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Letters from Bethlehem Female Seminary, 1838-1840
Elizabeth Barras Papers

This exhibit consists of letters and a bill pertaining to Elizabeth Barras, student at Bethlehem Female Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, from 1838 to 1841. The letters discuss her clothing, requested food items, and her school activities. The formal style, fine paper, and excellent penmanship of the letters suggest that Elizabeth wrote them as assignments for a composition class. While Elizabeth expresses no enjoyment of her school experiences, the final letter by the principal requesting John Barras to remove Elizabeth from the school for misbehavior comes as a surprise.

The Bethlehem Female Seminary opened in 1749 in the Moravian community in Bethlehem. In 1784, it admitted young girls from outside the religious community, offering them one of the most an advanced curriculums available in the period just following the Revolutionary War. The school's pre-eminence faded by the 1830s as other female seminaries advanced their curriculum. Today, the Moravian College Archives is home to many original documents from this school, one of the first advanced girls' schools in the United States. For a full description of the early education of girls at this Moravian school, read William Cornelius Reichel and William H Bigler, A history of the Moravian seminary for young ladies at Bethlehem, Pa; with a catalogue of its pupils, 1785-1870. 1

The letters are transcribed literally to duplicate punctuation and spelling except when to do so would obscure the meaning.

Letter from Elizabeth Barras to Parents from Bethlehem Female Seminary, October 1, 1838

Elizabeth Barras discusses clothing for winter. As the child of a tailor, she is able to provide considerable detail.
Letter 10/01/38 Bethlehem October 1st 1838
Dear Parents

I received your letter on Friday, and was glad to hear you were well. I received your box on Friday week, and I am very much obliged to you for the fruit you sent me. I heard (but not until after your departure) that you intended to stay three weeks, but went home on account of Mrs Fairchild, and I was therefore very sorry, but was comforted with the hope that you would stay 4 or 5 weeks at Christmas time. It has been very fine weather lately, but butter has been very scarce indeed.

When you send me my winter clothes up by Mrs Deal you will please to send me 2 pairs of corsets, as the corsets I have are in a very bad condition, and I would like them made like those Mrs Stackweather (?) made, only a little longer; Amelia Deal expects her mother to day, the 1st of Oct. but I do not. I think she will come til(?) a week or so. Mrs G(?) has gone to Philadelphia. I forgot to ask you to please to send me dark corsets, as I wish them for winter. I dread the thoughts of the approaching winter, as it is so cold and dreary, but I think it will pass quickly away. You will please to excuse the shortness of this letter, as I cannot think of any thing to say, but I

Remain your affectionate daughter

Elizabeth Barras

P.S. The next box you send me, you will please not to send me much fruit.

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Bill from Bethlehem Female Seminary

This bill was sent to John B. Barras for expenses occurred by Elizabeth Barras.
Bill Miss Elizabeth Barras
To John G. Simmer Do.
1838 Dec. 31
To Pocketmoney $3, postage 7c, drwng Mat, .50c

Ribbn W[ork], Matr. $1.50, Christmas Money 50c

Christmas pres

Instruction in Music to Dec. 31 $3

Instruction in Drawing to Dec 31 $3

Instruction in French to Dec. 31 $3

Instruction in Ribbon Work to Dec. 31 $3

Washing to Dec 31 $4

Board & Tuition to March 31 next/adv. $30

DoCr $51.81

By a Cloak $9.00

Balance due $42.81

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Letter from Elizabeth Barras to Mother from Bethlehem Female Seminary, January 23, 1839

Elizabeth Barras requests materials for sewing novelties.
Letter 01/23/39
Bethlehem January 23, 1839
Dear Mother

I received your box by Mrs Deal. I am much obliged to you for what you sent me particularly the pickled oysters which tasted very nice. I have finished the side of my pocket book which I was working when you were here & have began the other; & for the lining you will please to send me some crimsom colored watered silk exactly like that with which my card case is lined [with hatched over] The blue silk I like very much, & will endeavor to make you a handsome toilet cushion. The card socks (?) you desired me to make I will try, but as I cannot get the materials here you will please to send them together with the pattern & also the pattern which the silk to make the silk mat(?) to be out, & also the pattern which you would like the card socks. Give my love to father, & accept a portion for yourself.

E. Barras

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Letter from Elizabeth Barras to Parents from Bethlehem Female Seminary, January 29, 1839

Elizabeth Barras reports a lecture in Electricity and Pneumatics and asks for sweets and nuts to eat.
Letter 01/29/39
Bethlehem January 29, 1839
Dearest Mother

It was my intention to write to Anna Risdon this week, but it is on account of a freshet that I now write. It commenced raining about 9 o'clock on friday night, and continued till four o'clock on saturday afternoon, & then began to snow, but stopped at five. The fields looked more like rivers so completely were they covered with water; trees, wood, outhouses, &tc. were swept away, & the water was in some places nearly a couple of yards deep.

