Meet Julia Tevis

SHELBY COUNTY, KY - She did what no other woman did – start an all-girls school “in the wilderness” in 1825 in Shelbyville. Known as probably the first of its kind west of the Allegany Mountains, Science Hill Female Academy earned a name for itself for teaching science and math to girls ages 12 – 16, something virtually unheard of at that time. And the woman responsible was Julia Ann Hieronymus Tevis.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Shelby County Historical Society, in collaboration with the Shelby County Public Library, will present Meet Julia Tevis on March 20th at 6 pm. This program will be given by Cheryl Van Stockum at the Carnegie Library Center, located at 731 College Street.

Destined to be a brilliant educator, Julia was born in Clark County, KY on December 5, 1799 to Pendleton Hieronymus (1775-1820) and Mary “Polly” Bush (1778-1833). She later met and married Rev. John Tevis (1792-1861), a Methodist minister from Kentucky, in March 1824. They opened the doors on Monday, March 25, 1825 with just 18 - 20 pupils of different ages and learning abilities. By 1852, there were 250 students enrolled. Over the years, Julia and the girls witnessed disease, death, war and natural disasters. Many of the girls completed their bachelor degrees at Wellesely College, Vassar, Bryn, Mawr, Stanford, Goucher, and New York, Chicago, California, and Michigan universities. Julia ran the school until 1879, at which time she sold it to Dr. Wiley Taul Poynter and his wife, Clara Davis Martin Poynter. Wakefield-Scearce Galleries now owns the property.

The presenter for this program will be Cheryl Van Stockum. Many know Cheryl as a photographer and through her many years with the Shelby County Community Theatre (SCCT). She was Executive Director, a board member and president, and oversaw dozens of successful productions. Cheryl began her own business, Cheryl Van Stockum Photography, in 2012. She has also served on the board of Leadership Shelby, Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Shelby Main Street and the Shelby County Historical Society. She is married to Reggie Van Stockum and they live on his family farm.


Event Date:
Thursday, March 20th at 6pm
Event Location:
Carnegie Library Center, located at 731 College St, Shelbyville, KY 40065
Event Details:
For more information, contact the Shelby County Historical Society at (502) 513-5555 or email director@shelbykyhistory.org.

Download The Event Flyer HERE