Patapsco Female Institute

The former Patapsco Female Institute operated from 1837 to 1891 as one of the country's leading girl's boarding schools. Girls ranging in age from 12-18 were taught a variety of subjects including chemistry, botany, history, geography, philosophy, foreign languages, arts and music. It was also the first school in the country to teach math to girls. For many years it was led by author and scientist Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps (1793-1884), who was also a strong advocate for young women's education. The building later operated as a hotel, private home, and hospital. The county eventually declared the house a fire hazard and forced the owner to remove all of the wood and roof. The site is now managed by the Friend of the Patapsco Institute and serves as one of two locations for performances of the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.

The school, which was designed by architect Robert Cary Long in the Greek Revival style, opened in 1837 and was first led by Rev. J. H. Tyng. Before it was built, there was a similar school for boys called Rock Hill Academy. The Patapsco Female Institute gave girls the opportunity to receive an education and training to become teachers. The property itself was donated by brothers John, Andrew and Joseph Ellicott, who established Ellicott City (it was first named Ellicott's Mills). State grants and private donations funded the construction of the school. The state also paid the school $800 each year to provide eight full scholarships to poor girls.

By 1840, even though the school had added more subjects to its curriculum, it did not attract as many students as was hoped. To remedy the situation, Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps was hired in 1841 to become headmistress. Before arriving at the school she taught at Troy Academy in New York and had published a successful book on botany as well as textbooks. Under her leadership the school grew and thrived. By the time she left in 1856 (her daughter died that year), it had earned an excellent reputation around the country for its rigorous academic curriculum. More than 100 students attended the school during these years, which was remarkable for the period. The building itself was also expanded to accommodate more students. A number of prominent students attended the school, including Jefferson Davis' daughter, Winnie. Thomas Jefferson's great granddaughter, Sarah Randolph, became headmistress in 1878.

During the Civil War, enrollment declined significantly and the school was forced to close for a time. It reopened after the war but enrollment never reached pre-war levels. It is thought that southern girls, who attended the school in large numbers before the war, no longer wanted to go to the school because they feared for their safety. It continued to operate, however, but closed for good in 1891 due to low enrollment. It was sold to James E. Tyson, who converted it into a hotel. During World War I, it was converted into a hospital for veterans. In the 1930s the building was used as a theater and then appears to have become a private residence in the early 1940s.

By 1955, the building had deteriorated significantly. After the owner died her daughter sold it to Dr. James Whisman in 1958, who intended to convert the building into a nursing home. It was at this point that the county declared the building a fire hazard and ordered Whisman to remove all of the wood. He sold it to the University of Cincinnati, which then sold it to the county in 1966. That year, the Friend of the Patapsco Institute was established to restore the building. However, there was little local interest and the plans didn't move forward. Eventually, the building was stabilized and restored in the early 1990s. It appears it was partially rebuilt to its current appearance since then. The county plans to add a roof deck, restrooms, an exhibit room, and office in 2023. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Hanson, Jean O. "Patapsco Female Institute." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. July 31, 1978. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/Howard/HO-60.pdf.

Lee, Edward. "Remember the Patapsco Female Institute? A look back at the Ellicott City boarding school for girls." The Baltimore Sun. October 29, 2022. https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/howard-magazine/bs-mg-ho-retro-patapsco-female-institute-20201029-du67roywjjag5b52bduuumxla4-story.html.

"New garden pays tribute to botanical history of Patapsco Female Institute." Howard County, Maryland. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://www.howardcountymd.gov/News060422.

"Patapsco Female Institute Collection." University of Maryland - Special Collections and Archives. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/1697.

"The Patapsco Female Institute." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed August 23, 2022. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=74239.