Last friday night Mr. Bleck delivered a lecture on Natural Philosophy. The subjects were Electricity & Pneumatics, but he treated principally on Electricity. & Last saturday when we got up it was very warm indeed, & it seemed like a summer's morning, but it has now grown cold.

The next time you send me sweetmeats you will please to send me some Almonds, Raisins, Apples, & also some liquorice; and I should also like some wool to stuff your toilet-cushion with, or else I would have had it finished by this time, but had no wool to stuff it.

I am perfectly well at present, & hope this will find you

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Letter 01/29/39

[Barras: Letter from Bethlehem, Jan. 29, 1839, page 2]

the same

I have no more to say at present, except that I remain your affectionate daughter,

Elizabeth Barras.

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Letter from Elizabeth Barras to Mother from Bethlehem Female Seminary, Sept. 16, 1839

Elizabeth Barras discusses clothing and offers to sew a shirt for her father.
Letter 09/16/39 Bethlehem Sept. 16, 1839
Dearest Mother

I received your letter dated Sept fifth on Friday and it gave me great pleasure to hear you were all in good health. When Miss Griffith comes I will send a dress home as a pattern according to your directions. You spoke of getting me a new Mousseline de Luine for common in winter. I do not think I shall need any as I have two which I can wear I was agreeably surprised by the reception of a letter from you on Saturday. The weather is at present quite cool, and I think we shall have a very severe winter. How is Fedo? When you come to see me in fall please bring my large Botany book. What next do you think I am going to write for? Not sweetmeats—but some plain sewing. I should like a shirt to make for father. I expect when you read this you will exclaim, “Well really I think Lizzy has become very industrious since her return to Bethlehem! I intend to try to make it very neatly and then Father may truly be proud of it. Oh! I forgot to tell you about our walk last Friday week; we went to get apples. When we got near the house we were saluted by the barking of a little dog which frightened some of the girls very much. The owner of the apples gave us permission to pick as many off the ground as we could

[end of page 1]

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Letter 09/16/39

[Barras: Letter from Bethlehem, Sept. 16, 1839, page 2]

[this page describes a rainstorm] We arrived at home about seven oclock and our repast of Buckwheat cakes and milk was very acceptable. When you visit Bethlehem please bring me some scarlet and black velvet for a neck ribbon. I should like it about a yard and a half long and two inches wide. I must now conclude as it is time to prepare for Bible Instruction. Give my very best love to Father and reserve a large portion for yourself. I

I remain your affectionate daughter

Elizabeth B.

P.S. You say that you have seen a very pretty Mousseline de Luine and that you think I will like it better than a silk, if so, I will have one.

Letter from John Kummer, Principal of Bethlehem Female Seminary, February 17, 1840

Principal Kummer asks John Barras to withdraw Elizabeth from the seminary because of her disobedient behavior.
Letter, 02/17/40 Bethlehem Feby. 17, 1840
Mr. John B. Barras

Dear Sir,

I am extremely sorry to inform you that your daughter’s conduct, notwithstanding your kind admonitions, still continues to disturb our peace and comfort; she disobeys proper requirements, and thereby sets a bad example to others; is unkind to her teachers and prejudges their motives; undertakes to do things which but too plainly show that she will have her own will, and she therefore disregards all good order & subordination. This being the case, we now despair of doing any good, as no admonitions seem to have any effect; her teachers are almost worn out by her repeated disobedience; and her companions injured by the frequent recurrence of disorderly conduct. I am therefore compelled, --against my most sanguine hopes, & most ardent wishes,--to solicit a speedy removal, because this is considered the only means of rescuing your daughter from following a course ruinous to her present and future welfare.

With our kind regard to Mrs. Barras & Yourself,

I remain, dear Sir,

John G. Kummer

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Reading Between the Lines

What adjectives would you use to describe Elizabeth? Do you feel you know her better after reading these letters?

Her education included much sewing. What expectations do you have about what constitutes "education?" Are your expectations significantly different than someone in Elizabeth's generation?
She has a Botany book at home. Does this suggest that she has already studied Botany at another school or with a tutor?

Did anything in earlier letters lead you to expect she would be expelled?
What does it suggest about discipline in this female seminary?

Imagine reading the transcription only. Does viewing the handwriting in this letter change your insight into the personality and culture of the principal? Of Elizabeth?

Sources Cited

William Cornelius Reichel and William H Bigler, A History of the Moravian seminary for Young Ladies at Bethlehem, Pa; with a Catalogue of its Pupils, 1785-1870.. 4th ed. Bethlehem, Pa.: The Seminary, 1901.

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