Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz (December 5, 1822 – June 27, 1907) was an American educator, and the co-founder and first president of Radcliffe College
.
family. Because of her fragile health, she received homeschooling
. Following the marriage of her older sister with a professor, she began socializing with a group of intellectuals in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. In 1849 she met scientist Louis Agassiz
, a widower, who had recently emigrated with his three children (Pauline, Ida and Alexander
) from Switzerland
to the United States
. They married in 1850. She organized the household, took care of the finances and the children. She worked closely with her husband at his scientific research.
(1865–1866). This expedition caused the couple to be outside of the country during a significant portion of the American Civil War
.
She helped organize and manage the next Expedition (the Hassler
expedition in 1871-1872) too and made transcripts. After her husband's death (1873), she published several books on natural history.
Her publications include A First Lesson in Natural History (1859); Life of Louis Agassiz; and Seaside Studies in Natural History (1865), in which she was assisted by her stepson, Alexander Emanuel Agassiz
.
She was (from 1869) one of the first women members of the American Philosophical Society
(with Mary Fairfax Somerville and Mary Mitchell). In 1879 she was one of seven female Managing Director of the Society for the private Collegiate Instruction for Women (Harvard Annex). Agassiz was essential in ensuring that the "Harvard Annex" for women's education was transformed in 1894 from Harvard University in the Radcliffe College
. From 1894 to 1900 this college was under their direction and from 1900 to 1903 she was honorary president. With her tact and her fundraising skills she promoted the College and contributed significantly to its continuity.
with her husband and his dog. The monument is a boulder selected from the moraine
of the Aar Glaciers
, near where Louis Agassiz once lived.
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
.
Life
Elizabeth Cary was born in 1822 into a Boston BrahminBoston Brahmin
Boston Brahmins are wealthy Yankee families characterized by a highly discreet and inconspicuous life style. Based in and around Boston, they form an integral part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment...
family. Because of her fragile health, she received homeschooling
Homeschooling
Homeschooling or homeschool is the education of children at home, typically by parents but sometimes by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private school...
. Following the marriage of her older sister with a professor, she began socializing with a group of intellectuals in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. In 1849 she met scientist Louis Agassiz
Louis Agassiz
Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
, a widower, who had recently emigrated with his three children (Pauline, Ida and Alexander
Alexander Emanuel Agassiz
Alexander Emmanuel Rodolphe Agassiz , son of Louis Agassiz and stepson of Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, was an American scientist and engineer.-Biography:...
) from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They married in 1850. She organized the household, took care of the finances and the children. She worked closely with her husband at his scientific research.
Career
In 1856 in their home in Cambridge, Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz founded a school for girls from Boston. Her husband supported her by giving courses as well as arranging for courses from other Harvard professors. After the closure of the school in 1863 she helped organize and manage the Expedition with her husband, who she accompanied to BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(1865–1866). This expedition caused the couple to be outside of the country during a significant portion of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
She helped organize and manage the next Expedition (the Hassler
Hassler (vessel)
The Hassler was the early steamship used in the service of the United States Coast Survey. In 1871-72 the ship sailed on the Hassler Expedition, under Commander Philip Carrigan Johnson, brother of Eastman Johnson. This was the first important scientific expedition sent by the government for...
expedition in 1871-1872) too and made transcripts. After her husband's death (1873), she published several books on natural history.
Her publications include A First Lesson in Natural History (1859); Life of Louis Agassiz; and Seaside Studies in Natural History (1865), in which she was assisted by her stepson, Alexander Emanuel Agassiz
Alexander Emanuel Agassiz
Alexander Emmanuel Rodolphe Agassiz , son of Louis Agassiz and stepson of Elizabeth Cabot Agassiz, was an American scientist and engineer.-Biography:...
.
She was (from 1869) one of the first women members of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
(with Mary Fairfax Somerville and Mary Mitchell). In 1879 she was one of seven female Managing Director of the Society for the private Collegiate Instruction for Women (Harvard Annex). Agassiz was essential in ensuring that the "Harvard Annex" for women's education was transformed in 1894 from Harvard University in the Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
. From 1894 to 1900 this college was under their direction and from 1900 to 1903 she was honorary president. With her tact and her fundraising skills she promoted the College and contributed significantly to its continuity.
Gravestone
Elizabeth Cary Agassiz is buried in Mount Auburn CemeteryMount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
with her husband and his dog. The monument is a boulder selected from the moraine
Moraine
A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past glacial maximum. This debris may have been plucked off a valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have...
of the Aar Glaciers
Aar Glaciers
The Aar Glaciers are glaciers located at the sources of the Aar River in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland. They are constituted by two distinct glacier systems:...
, near where Louis Agassiz once lived.