Schools - Madame Grelaud’s French School

Madame Grelaud's French School, also called Madame Grelaud's Seminary, was a girl's boarding school in Philadelphia, which taught scholars from 1809–1849. Madame Marie “Deborah” Claudine D’Espaigne Grelaud was the owner and headmistress, and the school required a fee of $500.00 a year for a term that ran between Oct 1 to Aug. 31. The school’s curriculum specialized in French and other languages, art, and music; however the girls in the school were taught: history, philosophy, natural science, and geography, as well as manners, elocution, and deportment. During the time that the Teackle's daughter Elizabeth attended, other students included the daughter of U.S. President James Monroe, Maria Hester Monroe, and the great-granddaughters of Martha Washington, Columbia Washington Peter, America Pinkney Peter, and Eliza Law.

Mentioned in these documents

[Commonplace Book of Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, 1808-1862]

Journal or Commonplace Book of Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, dating from 1809-1862. It includes letters, poetry, and personal writings of Elizabeth up until 1831. There are writings of her grandson, Upshur B. Quinby, found throughout. There are also loose inserts of letters and other papers.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to Andrew D. Campbell, November 6, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to Andrew Donaldson Campbell.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, August 14, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia. Due to misaddressed letters, her daughter was not receiving all of her previous letters, so Elizabeth summarizes her most previous letter to her. She also praises Elizabeth Ann's improvement in writing and spelling.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, July 18, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Eyre, while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia. She hopes to come visit her daughter soon, after her current guests from Portland leave.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, July 4, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Eyre, while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia. She thanks Elizabeth Ann for writing to her and sending gifts as well. She also says that Elizabeth Ann's writing has improved.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, November 6, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia. She writes about the packages she is sending her and asks for items to be given to certain acquaintances throughout town. She also gives care instructions of the ruffle she made for her daughter.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, June 18, 1815]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre. She writes about a delay in clothes being sent to Ann. She discusses her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, attending Madam Grelaud's French School for Ladies. She asks about Anna Savage's marriage and Sarah "Sally" Eyre's health. She also talks about her own poor health.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, October 18, 1813]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre. She wishes for better health for Ann, John Eyre, Anne Billings Steel Upshur, and Virginia Upshur, as they have been sick. She discusses politics, her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle's interests, and jokes about receiving an ewe from colonel Wilson. She asks about Louisa Bowdoin and Marry Ann Smith Gilmor's trip to Baltimore and closes with well wishes to friends.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, October 29, 1813]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to Ann Upshur Eyre, discussing her health, flower gardening, and other daily updates.

[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, to her daughter Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, January 1, 1816]

Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her daughter Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle while she was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia.