Sayre Female Institute
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Historical Marker #2197 in Lexington commemorates the Sayre Female Institute which is now the Sayre School. The school was founded in 1854 by David Austin Sayre for the education of young women. Sayre believed that women deserved an "education of the widest range and highest order." Originally named Transylvania Female Institute, the school was renamed in honor of Sayre in 1885.
The school's original curriculum included French, Latin, German language and literature, and vocal and instrumental music, which were typical courses of study for women in that era. But, true to Sayre's educational philosophy, other classes offered by the school included algebra, geometry, trigonometry, geology, chemistry, astronomy, history, English literature, and philosophy. These courses were somewhat of a departure from the traditional female academies which primarily focused on music and languages.
The Sayre Female Institute survived the Civil War years. In fact, during this tumultuous time future Kentucky suffragist Laura Clay enrolled in the institute in the fall of 1863. Clay was at the school in June 1864, when General John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate cavalry held Lexington for a short period of time. After completing her education at Sayre, Clay attended finishing school in New York. She eventually attended one year of college at the University of Michigan and one semester at State College of Kentucky. She soon departed in order to focus on working for women's rights.
The serious academic curriculum that Laura Clay received beginning at the Sayre Female Institute may have influenced her pursuit of a more public life versus the traditional domestic life expected of women during this period.
The Sayre School still exists today as an independent coeducational college preparatory school serving grades preschool through twelfth grade.
Files
Sayre Institute
The Sayre School building is shown in this postcard photograph. Courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
Sayre Institute
This postcard shows Sayre Institute, which was attended by women's suffragist Laura Clay. Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Sayre School
This photograph shows present-day Sayre School. Photograph courtesy of Amy Roe.
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Sayre Students
This photograph shows a group of students at Sayre School in 1944. Courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
Kentucky Suffragists
Suffragist Laura Clay attended Sayre Female Institute. This photograph shows Laura Clay and a group marching for the Madison, Fayette, and Franklin County branches of Kentucky Equal Rights Association, at Democratic National Convention in St. Louis. Courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
John Hunt Morgan Handbill
Laura Clay was a student at Sayre when John Hunt Morgan raided his hometown in 1863. This handbill is from when Morgan was in the state the previous summer. Courtesy of the Kentucky Historical Society.
Sayre Female Institute Advertisement
This advertisement for Sayre Female Institute ran in the December 14, 1889, issue of the "Lexington Drummer" newspaper. Photograph courtesy of Tim Talbott.