The history of physical training in any institution includes the exercise indoors and out of doors, and also the instruction in hygiene. The catalogues, journals, scrapbooks and letters in the college library have been examined; the History of Mount Holyoke Seminary frorn 1837 to 1887, by Mrs. Stowe, has been read; through the courtesy of Miss Spore, physical director at Mount Holyoke College, letters from old teachers and pupils have been used; Miss Clapp, formerly a teacher of gymnastics, now professor of zoology, has very kindly given me her personal recollections.
For convenience in reference I will divide the physical training into three periods.
1. From the beginning of the seminary to the introduction of the Dio Lewis gymnastics in 1862.
2. From 1862 to the establishment of a department of physical training in 1891.
3. From 1891 up to and including the present year.
It is interesting to note that Mount Holyoke College is the oldest institution for higher education established primarily for girls now in existence,[1] and that physical exercise has always been required from the pupils. With the exception of two short periods due to lack of a suitable room, exercise in the form of calisthenics and gymnastics has been required.
1837-1862.
Those of us who have been students at Mount Holyoke are very proud of the history of its founding. In 1837 a school for the higher education of girls was almost unheard of. The wonderful energy, genius and personality of Mary Lyon in accomplishing such a thing at that time have long made her name famous. In 1818, Rev. Joseph Emerson, a former tutor at Harvard College, opened a school for the training of teachers. Here Mary Lyon came to be one of his pupils. He believed in the training of character as well as mind. and was successful in impressing this upon his pupils, and through them upon the schools for the education of girls. Beside Mary Lyon he numbered among his pupils Mrs. Dascomb and Mrs. Cowles, the first two principals of the Woman's Department of Oberlin College, which is the oldest institution for the higher education of girls now in existence. Mr. Emerson's assistant, Miss Grant, became the principal of an academy at Ipswich and Miss Lyon was her assistant. Miss Grant arranged a system of calisthenics for her school, and when Miss Lyon opened Mount Holyoke she took this with her as she did some other of Miss Grant's methods.
Domestic Work.
One feature of the life at Mount Holyoke, however, is original with Mary Lyon - domestic work as a compulsory part of higher education for girls. This was introduced against the advice of experienced teachers such as Miss Grant and Miss Catherine Beecher. It is popularly supposed that economy was the chief motive. The records show that exercise and democracy were the main reasons for its introduction. In the catalogues the word exercise has always been named first among the advantages of this system. At that time domestic work was an element of real exercise. There were fires to be kept up in every room, consequently wood and coal to be carried; all the household work was done by the pupils - washing, ironing, cooking, sweeping, dishwashing, and even housecleaning. In a letter from Mrs. Oliver Rice, a member of the first class, we get a word picture of this. "There was real genuine working exercise in those days. The pupils really swept and dusted long halls and stairways, kept their own rooms in immaculate order and neatness, made bread, did the laundering, and the thousand and one things that make up housekeeping. How well I remember the first housecleaning preparatory to public examinations, and an open house. The delicate hands that scrubbed doors and windows inch by inch, that not a stain or flaw should be discovered in the new temple, till hands and heads were weary, yet how they laughed and made fun of it all! I wondered then, I wonder still, only that I know there was a pervading, presiding spirit who gave such dignity to labor and everything connected with the grand and noble scheme she was working out, that to doubt the wisdom of her way would have been disloyalty."
In a letter written by Mary Lyon in 1838, in which she discusses domestic work, we find the following:
"1. Exercise. This is worth very much more than I anticipated, especially in the winter. The daily work brings one hour of regular exercise, coming every day, and the same hour of the day. The exercise is peculiarly fitted to the constitution of females.Then there are the collateral influences so important to render exercise beneficial. There is a necessity about it, and no wasting of time, doubting whether it may not be omitted with impunity . . . . . One hour's necessary exercise every day seems to give them a relish for exercise. The oldest and most studious scholars are those who have always troubled me by neglecting exercise. But they walk more here of their own accord without influence than any young ladies of the same character I have ever seen. They have noticed the wild plants they have found growing in the fields. A majority have found 200 and some many more.
"Our young ladies study with great intensity, but they are just as vigorous the last of the term as ever. The vivacity and apparent vigor of our young ladies near the close of our winter term of twenty weeks and at the examination was noticed as unusual by gentlemen of discrimination. . . . .
