Matilda S. Cooper-Poucher

Background

Matilda S. Cooper-Poucher was born on February 02, 1839 in Blauveltvillc, New York, United States.

Education

Matilda received her education at Hardcastle’s Institute at Nyack, Clinton Liberal Institute, and the Albany State Normal School. She graduated from the latter in 1856.

Career

About 1856 Cooper started to teach in one of the senior schools of Oswego. Shortly she was transferred to work in the primary grades. When the city training school, later to be recognized as the famous Oswego State Normal School, was organized under Dr. Sheldon, Miss Cooper was secured as one of the critic teachers. At a somewhat later date she was made teacher of language and methods. She became active in the National Education Association and her services as an institute lecturer were in demand beyond the borders of the state. She was almost a right hand to Dr. Sheldon while she was in charge of the records of scholarship and attendance and of the teacher placement work. In the latter work she distinguished herself by her uncanny ability to remember details about students past and present. Along with her other duties she undertook those of preceptress of the Normal Boarding Hall, a post most exacting in its demands on tact, sympathy, and judgment.

In this office she came into very close personal contact with many of the students and through it exercised a significant influence over their characters. When the Quarter-Centennial Anniversary of the Oswego Movement was celebrated in 1886 her experience was of great value in furnishing biographical material. On this anniversary she resigned from active work in the school. After the conclusion of the semester of 1886 she returned to her home in Nyack, New York, to comfort and care for her parents in their declining years. When these both died in 1889, she returned to Oswego, as the wife of Dr. Sheldon’s successor, Isaac B. Poucher. They had been co-workers at Oswego for a long time. The same exactness and orderliness which had characterized Miss Cooper’s work as critic, teacher, statistician, and preceptress were now transferred to home making. She now found time to take an active interest in church and social affairs of the town. It was while performing her duty as a director of the Oswego Hospital that death came upon her suddenly after only a few hours of illness.

Achievements

• Matilda S. Cooper-Poucher was recognized as a teacher of unusual ability and made the great contribution toward the success of the Normal School.

Connections

Matilda Cooper married Isaac B. Poucher on February 4, 1890.

Spouse:

Isaac B. Poucher