Health at the Female Seminary - 1860
The pupils are required to take exercise of various kinds in the open air, whenever the weather will permit, and not be afraid of common exposure. Bathing rooms are included in the building and calisthenics, which is a system of bodily exercises adapted to promote health and graceful motion, is taught as a part of the course. Young ladies are taught to understand their own systems, and guard against many evils to which they are exposed.

Principles - 1860
Every hour brings it appropriate arrangements, of devotion, exercise, study, recreation, refreshment, rest, &c. A correct state of moral and religious feeling will be cultivated, basing their instructions on the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is more or less studied every day; the religious principles inculcated are those common to all Evangelical Protestants. Punishments are few and reluctantly administered.

Terms - 1860
The year begins in the spring, and is divided into two sessions with a vacation at the close of each. Boarding, &c. per quarter, $30.00, tuition, Primary class, $5.00, Junior class, $6.00, Middle class, $7.00 and Senior class, $8.00.

Optional Courses - 1860
Instruction with use of instrument $10.00
Lessons in Painting in Crayon $6.00
Lessons in Drawing & French $4.00
Heated air in chamber $2.00
Painting in Oil $8.00
Heat by fire $4.00
Washing, per dozen (dresses, extra) .40

Advanced payments are required at least for a quarter. It is requested of parents not to furnish their children, while at school, with jewelry or expensive articles of dress of any kind, as they are not allowed to be worn; nor leave them with control of money. Confectioneries, and such eatables, are contraband, as detrimental to health. A young lady should come with an umbrella and overshoes. All expected to attend regularly on the Sabbath such places of worship, as their friends may prefer. Acquaintances are requested not to call on the Sabbath, as visitors are not received on that day.

{Taken from, The Herald Star, June 28, 1873}

The Assemblage Last Night – Intensity of the Heat – Last night, notwithstanding that the mercury indicated the atmosphere of the plains, Gray & Garrett’s hall was filled to its utmost capacity. The following compose the graduating class of 1873:
Ada V. Evans, Belle Evans, Nannie J. Hays, Sallie P. Kells, Kate E. Lindsay, Laura G. Parks, Edson P. McConnell, Robert H. Orr.

From the many valuable essays, all of which justly earned the loud applause, which followed them, we publish the valedictory ... {Article is quite lengthy}

Below: Graduating Class of 1896 – taken from newspaper article, not dated. The figures following the names indicate their average of scholarship:

Oliver Blaney - 87.6 Claire Henry – 76.2
Flora Canby – 89.3 Lenora Kell – 89.6
Annie Carnes – 84.5 Earle Layton – 94.8
Edna Coates – 88.1 Kat Lloyd – 89.7
Mary Curry – 89.3 Roy McClave – 87.5
Walden Clark – 82.6 Eva McNeal – 87.0
Laura Dawson – 82.1 Wolcott Matlack – 90.5
Lenore Drennen – 84.1 Earle Mertz – 86.1
Donald Dennen – 92.8 Nelson Miller – 85.4
Frances Fickes – 86.5 Maud Smith – 89.8
Walter Fickes – 91.9 Ethel Sprague – 91.5
Helen Fickes – 85.9 Harry Shields – 80.4
Ruby Freshwater – 86.6 Thomas Spencer – 84.1
Harry Grier – 89.3 Chester Thompson – 86.1
Clara Hutchinson – 93.9 Emma Wright – 83.0
Minnie Hamilton – 81.4

The following students were not listed in the above newspaper clipping with the graduating class but were listed in the original graduation class program:

John Loup
Philip McGuire
Florence Medley
Pearle Ferguson
Carl Walton

Programme Graduating Class of 1896
Normal and Training School

Anna Dunbar Lizzie Hukil Ella Hinds
Daisy Yocum Mary Watkins
Invocation – Rev. R.A. McKinley, D.D.

Note -It appears that every student graduating had to participate in some manner, which included one or more of the following: essay, chorus, oration, illustration, vocal duet, trio, or music. Presentation of Diplomas by the President of the Board of Education, J.C.M. Floyd, M.D. Benediction offered by Rev. R. B. Pope, D.D.

