The Classical Course
Terrell says that she had to convince her father to allow her to take the Classical Course instead of the Literary Course, as was more common for women. Even some of Terrell's friends suggested that studying Greek could harm her chances of finding a husband. She was undeterred.Candidates for admission to the Freshman class are examined in the common English branches; the Grammar of the Latin and Greek Languages; Caesar, two books; Sallust's Catiline; five of Cicero's Select Orations; Virgil's Aeneid, five books; Jones' Latin Prose Composition; Xenophon's Anabasis, three books; Homer's Iliad, three books; Jones' Greek Prose Composition; Olney's School Algebra, or an equivalent; Olney's Plane Geometry; English Analysis; Ancient History; History of the United States; and Alden's Science of Government. Annual Catalogue, 1880-81, p. 49)
This page from the registrar's ledger indicates the courses Terrell took and the high marks she earned. Terrell was always a highly motivated and ambitious student; "Learning my lessons as well as I could was a sort of indoor sport with me" (CWWW 48).
