Gymnastics,
women's
- Early physical education
- First instructors
- Physical culture
- Lawn drills
- Curriculum expands
First Instructors
The gymnasium was built so that the female students could practice calisthenics. The 1864 General Circular for the Ladies’ College explained:
"A regular course of Calisthenics, comprehending all the movements required to develop every part of the muscular frame, is practised as a part of school duty, no more to be neglected than a recitation, without sufficient reason."
The students were expected to be fit for the strenuous demands of studying, and for the life-long tasks of motherhood and family caretaking. The 1864 General Circular put it this way:
"... it is constantly kept in view that perfect health is indispensable to success in study, as well as in all the after pursuits of life."
Following the departure of calisthenics instructor Mary E. Pickard in 1869, there were no physical education instructors on staff at the Ladies' College until 1888. In 1887, Gertrude King joined the Ladies' College faculty as mathematics instructor, and by 1888 she led a calisthenics class. The 15 members of the class gave a semi-private demonstration of their exercises on 18 February 1888. William Seaman, a student at the University, wrote to his mother about the event:
"The Calisthenics class of the Sem. gave an exhibition tonight in their Gym. There are 15 members and each had their choice of asking some young gent. from the Coll. An oyster supper is to follow..."
Mary E. Pickard, Ladies' College calisthenics instructor, 1866-1869
Gertrude King, Ladies' College calisthenics instructor, 1887-1891
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