Wilcox Female Institute
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Wilcox Female Institute
| nrhp_type =
| image = Wilcox Female Institute 2008 01.JPG
| caption = The front elevation of the Wilcox Female Institute in 2008.
| location = Camden, Alabama, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|31|59|40|N|87|17|40|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Alabama#USA
| area =
| built = 1845–1850
| architect =
| architecture = Greek Revival
| added = April 3, 1975
| refnum = 75000330{{NRISref|2008a}}
}}
The Wilcox Female Institute is a historic Greek Revival-style school building in Camden, Alabama. The two-story brick structure was built between 1845 and 1850 as a boarding school for girls. The school closed in 1910 and the building was then used by the Wilcox County school system for over 50 years. It was acquired by the Wilcox Historical Society in 1976. The group made it into their official headquarters.{{cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Multimedia.jsp?id=m-3484 |title=Wilcox Female Institute |accessdate=2008-10-15 |work=Encyclopedia of Alabama }} It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 3, 1975.
History
= Wilcox Female Institute =
The Wilcox Female Institute is the oldest educational landmark in this section of Alabama, and is one of the better known early Alabama institutions for the education of women.{{cite web |author= |date= |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Wilcox Female Institute |url={{NRHP url|id=75000330}} |accessdate=September 30, 2023 |publisher=National Park Service}} With {{NRHP url|id=75000330|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}} The school had its beginning in 1848 when a group of citizens from the area made up subscriptions for the establishment of a school for young ladies. By 1850 the institute had been incorporated, a faculty employed, a catalog published and the building completed. Records show in the fall of 1850, the school had an enrollment of 250, with a primary department, a music department, a department of fine arts and embroidery, and a department of French language. The original school trustees were Col. J. C. Jones, D. W. Sterrett, Col, C. C. Sellers, Joseph George, Major M. M. Bonham, Dr. M. Reid, J. W. Bridges, Dr. Robert Irvin, and Major F. K. Beck.{{Cite web |title=Wilcox |url=https://www.alabamahistory.net/copy-of-washington |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=Alabama Historical Association |language=en}}
Records of the school indicate that it remained in operation throughout the American Civil War (1861–1865), and in 1866 the property was sold to John Miller, an associate reformed Presbyterian minister and educator who conducted the school for a period of seven years. After Miller relinquished leadership of the Institute, it continued in operation as a private school under a series of principals until 1908 when it was deeded to the State of Alabama for use as a county high school.
= [[Wilcox County School District (Alabama)|Wilcox County School District]] =
Public high school classes were conducted in the building until 1937 when the new high school building, located on adjoining lot, was completed. After that time only two rooms in the downstairs of the building were used for elementary school classes, and after 1965 the building was used only for band practice.
{{Gallery
|title=As recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1937
|width=140
|height=150
|align=center
|File:Wilcox Female Institute 01.jpg|Front elevation
|File:Wilcox Female Institute 03.jpg|Close-up of main entrance
|File:Wilcox Female Institute 04.jpg|Staircase in the first floor hallway
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{NPS}}
External links
{{commons category|Wilcox Female Institute}}
- [http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=68156 Historical Marker Database]
- {{HABS |survey=AL-170 |id=al0822 |title=Old Female Academy, Broad Street (State Route 28), Camden, Wilcox County, AL |photos=8 |color= |dwgs= |data= |cap=}}
{{NRHP in Wilcox County, Alabama}}
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Wilcox County, Alabama
Category:School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Alabama
Category:Defunct schools in Alabama
Category:School buildings completed in 1850
Category:Female seminaries in the United States
Category:Greek Revival architecture in Alabama
Category:Women's education in Alabama
Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Alabama
Category:1850 establishments in Alabama
Category:Educational institutions established in 1850
Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 1910