"I did fear that the washing would be a loss of time, but we take it on our recreation day, and it only seems to make the day more effectual in meeting its object. The studies of the best scholars are broken in upon more effectually, and after washing they are willing to sew, or read or write instead of continuing to pour over their books. Studious and especially avaricious scholars are very apt to study recreation days, when all they gain is more than counterbalanced by the diluting influence of the intensity of the study of other days."
It is not necessary to enter into a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of domestic work to see the interest of this letter in the light of recent discussions. If we to-day were to make suggestions for the exercise best suited for the health of girls engaged in securing a higher education could we do better than these given in this letter written in 1838? Exercise should he regular, at the same time every day; it should be fitted to the constitution of girls; it should be necessary, and of sufficient interest to draw the mind from the studies; it should foster a love for exercise in other forms.
She seemed to be impressed with the need of entire relaxation from study. We find this again in the catalogues for 1839-1840 and 1840-1841: "Young ladies do not study during the regular hours for recreation. Their health and improvement are more promoted by giving up these hours cheerfully to relaxation, exercise and social intercourse." "While it is important that study should be uninterrupted, it is no less important that study should not intrude on hours of relaxation. This rule is indispensable, both for the highest intellectual, moral and social improvement, for the preservation of the spirits and temper, and for the cultivation of the heart."
Calisthenics.
Calisthenics were included in the list of studies published in a preliminary pamphlet issued by Miss Lyon in 1835, were introduced the first year and were continued until 1862, when they were replaced by Dio Lewis gymnastics. These were not calisthenics in the modern sense, but were exercises resembling quadrilles. They were written out and passed from teacher to teacher. No one was especially trained to teach them, but anyone who had taken them was considered qualified to conduct a class. These exercises were collected and printed about 1853 in a pamphlet called "Calisthenic Exercises" by Miss Titcomb, at that time the teacher of calisthenics. The following is a sample lesson showing the steps:
Skip twice: with the right foot, springing on the left at the same time; then twice with the left, springing on the right.
Song -"Lightly Row."
Extend the right foot in front, resting on the toe; carry it to the side; then resume the standing position, springing on the left foot with each change of the right. Repeat the same with the left foot, springing on the right.
Song - "What Fairy-like Music."
Extend the right foot to the right side, resting it on the toe; carry it to the left side, beyond the left foot; return it to the right side, then resume the standing position, springing on the left foot with each change of the right. Repeat the same with the left foot, springing on the right.
Song--"Haste Thee, Winter, Haste Away."
Take the triple spring as described. Commence the exercise a second time; after the first step, bring the foot quite around to the right side, turning the body to the right with the second step - then assume the standing position - extend the left foot in front, with the second step, bring the foot to the left side, so as to bring the body into its first position; then standing position. Reverse the exercise, so as to tum the body to the left side, instead of the right.
1. Throw the right foot in front, and the left slightly behind, alternately, springing with each change. Join hands in the circle and take the step three times. 2. Take the step three times, with the hands upon the belt in front. 3. Turn to the right side and take three steps with hands upon the belt in front. 3. Throw the hands from the shoulders (Ex. 4) while taking three steps, keeping the motion of the hands and feet uniform. Turn to the left side while taking the last step. 5. Three steps with the hands on the belt in front - turn in front with the last step. 6.Three steps with hands upon the belt. 7. Right hand upon the belt in front, left hand behind, exchange the hands six times while taking the step. 8.Three steps with hands upon the belt. 9. Three steps with all the circle joining hands.
Throw the right foot to the right side, returning it with a spring; throw the left to the left side, returning it with a spring. Throw the right in front, and the left behind.
Double each step of last exercise.
Touch first the heel and then the toe of the right foot to the floor, springing at the same time on the left foot. Repeat the exercise with the left foot, springing on the right. This step may also be taken advancing or retreating.
Songs - "Across the Lake," "Brightly Speed the Hours."
Double the school step with the right foot.~ Repeat the same with the left foot.
Carry the right foot to the right side, resting the weight upon the toe; bring the left foot behind the right, resting on the toe; sink behind, throwing the weight upon the left foot.
Take the preceding once; commencing the step again, instead of bringing the left foot behind the right, bring it in front of the right, resting on the toe, and sink in front in a similar manner. Alternate these steps.
Extend the right foot; rest it upon the toe; bring the left forward, nearly even with the right, bearing the weight lightly upon the toe, while the right is again extended. Repeat the same, extending the left foot first, instead of the right. An easy, gliding motion is desirable.
