"Between the Revolution and the Civil War the basic patterns of a new American way of life took shape, with education looming large in the design. The notion that a free society requires an enlightened citizenry became established as an integral element of the national mind. The essential features of a unified, articulated, democratic national educational ladder for children and youth from the primary grades through university became visible. The idea that adults needed education, too, began to be dimly perceived. A number of informal channels of adult education became well established, including daily newspapers, magazines, books and pamphlets, the theater, and local voluntary associations. An experiment in organizing a national program of adult education, the American Lyceum, was tried, and while it did not succeed in becoming established permanently, it left a heritage of concept and method that proved valuable to later institutions. Three permanent institutional forms of adult education became firmly planted. One of these, the local institute or adult school, as represented by Lowell Institute and Cooper Union, became established in only a few large cities. The other two, the library and the museum, spread throughout the nation. A fourth major institutional form, the adult evening school, was just beginning to develop. But the directions were now set for at first gradual and then rapid institutional blossoming of adult education in the next fifty years." From Knowles, M. (1977 ). A History of the Adult Education Movement in the United States. Huntington, NY: Robert E. Krieger Publishing

1780 The African Union Society of Newport, RI is formed by African-Americans to support the well-being of the black community.

1805 The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts opens--it is the oldest art museum in the country.

1821 Emma Willard , an early advocate for higher education for women, opens a female seminary in Troy, NY.

1821 Sequoyah develops a writing system for the Cherokee.

1826 The Lyceum Movement is started by Josiah Holbrook. Lyceums were groups of people who would come together to share their knowledge; to teach and learn from one another. Members were interested not only in their own self-improvement, but also in advancing the cause of public schools. This very important movement:

1831 - 1832 The Debate Against Slavery is held by the Virginia General Assembly. The Abolitionist Movement was itself an educator of adults at this time. Many slave narratives were written during this period and people like Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman , Frederick Douglass and Wendell Phillips worked tirelessly to bring liberty to those in slavery.

1837 Oberlin admits 4 female students to its freshman class and becomes the first co-educational college.

1843 B'nai B'rith is founded to provide substantive aid and emotional assistance to recent Jewish immigrants; it is now the world's largest Jewish organization. Within B'nai B'rith many other organizations also exist such as Jewish Women International (1897) and the Anti-Defamation League (1913).

1846 The Smithsonian opens.

1848 The first Women's Rights Convention takes place in Seneca Falls, NY.

1850 The National Women's Rights Convention is held in Worcester, MA.

1850 Harper's magazine, now one of the oldest magazines in the country, is established--the reading of newspapers and magazines was, and still is, one of the greatest educational activities of adults. Another popular magazine, or "lady's book," for women was Godey's Lady Book which featured poetry and stories as well as household tips.

1851 The YMCA is founded--during this time the way was being paved for the formation of strong national organizations.

1852 The Boston Public Library opens. This is the first free public library as we know them.

1857 The Florida Institute (now Florida State University) holds its first classes in Tallahassee. Go 'Noles!

1859 The Cooper Union begins offering free courses in the arts and sciences.

1861 - 1865 The Civil War takes place.

1862 The Department of Agriculture, also known as the People's Department, is created.

1862 The Land-Grant College Act, also known as The Morrill Act, creates land grant colleges; the establishment of land-grant colleges leads to the formation of the Cooperative Extension Service.

1863 The Emancipation Proclamation is read, granting freedom to slaves.