Manuscript Database
Creator/Title
Poynter family. Added Papers, 1887-1992. 1 cu. ft.
Call No.
Mss. A P892a / 1-47
Content
This collection consists of correspondence and papers related to the Poynter family of Shelbyville, Kentucky. The Poynter family had strong ties to Science Hill Female Academy, and four of the Poynters prominently featured in this collection worked at the school. Wiley Taul Poynter and his wife Clara Martin Poynter bought Science Hill from Julia Tevis in 1879. They both taught at the school, and their daughters Juliet and Harriet attended Science Hill for their primary and high school education. Wiley served as principal until his death in 1896, whereupon Clara took over as principal until her death in 1937. Their daughter Juliet served as principal after her mother and their other daughter Harriet taught music there until its closure in 1939. The correspondence in this collection contains many mentions of events, news, and day-to-day goings-on at Science Hill during the Poynters’ ownership, from 1879 to 1939. Particular mentions of work at the school can be found in letters dated: August 21, 1894, November 18, 1903, November 24, 1903, December 25, 1903, January 1, 1904, January 7, 1904, March 26, 1904, March 28, 1904, and February 16, 1905. Other material related to Science Hill includes report cards for Juliet and Harriet (Folder 35), student writing assignments by Juliet and Harriet (Folder 36), a Junior Class Excursion Ticket signed by Clara dated 1900 (Folder 37), Science Hill commencement material dated 1899-1925 (Folder 38), miscellaneous school pamphlets and publications dated 1901-1936 (Folder 39), indentures for the Science Hill school property and/or surrounding lands dated 1879 and 1887 (Folder 40), and clippings sharing news about Science Hill events and history (Folder 45).
