Instruction Hour
Oramel Whittlesey's daughter Kate is seated with her back toward the photograph. It looks as though she has two students practicing.
Music Vale Seminary Archives
1835-1876
Salem Historical Society
Rev. John Whittlesey
Rev. John Whittlesey, 1780-1864, was a strong-willed Methodist minister of the sect "New Lights". He married his cousin Sally Whittelsey in Westbrook, Connecticut; note the variation on spelling. They moved to Salem in 1801, the year Oramel was born. Togethery they had three sons, Oramel, John, and Henry and two daughters who both died at age two. John ran an ivory factory that made piano keys as his livelihood. At this time, Connecticut had 90 percent of the market on manufacturing ivory. The boys shwoed a keen interest in music at an early age. Though they purchased a secondhand piano, the elder Whittlesey would not allow them to take time off from their chores to take lessons. on their own time the boys went to New London for piano instruction. They would arrive at 8:00pm and not return until 3:00am.
-Cindy Lee Corriveau "Images of America: Salem, Connecticut"
Music Vale Seminary Archives
1780-1864
Salem Historical Society
Elizabeth (Eliza) Maginnis
The eldest daughter of Oramel and Charlotte, Elizabeth (Eliza) Maginnis (nee Whittlesey), born October 5, 1826, was a teacher and later vice principal at Music Vale. After her husband John's death in 1864, she started a school of music called Maginnis Institute of Music in New London. It is now a rectory of St. James Church. John and Eliza had two daughters. -Cindy Lee Corriveau
Music Vale Seminary Archives
1835-1876
Salem Historical Society
Sarah Victoria Whittlesey
The second daughter, Sarah Victoria Whittlesey, born May 23, 1831, also taught at the Music Vale Seminary. On July 31, 1858, she married lawyer George Pratt of Norwich, where they lived for many years before moving to Kansas City, Missouri. Sarah and George Pratt had six children. - Cindy Lee Corriveau
Music Vale Seminary Archives
1835-1876
Salem Historical Society
Sarah Victoria Whittlesey, Age 82
Bela Lyon Pratt, one of Sarah's sons, was born December 11, 1867, in Norwich. At 16, he attended Yale School of Fine Arts and later became a teacher at the school of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He is credited with 175 impressive sculptures, including the nathan Hale at Yale and the Andersonville Prisoner Boy in the State capitol building in Connecticut. His graduate degree was from Harvard. He also designed coins for the United States Mint. He designed a reverse-relief coin. Music Vale property was sold out of the family, and in 1910, Bela Pratt purchased 100 acres of his grandfather Oramel's original land. Here is a bust Belda did of his mother at 82. -Cindy Lee Corriveau
Music Vale Seminary Archives, Salem Historical Society
1876-1890
Salem Historical Society
Young Student With Flowers in Her Hair
Student at the Music Vale Seminary
Young women came from the Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Nova Scotia, and some as far as the West Indies.
Music Vale Seminary Archives, Salem Historical Society
Salem Historical Society
1835-1876
SalemHistorical Society
Jeanette Morgan Whittlesey
Jeanette Morgan Whittlesey, the third daughter, was born March 29, 1836, and married William Henry Maginnis, the brother of Elisabeth's husband, John. She was a talented singer, teaching voice lessons to the young women of Music Vale. Jeanette and William had seven children. - Cindy Lee Corriveau "Images of America: Salem, Connecticut"
Music Vale Seminary, Salem Historical Society
1835-1876
Salem Historical Society
Album of Beauty
Album of Beauty which is similar to a yearbook. Each of the students from the Music Vale Seminary was represented. Empty pages would be left between the pictures for autographs and other words.
Music Vale Seminary Archive
1835-1876
Salem Historical Society
A "Beauty" From the Album of Beauty
This was one of the about fifty women whose picture appeared in the Music Vale Seminary's album of beauty.
Music Vale Seminary Archive
1835-1876
Admission Report Book
This book was used as a log of those who applied for admission at Music Vale Seminary during the year of 1860.
Music Vale Seminary Archive
1860
Salem Historical Society