The Delphian Society and Its Publications: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of a Primer for Middle-Class Women’s Education

• Autores: Sheile Webb
• Localización: Journalism history, ISSN 0094-7679, Vol. 45, Nº. 2, 2019, págs. 176-198
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • This article examines the publications of the Delphian Society and describes the 1910 historical backdrop in which the society was founded. It analyzes the importance of the adult-education and self-culture movements and places the Delphian publications within the progressive milieu and the development of women’s clubs. These publications were unique in the era, as no other texts, institutions, or organizations were devoted to women’s education at the highest level or fostered deliberative social interaction and civic advancement. The study identifies an understudied organization and considers how its publications provided education to adult women at a moment in history when their roles in American social and civil life changed dramatically. The textual examination shows the construction of an imagined community and the function of the society as a cultural intermediary. Ties are made to foundational citizenship narratives, including Republican Motherhood and the “ideal” citizen, both of which embodied the notion that educating women would aid in maintaining a stronger republic.