Educator, publisher and writer; Founder of the American public kindergarten

Elizabeth P. Peabody (1804-94) was the daughter of Nathaniel Peabody (1774-1855), who was "an eminent physician in Salem and Boston" and Elizabeth Palmer, who was the "preceptress of Andover Academy, and the first preceptress of any academy ever elected in Massachusetts."
Miss Peabody taught private school in Lancaster; Boston; Hallowell, Maine; Brookline, with her sister Mary. In addition, she became associated with the "Trans-cendental Club," an elite group of American literary figures. This movement, which was based upon the philosophical ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson, along with other 19th century New Englanders, concerned itself with the search of reality through spiritual perception.
According to, The Rev. Henry A. Hazen's History of Billerica:
"In later years, she has often taught classes in history and literature in various schools, but has been especially active in literary labors. She published in 1828, Self Education, a translation from the French of DeGerando. The same year she edited The Casket, which contained a free rendering for children of Fouquet's Undine, and also published a small English Grammar, anonymously, First Steps to History; Key to Hebrew History; Key to Grecian and Roman History; Legend of St. George, and The Record of a School soon followed. Of the last, a revised edition was issued in 1872. She also wrote for the Christian Examiner, Democratic Review, the Dial [Ralph Waldo Emerson's literary journal], and other magazines. From 1840 to 1850, she kept a circulating library on Wets Street, Boston, in connection with a school, for a part of the time, and in 1848, edited Esthetic Papers, writing two articles and one poem for them. In 1851-3, she published Bems' Chronological Charts, and during Kossuth's [Louis Kossuth (1802-94): Hungarian patriot and statesman] visit to the country, she wrote The Crimes of the House of Austria."
"In 1859, she became interested in Froebel's system [Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852): German educational reformer; originated the kindergarten system] of primary education, and in 1860, she undertook in Boston a Kindergarten school. The farther study of this system was the special object of her visit to Europe. On her return in 1869, she published a Kindergarten Guide, revision of a work written in 1861. This was followed by Lectures on the same important subject and a primer of reading and Drawing, called After Kindergarten, What? Which the authoress thinks one of her most important books. And she is publishing in 1880, Kindergarten papers in
Dr. Barnard's Journal of Education. Some years of Miss Peabody's early life were spent in the family of Dr. Channing [William Ellery Channing (1780-1842): American clergyman, author, and philanthropist] and she has published this year, Reminiscences of Dr. Channing, one of the most interesting contributions to the centennial memorial of that great man. The name of this daughter of Billerica is sure of a very honorable place in the educational history of our country."
A few interesting side-notes:
? Her sister, Mary Peabody, married Horace Mann (1796-1859); American educator.
? Another sister, Sophia Peabody, married Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-64); American novelist and writer.
? A niece, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop who was the second daughter of Nathaniel and Sophia (Peabody) Hawthorne, converted to Roman Catholicism in 1891. She became the Founder of a religious order, the Dominican Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, later called the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer, taking the religious name of Mother Alphonsa. Her cause for Canonization for sainthood within the Roman Catholic Church was recently introduced for consideration.
? Elizabeth Palmer Peabody's publishing location, 13 West Street, Boston, is located within the "Boston's Women's Heritage Trail."

She died in Boston (Jamaica Plain), Massachusetts on 1894 3 January.
Extracted via numerous sources, but primarily from: The History of Billerica: 1653-1883 by the Rev. Henry A. Hazen, A.M.