A School for Girls
“Not the children of the rich or of the powerful only, but of all alike, boys and girls, both noble and ignoble, rich and poor, in all cities and towns, villages and hamlets, should be sent to school.”
The Single Brothers’ House in Bethlehem, PA—a window into the past
As we know, the early Moravians were an enlightened people who were often way ahead of their time. They educated their girls just like their boys, which was unheard of in the eighteenth century. Then, in 1742, they founded the first school for girls in the American colonies, known as Moravian Academy.
The name of the school changed many times over the years to Young Ladies Seminary, Moravian Female Seminary, and Moravian Seminary and College for Women, but nothing alters the fact that this “school for girls” remained a women-only educational institution for 200 years!
The Single Brothers’ House
The back of the Single Brothers’ House (note the sun dial)
Built in 1748, the Single Brother’s House was the largest and most impressive structure erected by the Moravian community. The house is still in use today providing classrooms, art studios, and even dorm rooms for Moravian University. the building has had a remarkable history, including a role in the American Revolution. Although the Moravians were pacifists at the time, when George Washington asked for their help, they turned this building into a hospital. As we know from my book, The Bookmark, many of the wounded from the Battle of Brandywine were cared for here, and of course, the wounded Marquis de Lafayette was brought to Bethlehem to recover as well.
Numerous hauntings related to this time period have been reported, including apparitions of Revolutionary War soldiers. When I visited, I was told students have reported hearing the sounds of hospital gurneys creaking down the hallways!
Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf
Sculpture of Countess Benigna Von Zinzendorf by Michael Price
Benigna was the daughter of Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, who is known as the “Father of the Moravians.” She is credited with founding the first school for girls, and this lovely bronze statue stands behind the Brother’s House in the Benigna Pleasure Garden established in her honor. The sculpture, created by Minnesota artist Michael Price, perfectly captures her intelligence and serenity.
Near the sculpture is a tree dating to 1787 with a plaque from the National Arborist Association stating that this tree “lived here at the time of the signing of our Constitution.”
The Importance of Music
The Female Seminary became a renowned educational facility, attracting students from prominent families along the eastern seaboard, as well as across the nation and from foreign countries.
Music was one of the passions of the early Moravians and studying piano was one of the most important subjects taught at the Seminary. Early on, playing the piano offered rare performance opportunities, since public displays of accomplishments were generally regarded as inappropriate for young women.
By the 1870’s, the stigma regarding women performing in public finally faded away, and Emma Cecilia Thursby became one of the school’s most famous students. She was considered the finest concert singer in America and also in Europe, performing for President Grover Cleveland and Queen Victoria.
Today, Moravian University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the hallways of the Brothers’ House still resound with strains of music from various practice studios.
Peter Hall
Peter (pronounced pay-ter) Hall is named for Lily Peter, a remarkable woman who funded this recital hall. Although Lily was not a graduate of Moravian College, she had family ties to the area and shared the college’s passion for the arts. Lily, who lived to one hundred, was an accomplished violinist, an educator, a farmer, and poet laureate of the state of Arkansas.
Two pianos grace the hall, both Steinways. Moravian University holds a rare distinction of being an All-Steinway School, providing every music student with unlimited access to these premier instruments. While only one percent of the world’s pianos are Steinways, more than 98 percent of performing artists insist on having them.
Peter Hall is the only space in the country with stained glass depicting only women. The six panels celebrate diverse fields of learning, including music, drama, religion, education, science, and of course, literature!
Payne Gallery
Built in 1911, this room was originally designed as a small gymnasium allowing young ladies to perform their "physical culture" exercises. In 1982, the room was converted to the Frank E. and Seba B. Payne Gallery, named for the parents of another extraordinary woman, Priscilla Payne Hurd. Ms. Hurd was elected as the university’s first female Chair of the Board and is known as one of the Lehigh Valley’s most generous philanthropists. She exemplifies the credo she wrote four decades ago: “No one is greater than the service he renders the world.”
A recent exhibit commemorated the Moravian commitment to education and featured a variety of objects including this piece of needlework, made by a student at the Moravian Female Seminary, possibly by a member of the Boeckel family.
I would love to think this artwork was created by Liesl Boeckel, the heroine of The Bookmark, but the dating of the piece makes it unlikely. However, it does reinforce the idea that women in Liesl’s family were skilled at decorative sewing.
Moravian University Today
Moravian University Founders Day Tea 2024
Moravian University is the sixth oldest college in America, and its history is still very much alive. Echoes of the early Moravians continue to resonate and here are just a few examples:
The colors of Moravian University, blue and grey, were adopted soon after the Civil War, at a time when the country was still reeling from the bitter conflict. The colors were chosen to represent a desire for unity and healing.
Christmas Vespers, hosted by the university, is a local holiday tradition in Bethlehem with music provided by Moravian students.
Founder’s Week, which I was privileged to be a part of this year, celebrates alumnae, students, and the generations to come.
A Moravian legacy of devotion and leadership continues as reflected in this fitting motto of the nine women who were part of the Class of 1919: “Let us live to some purpose.”
Learn More
Payne Gallery is open to the public from noon to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, visit their website: Payne Gallery
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