls weeceducated, at lear at the prinmary level. Even in conservative communities there was no reluctance to sending girls to primary schools. And thus eduction would be the first pression to open up to women. Some times more girls attended school than boys who were needed on the farm. Books were still exopensibe and in limited supply. The children learned from a blue back speller, a new England primar and the Bible--almost always the King Jamese Version. The childtren did exercizes with chalk slates. The teacher might hve a blackbiares, often wooden planks painted black. The monthly schedule varied. Especially during harvest time the older boys were needed on the farm.

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Created: 12:25 AM 12/27/2011
Last updated: 12:25 AM 12/27/2011