WOMEN IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1800; GRACEANNA LEWIS P/28

 

In this post I will begin to focus on a woman named Graceanna Lewis. She lived from 1821 -1912. Her father was a farmer named John Lewis and her mother was Esther Fussel. Her parents were Quakers. Graceanna's father died when she was three years old leaving her mother to raise her alone. Her mother had been a school teacher prior to marriage and was instrumental in developing a keen affection for science in Graceanna.

Graceanna's mother served as a role model in social activism by housing fugitive slaves as part of the Underground Railway to freedom in Canada. Following her mother's death, Graceanna made her own home available for this purpose, secretly providing overnight accommodation for as many as 11 runaway slaves at one time. 

Graceanna attended Kimberton Boarding School for Girls in neighbouring Kimberton, Pensylvania, at which she received instruction in many of the natural sciences including astronomy, botany, chemistry and zoology. Graceanna also showed great aptitude as a painter of natural subjects.