Date of Award
8-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Education
Committee Chair
Dr. James Thomas
Committee Chair School
Education
Committee Member 2
Dr. Kelley Tillis
Committee Member 2 School
Education
Committee Member 3
Dr. Andrew Herridge
Committee Member 3 School
Education
Committee Member 4
Dr. Holly Foster
Committee Member 4 School
Education
Abstract
Historians and educational scholars have extensively examined the subject of women's education, resulting in a rich body of literature that traces its evolution over the centuries. Moreover, this body of work encompasses significant movements advocating for women's rights to education and the establishment of colleges specifically for women. Scholars have also analyzed the challenges women encounter in accessing educational opportunities, including societal norms, economic barriers, and institutional discrimination. Notable works highlight the contributions of key figures, such as Mary Wollstonecraft, who advocated for women's education in both historical and contemporary contexts. Overall, this comprehensive scholarship not only documents the advancement of women's education in Mississippi prior to the Civil War but also underscores its vital role in promoting gender equality and empowerment within society.
Despite the extensive scholarly research available, a notable gap remains in the study of Mississippi's influence on women's higher education prior to the Civil War. This historical case study aims to address that gap by focusing on Elizabeth Female Academy, the first women's college in Mississippi, and the evolving roles of elite women in Antebellum Mississippi. While the academy is recognized as one of the early institutions for women, its significant contributions to the educational history of Mississippi—and the South more broadly—have largely been overlooked and undervalued.
This study further examines the shifting responsibilities and social expectations placed on elite women during this transformative period by analyzing archival documents, including newspapers, maps, statutes, and postcards, from the late eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. The historical narratives of specific women associated with Elizabeth Female Academy, such as Elizabeth Greenfield Roach and Caroline Matilda Thayer, provide valuable context for understanding nineteenth-century Mississippi and allow readers to reexamine the experiences of these women during that era. While these women were frequently perceived as affluent and seemingly insulated from numerous hardships, their narratives illustrate how the realities of life in the Antebellum South influenced their experiences. Additionally, they highlight the vital role that education played in empowering them to pursue their aspirations.
ORCID ID
0009-0005-4099-6169
Copyright
Summer Cutrer Tierno, 2025
Recommended Citation
Tierno, Summer Cutrer, "Elizabeth Female Academy: A Historical Case Study Revealing Antebellum Mississippi's Role in Shaping the Southern Belle" (2025). Dissertations. 2376.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2376
Included in
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