Historical Sketch of Steubenville’s Educational Institutions, which are noted for a high degree of excellence - Early History of the Schools – The earliest school in Steubenville, of which there is any record, was opened by a Mr. Black, in 1805. In 1807, Bezaleel Wells built what was known as the little red schoolhouse on High Street, and its first teacher was James Thompson. In the winter of 1816-17 it is recorded that there were two schools in Steubenville, one of which was taught by Rev. Jas. B. Finley. In 1818 another school was opened near the head of Washington Street by Mr. Barker, and in 1820 an academy, presided over by Jas. Miller was established on High Street, opposite the Seminary. Rev. Geo. Buchanan, in 1814, opened a classical school on West Market Street. Another quite famous school, of the early days, was Grove Academy, on the west side of Seventh above North Street, presided over by Dr. John Scott. In 1838 the public school system was introduced, and the first board of Education was organized with Dr. C. C. Beatty, Dr. Jno. Andrews and Jas. Means as members. They held their first meeting Oct. 1, 1838, and elected Dr. John Andrews as chairman. The following year lot 413 in Ross addition on South Fourth Street, were purchased and two school buildings were erected thereon, by William Thompson, at a cost of $4,000. By Dec 11th, 1839 these small schools were proved too small and the board fixed the limit of pupils to one hundred and twenty, sixty in female, seventy in primary; and passed a rule that if a pupil was absent two weeks, without good excuse, his place should be filled by waiting applicants. During the next ten years rooms were rented in various churches and private buildings throughout the city to accommodate the growth.

On November 6, 1854, the High School was opened in the Kilgore building on Market Street, and in 1858 "Grove Academy" was purchased for $5,000. April 11th, 1864 Thomas Clark was employed to teach the colored school. This school was carried on for a number of years in a building on Third Street, between North and Dock streets. The study of music was introduced into the schools August 10th, 1865, when Mr. Schofield was employed to teach music in all the schools at $60 per month. {Doyle, 1910}

{Taken from the Daily Herald, June 28, 1873} North Grammar School – Closing Exercises – Yesterday afternoon, the final exercises of the North Grammar school took place in the hall of the new North School building…The following were then promoted from this department to the High School: Arthur Doughtery, Ida Linsay, Frank Maxwell, Nannie Bristor, Bazzie Viers, Ida Richardson, James Taggart, Maggie Shaw, Edward Mahon, Mollie Copeland, Edgar Elliot, Winnie Lowe, James Sutherland, Lavinia Bristor, Bennie Sharp, Lizzie Dungan, James McGowan, Mollie McCauslin, James Irwin, Carrie Wolcott, Emma Cummins, Chas. Hays, John Trainer, Luella Milhouse, Joseph Culberson, Craig Young, Wm. Miller.

Programme of Exercises at the High School
Wednesday June 19, 1878

At 9 o’clock, A.M.
Chorus – {The Distant Land} School
Selection – {Rachel at the well} – Tillie Henke
Declamation – {A Suburban Sketch} Willie S. Mears
Selection – {The Painter who please nobody}Lizzie Moulds
Essay – {Circuses} Agnes G. Biles
Declamation – {Classical Learning, Story} Peter Anderson
Selec’n – {Pan in Wall Street} Mary B. Orr
C. Algebra – Miss Moncrieff
Selection – {Bryant} Fannie McCoy
Selection – {Under the Willows} Kate M. Hammond
Essay – {Flowers} Sallie S. Fickes
Oration – {Young America} John B. England
Selection – {A Rosary of Sonnets} Pamphyla Yocum
Oration – {Perpetuity of our Republic} Mark B. Whitaker
Essay – {The Old Mirror} Josie Hammond
C. Botany – Miss Gilmore
Declamation – {Ad Amicos} Bert H. Evans
Selection – {The Belle of the Ball} Eleanor H. Loomis
Declamation – {Athens} Fletcher C. Chambers
Essay – {The Master’s Touch} Ettie M. Battin
Oration – {Tom Brown’s School Days} Will M. Trainer
Chorus – {The Sunbeams are Glancing} School

Afternoon, 1 ½ o’clock
Chorus – {From Shore to Shore} School
Selection – {Jane Reed} Mary A. Hart
Essay – {Nature’s Picture Gallery} Nettie Leech
Oration – {The Study of Latin} James H. Warner
Essay – {By the Fireside} Ella B. Oxtoby
Oration – {Freedom of Speech} Plummer P. Lewis
Selection – {The Longest Death-Watch} Aggie H. Seybold
B Literature – Miss Sutherland
Essay – {Cases} Georgia Kells
Oration – {The Philosophy of Lying} S. Coe Boyd
Solo – {The Wood Nymph’s Call} Mary M. Fetrow
Esay – {Recording} Jennie Hall
Selection – {Four O’Clocks} Laura Keith

  1. Astromy – Mr. Rowe

Oration – {Fortune Favors the Brave} James P. Crawford
Essay – {Our Literary Society} Mary A. Howard
Declamation – {Rip Van Winkle} David Osborne
Essay – {The Master-Key} Mary J. Orr
Selection – {High Tide on the Coast of Lincolnshire}
Mamie M. Miller
Solo and Chorus – {The Light of Home} Tillie R. McElvaney and School

NOTE – This was taken exactly as it appears on the original program. No name of high school was printed on the program outline and I assumed it was a Steubenville High School program outline. If you find that is not true, contact the newsletter editor.

A committee of the Steubenville Education Association compiled this History of Education in Steubenville for distribution at the dinner on April 8, 1957. The program out line states, " May it become a pleasant momento of that occasion."