History of the United States, or Republic of America.
Exhibited in Connexion with its Chronology and Progressive Geography; By Means of a Series of Maps...Designed for Schools and Private Libraries. Third Edition. Rare Presentation Copy. Revised and Corrected. New York: White, Gallaher, & White, 1830.
Third edition. (The first edition appeared in 1828 and the second a year later). Inscribed on a preliminary leaf: "To / Mr. & Mrs. Rice / respectfully from / The Author".
8vo, xl, 424pp; + Appendix; original full calf with 'WILLARD'S REPUBLIC OF AMERICA" and decorative bands stamped in gold-gilt at the spine; marbled edges; marbled endpapers. Front hinge starting; flyleaf detached; marginal foxing throughout the text; occasional pencil markings.
Emma Willard (1787-1870), educator, born in Berlin, Connecticut and the 16th of 17 children, was encouraged by her father to pursue an education. At 15 she enrolled herself in the Berlin Academy. As soon as she mastered a subject, she began to teach it. In 1814, having married Dr. John Willard, she opened her own school in her home, the Middlebury Female Seminary in Middlebury, Vermont. Her success there prompted her to campaign the New York legislature for public funds to support schools for girls. She wrote a pamphlet entitled "An Address to the Public; Particularly to the Members of the Legislature of New-York. Proposing a Plan for Improving Female Education" (1819); and, though she failed to obtain state funds, the pamphlet was widely admired by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Monroe and is an important women's document. Willard moved forward and in 1821 with funds granted by the Troy (NY) council established the Troy Female Seminary. Within a very short period it had proved itself; Mrs. Willard established a "serious course of study for women that was vigorous" and in some instances "science course more advanced than those available at many men's colleges." [NAW] Willard herself wrote textbooks on geography, history and science that overlaid fact with moral lessons.
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES saw four editions in as many years and continued to be published through 1868 in abbreviated forms. As scholar Nina Baym notes: "Emma Willard...made a fortune through continually updated editions of her American history textbook, which was published in a comprehensive, well-bound, durable version for private libraries and elite schools, and in a cheap abridgment for common schools". Willard intended, incidentally, that HISTORY be used in conjunction with a set of separately published maps. Willard's text, like other popular histories of the period written by women, played an important role in inculcating attitudes and values. She possessed a deep faith in American republicanism and saw the opening up of the West as American destiny. Though she failed to see the necessity of greater rights for women, she herself, as an educator and historian, proved an argument for woman's abilities and intellect.
A pencil note on a preliminary leaf indicates the book was inscribed to "the W.R. Rices" and "purchased from family". Likely this was William C. Rice (1802-1871) and Susan Clapp Rice (1808-1889) who lived in Troy from 1833 to 1845. Although Mrs. Willard had a long public career, books signed or inscribed by her are surprisingly scarce. This, a copy of her most popular and influential title, a fine example.
See Baym, AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS AND THE WORK OF HISTORY 1790-1860. pp. 19, 35 and 92.. DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN WOMEN pp. 104-105. THE FEMINIST COMPANION, p. 1168. NAW III, pp. 610-613.
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