Zilpah P. Grant Banister papers
Scope and Contents
The Zilpah Polly Grant Banister Papers contain correspondences, 1824-1874; writings, 1820-1874; biographical sketches, 1803-1971; and maps and charts, ca. 1819-1836. Of particular note is the collection of letters written to and by Banister. Banister's sixty letters to family members, former students and colleagues reflect her activities at Adams Female Academy and Ipswich Female Seminary and provide information about her views on education and religion, her travels, and her health and financial affairs. Many of the hundred seventy-two letters are from former Adams and Ipswich students who describe their work as teachers and often explain their inability to repay loans from the Society for the Education of Females. Other correspondents include Mary Lyon, Catherine Beecher, Joseph Emerson, and Cynthia Farrar and Jane Van Allen, missionaries active in Ahmadnagar, India and Gabon, Africa. Also of particular interest are maps and charts composed by Banister. This collection also includes other writings by Banister, notably a notebook kept as a student at Byfield Academy in 1820, several essays and notes on teaching methods, ca. 1828-1856, and two autobiographical sketches. In addition, these papers contain notes and clippings, assorted memorabilia, and photographs and a portrait of Banister.
Dates
- 1803-1971
Conditions Governing Access
Unrestricted
Biographical Note
Zilpah P. Grant Banister was born on May 30, 1794 in Norfolk, Connecticut. In 1820 she enrolled in the Byfield Female Seminary in Masachusetts under Reverend Joseph Emerson. She then taught at various schools around Norfolk until she began organizing the Adams Female Academy in Londonderry, New Hampshire, which opened in 1824. Here she worked as principal with Mary Lyon as her assistant. In 1828 she received an invitation to organize a school in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She remained at Ipswich Female Seminary until her retirement in 1839. On September 7, 1841, Grant married William B. Banister and moved with him to Newburyport, Massachusetts. She continued to actively promote women's education, and published a pamphlet entitled "Hints on education" in 1856. Zilpah P. Grant Banister died on December 3, 1874 in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Extent
1.36 Linear Feet (1 full Hollinger, 2 half Hollinger, and 1 specialty boxes; 1 oversize box [not included in linear feet calculation])
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Banister, Zilpah Polly Grant, 1794-1874; Educator. Papers consist of correspondence, writings, biographical sketches, maps and charts, clippings, memorabilia, and photographs. Primarily containing correspondence to family and colleagues pertaining to her work at Adams Female Academy and Ipswich Female Seminary.
Additional Formats
Images from this collection are also available online as part of the Five College Archives Digital Access Project.
The library also has 1 reel of microfilm (positive) of the collection.
- Diseases Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Education Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Education -- New York Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Educators -- Massachusetts -- Biography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Health Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Inception Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College -- Seminary building Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mount Holyoke College Manuscript Collections Subject Source: Local sources
- Social conditions -- Middle west Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- Eastern States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- Middle West Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- New England Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- Southern States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- United States -- Correspondence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Transportation and travel Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women -- Education -- United States -- History -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women -- United States -- Economic conditions -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women -- United States -- Social conditions -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- notebooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- textbooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Banister papers, 1803-1971.
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections Repository
50 College Street
8 Dwight Hall
South Hadley MA 01075-6425 USA
413-538-3079
archives@mtholyoke.edu