These exercises were designed to educate the muscles in grace and ease of motion. It seems probable that the steps were based upon the dancing of the period. In the Book of Duties for the teachers, written in the first years of the Seminary we find the following: "Care should be taken that the exercise does not become like dancing in the impression it makes on observers." The criticism that the calisthenics resembled dancing too closely was among the reasons which led to the introduction of the Dio Lewis gymnastics in 1862, as we shall see later. They were performed with singing. A book of "Calisthenic Songs" was printed in 1856, which was a collection of songs which had been used. The book contained only the words; the tunes were found in such song books as "Boston School Song Book," "Vocalist," "Juvenile Singing School," etc. These figures and movements afforded a lively and beautiful recreation, and were always looked upon as "show exercises." Classes were called out of the regular hours upon the request of visitors. Exhibitions were held "Anniversary Week." The girls in white dresses caught up with flowers made a beautiful sight long remembered by those who saw them. The students considered it the greatest honor to be chosen for the exhibition, and always remembered with pleasure the steps and songs. An extract from a letter from Mrs. Rice will be of interest:
"Your sense of humor would have been aroused if you had seen, as I did, an old lady of seventy-eight with a weight of flesh as well as years glide gracefully across the room, to recall more vividly the side step for me. There was a degree af force required in these motions which novices were slow to use, and difficult sometimes for the teacher to obtain. And even after all the years that have intervened I feel an electric thrill as I see Miss Lyon on her inspecting tour fall in line with us, her bright eyes and rosy cheeks aglow with half-suppressed enthusiasm and with the little characteristic shrug, I hear again her urgent encouraging voice, 'Now, young ladies, try that again! a little more force! ah, yes, I knew you could! Now, that is better. Stand erect!' and with the sweet silent laugh, the lovely turbaned head disappeared to look in on another class, leaving with us a new access of vigorous endeavor. That opening year we often waited to have things made that we needed, and we had taken many lessons before the wands were in evidence - not fairy wands, but quite substantial affairs which we grasped at either end, and carried in various ways holding them over the head, in front and back, etc., marching singly and double, with joined wands, meeting, parting, with always, left! right!"
The calisthenics were taught in a room in the second story not yet arranged for recitations, and came first in the middle of the forenoon; afterward they came in the afternoon also. The time was not less than twenty minutes nor more than thirty. No change was made in the dress, and no suggestion was made concerning the removal of "stays."
Outdoor Exercise.
We cannot discuss the outdoor exercise at Mount Holyoke College unless we understand its situation. Placed as it is within walking distance of the Holyoke and Mount Tom ranges of mountains; surrounded by woods filled with a large variety of wild flowers, many of them rarely found in this section of the country; located in the Connecticut River Valley, famous for its beauty and the variety and rareness of its geological formations, it would seem that the favorite outdoor sport at the college would be walking. And this is true. Walking was a required form of exercise from the beginnitlg, but was one of the few requirements so popular with the students that at no time was it considered necessary to "report upon it." In the Book of Duties we find: "The young ladies are to be required to walk one mile per day till the snow renders it desirable to specify time instead of distance, then three quarters of an hour is the time required. When the walking is unsuitable the young ladies are to be excused by one of the division teachers."
Mary Lyon was born and brought up in the country. She believed in fresh air, in walking, in hunting for the wild flowers and in considering the beauties of nature. She believed in taking time to cultivate the body and soul as well as the mind. Nowhere can all three be developed better than in walks in the woods and fields. Mary Lyon believed in walking in rain and storm as well as in pleasant weather. The catalogues all give directions to the students to come provided with warm underclothing, rubbers and umbrella.
Hygiene.
No formal illstruction in hygiene was given during this time. Advice in regard to bathing and the care of the health was given. Mary Lyon had a knowledge of practical hygiene which has been of the greatest benefit to the college. She chose a location in the country, upon high ground; she secured immediately an unfailing supply of pure water; she bought only the best food of its kind, and insisted upon good cooking. She considered the securing of good bread of enough importance to take upon herself the labor of making it. And it was only after weeks of effort and repeated failures, during which time she rose early every morning to make the bread herself, that she was able to show the girls how to secure good, light wholesome bread.
Gymnastics. 1862-1891.
