Ever heard of the phrase bluestockings? I remember my father first using the word in describing a group of women who I had just given a speech to ... The Women’s Club of Dallas, Texas. So when I heard the word for a second time recently I decided to take a deeper look.
The concept originates from the 18th century and today is used to describe any women of intellectual interest and accomplishment. In a colloquial way it also is used, like my dad suggested, for women who dedicate themselves to helping others.
The original Bluestocking Group (as they were called) were intellectuals who promoted the advancement of women. By far the most famous of the founding members was a woman named Elizabeth Carter, (1717-1806). Carter is testimonial to hard work and perseverance. Her father, Nicholas Carter, a doctor and spiritualist at Canterbury believed in education ... for both his sons and daughter. This was truly an enlightened attitude (but hey, it was the Enlightenment after all). Carter’s father became so frustrated with her inability as a fledgling scholar that he encouraged her to give up her studies. She did not. Her nights included snuff taking and chewing on both green tea leaves and coffee beans to keep herself awake.
By the time she was 20 she was fluent in English, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese & Arabic. Beyond her prodigious language skills she also studied astronomy, geography and ancient and modern history.
An accomplished poet, her first work appeared in 1734, when she was only 17 years old, in a monthly periodical. Four years later, volumes of her work began to be published. Carter’s true genius, however, was in translation. She translated Pope’s “Essay on Man” from the French and Newton’s “Philosophy (explained for women) in Six Dialogues on Light and Color” from English to the Italian for two examples. Her greatest opus was a complete translation, from the Greek of the stoic philosopher Epictetus. This was a gift for Thomas Secher who became the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Carter was professionally and personally befriended by Samuel Johnson (who also loved her puddings) Bishop Butler, Richmond Savage and Horace Walpole among others. Johnson actually stated that she was the best Greek scholar he’d ever known.
I particularly love that she stated her pleasure was in acquiring knowledge .. not giving it out, (she never wished any of her work to be published). If you happen to be in London before June 15th, be sure to stop into their National Portrait Gallery. There you will find (a never before displayed) portrait of her as Minerva painted by John Fayram (1741’ish). You may recall that Minerva was not only the goddess of war; but also of wisdom.
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