In the summer of 1862, Miss Evans[2] (principal of the seminary at Painesville, Ohio), at that time teacher of calisthenics at Mount Holyoke, when visiting at Miss Blanchard's, received a letter from Mr. Abner Kingman of Boston, one of the trustees, requesting them to go to Boston to take lessons from Dio Lewis in the "new gymnastics." They spent two or three weeks there then, and a short vacation in the winter of the same year. This was done with the view of introducing gymnastics in the place of calisthenics. There had been considerable objection that the calisthenics resembled dancing too closely, and also Dr. Hitchcock of Amherst, one of the trustees, wished to have Mount Holyoke have the best instruction in this department that could be secured. During the first year the exercise was optional, as the only place for it was the long storeroom over the wood and coal shed at the northeast corner of the court. This was a long, low and dark place, partly filled with old furniture and carpets. The only musical instrument was a drum, which was used for marking time, and for giving orders by a certain number of strokes. In "Anniversary Week" an exhibition was given of these new gymnastics, and although there was a piano there, the drum was used. There were no fixed pieces of apparatus then (not until after 1868). The year 1863 was to prove a memorable one for physical training at Mount Holyoke. It was during the Civil War, and the Anniversary was honored by the famous and beloved war governor of Massachusetts, Governor John A. Andrew, with his staff. They were present at the closing examination and reading of compositions. One of these was a plea for a gymnasium written and also read, which was unusual in those days, by Miss Ellen C. Parsons of the graduating class. The reading was scarcely finished when Governor Andrew was moved to start a subscription. At the church fifteen hundred dollars was raised, and before night the sum reached nineteen hundred dollars. A large sum for war times! A request was made that the exhibition be repeated, and the guests having reassembled in the hall, the little class of less than twenty went through their exercises in the presence of the governor, feeling themselves to be a part of an historic occasion. The gymnasium was opened in 1865, and there, until the fire in 1896, were conducted classes for all the pupils, unless excused for physical reasons. After Miss Evans left in 1868, one of her pupils, Mrs. Alice Gordon Gulick, had charge of the gymnastics. Cornelia Clapp, now Mount Holyoke's famous professor of zoology, succeeded her and taught the gymnastics for fifteen years until 1891, when Miss Eliza Clarke was secured to give all her time to the department.
The Lewis gymnastic dress was introduced in 1863. This was a very short skirt with "zouave" trousers drawn up just below the knee and falling over nearly to the ankle. Miss Clapp was the teacher during the last fifteen years of this period. The instruction was in marching, running, skipping (a modified form of dancing), wands, Indian clubs and dumb-bells. The aim was to secure briskness, attention, enthusiasm, accuracy, good posture and good gait. The exercises were taken from one of Dio Lewis's books. Afterward, at the request of her pupils who were called upon to teach gymnastics in the various schools to which they went, she collected and arranged such of these exercises as had been of especial help to her, and had them printed in a book of convenient form for reference. She placed great emphasis upon the personality of the teacher, and the enjoyment of both teacher and pupil, believing for an exercise to be beneficial it should also be enjoyable. The thing she wished to bring about was "team work" - the doing the work all together, at the same time, each with her own individual force and enthusiasm and yet subservient to the force and enthusiasm of her neighbor. She succeeded in a remarkable degree in these particulars. Even now her pupils in speaking of the drills and exhibitions become enthusiastic and seem almost ready to join a class of gymnastics if Miss Clapp would be the teacher. She was always striving for variety. One year having had difficulty with the seniors, always the most difficult class to retain in the gymnasium, she secretly drilled the freshmen in the then new "broom drill." Exhibition night the seniors were surprised by seeing as they passed out one door a little group of freshmen enter another door and quite carry the audience by storm by the beauty and precision of their exercise. She had no troouble with the seniors the next year.
In 1888 or 1889, through the influence of Dr. Hitchcock, the taking of measurements was introduced. These did not interest Miss Clapp. They took too much time and she was not willing to give all her time to the physical work; already she was making a reputation for her work in zoology. In the summer of 1891 she wrote to the president (Mrs. Mead) that in her judgment the time had corne for a departrllent of physical training with a teacher trained in the new schools of physical culture at the head. In the fall Miss Eliza Clarke, a pupil of Dr. D. A. Sargent and Mr. Hartwig Nissen, was secured.
Outdoor Exercise.
In 1875 the first boats were given to the school. Tennis was also introduced, and at once became a favorite form of exercise. Walking continued to remain popular. It was no uncommon thing at any time during this period for girls to walk to the banks of the Connecticut, to Holyoke, or even to the top of Mount Holyoke or Mount Nonotuck.
In 1862 the first resident physician was secured, and since that time the college has always had a resident physician in charge of the girls' health. She has excused from classes and the gymnasium in case of illness. She has also had charge of the course in physiology and hygiene. During this period lectures were given on anatomy, physiology and hygiene.
Gymnastics. 1891-1908.
In 1894, Miss Spore, a graduate of the physical department in Oberlin College, came to take charge of this department, and has remained up to the present time. They owe to her much of the growth in this department from that time to the present.
The fire in 1896, depriving the college of its dormitories, also deprived it of its gymnasium. In the need for dormitories the gymnasium was overlooked. Again the girls came to the front, and for the second time asked for a gymnasium. The Student League circulated a petition, secured the signatures of all the girls, and sent their president to Boston to present it to the president of the hoard of trustees. He was much impressed with the interview and their gymnasium was secured. This is a fine brick building with all modern improvements except a plunge bath. It has a bowling alley, which is popular with the girls.
The dress used in the gymnasium is the divided skirt now universally worn. The three under classes have required work in the gymnasium from the first of November to the close of the winter term. This work includes free work (Swedish), dancing (folk, gymnastic and aesthetic), apparatus work and games. The seniors are required to take outdoor exercise or gymnastic work. There is a large class taking fencing, some taking the regular work with the juniors, but for the mass of seniors outdoor work is most popular. There is a great deal of enthusiasm over basket ball. The physical director says "almost too much interest is shown." The game is played fall, winter and spring; in the fall and spring out of doors, in the winter in the gymnasium. At the close of the winter term an indoor meet is held in place of an exhibition. Special classes have been formed for those having spinal curvature, broken arches or other troubles which would make them unfit for regular class work. Also some individual work has been attempted. It is being tried this year, after consultation with the home physician, to give special work to some pupils who before have been excused. So far the result is marvelously encouraging.
Outdoor Exercise.
The Athletic Association has charge of all outdoor sports. The seniors are required to take outdoor exercise during all the year; the three under classes from the opening of school until the first of November, and during the spring term. The multiplication of outdoor sports has rendered some organization imperative, and the athletic association has proved very satisfactory. The officers are a president, director, vice president, secretary and treasurer. There is an executive committee with one member from each class. The officers, with the exception of the director, are chosen from the students. The director is always the physical director of the college. Her duties are a general oversight over all the plans with power of veto. The charge for membership is twenty-five cents a year. The outdoor sports include all branches possible amid such favorable surroundings: Walking, horseback riding, skating, skiing, coasting; games - tennis, baseball, hockey, basket ball; rowing and paddling; track athletics. The ice is kept free of snow in the winter, and an ice carnival arranged for the girls. The tennis courts are supplied with nets. Golf was introduced and good links laid out, but the time required for a game and other conditions worked against its popularity and it is not now played. The track events are under the direction of the physical director. There is a good course, but although some of the girls are enthusiastic the mass do not care for this phase of outdoor life.
Hygiene.
In 1891 the physician introduced in connection with the lectures in physiology a few lectures on the female reproductive organs. This raised a storm of protest and discussion, which led finally to the dropping of all instruction in physiology and anatomy. There is now a course of four lectures for the freshmen on hygiene. Two of these are by the physician on the care of the health and personal hygiene; two are by the physical director on the relation of health to exercise. In the senior year six lectures on hygiene are given by some outside lecturer.
Summary.
Physical exercise has always been required of the pupils.
From 1837 to 1862 the forms of exercise were domestic work, walking and calisthenics, which were light exercises resembling and based upon the dances of the time, given for the education of the muscles in grace and agility. There was no instruction in hygiene, but advice given in regard to the care of the health.
From 1862 to 1891 the domestic work was considerably lightened by the introduction of steam heat, and outside help for the house-cleaning and washing; the Dio Lewis gymnastics were introduced, also some forms of apparatus work (chest weights); boating and tennis were added to the outside sports. There was a resident physician secured, and lectures in physiology and anatomy given.
From 1891 to 1908 the domestic work was further lightened by the introduction of cooks and help in dishwashing; a department of physical training was formed; a modern gymnasium was built, with all forms of exercise allowed and encouraged, including apparatus work and dancing. Special classes for corrective work have been formed, and some individual work begun. An athletic association was formed which includes practically all the students, and has charge of and encourages outdoor activities. The lectures in physiology and anatomy have been dropped and lectures in personal hygiene have been provided.
Footnotes.
[1] Report of sermon by Dr. Moxom in Springfield Republican, March 1, 1897. Back to text
[2] Letter to Miss Spore, Physical Director, Mount Holyoke College. Back to text