Women's History Month Spotlight: Calista Jones
Calista Jones taught school beginning in 1841 at the age of 18 until her death in 1900 at the age of 77. Her vision, strength, and perseverance in the areas of public education reform, equal rights for women and patriotism made her a pioneer in the Jamestown area.
Calista Selina Jones was born at Jones’ Landing, in the Town of Ellicott, located in Chautauqua County, New York on May 25, 1823. In her youth, the opportunities for acquiring an education were far less than in the present day, but she eagerly grasped those within her reach. Throughout her childhood, she received most of her education in the private schools of the village. The winter before she began teaching she attended the Westfield Academy in Westfield, New York.
Her ideals were always high. She did not lay aside study when she entered the school room as a teacher. With her small salary she began to purchase books that would enable her to obtain the knowledge she felt the successful teacher must have.
On May 1, 1841, she began teaching in Chautauqua County. In the fall and winter of 1858-59 she taught in the public schools of Utica, New York, but returned home in the spring to care for sick friends. With that exception, her teaching career of nearly 60 years occurred in Jamestown or its vicinity.
Miss Jones was the first woman to receive a dollar a day for school work in Jamestown. In one of the districts of the village, a man failed in his management of the school. The trustees dismissed him and called upon Miss Jones to take his place. She told them she would accept the position on the condition that she would receive the same salary as the man. The horrified board of education initially refused saying that it was not proper to pay a woman as much for the same work as a man. The board was forced to relent and Miss Jones obtained the position on her own terms. This is but one example of her tireless efforts not only to discuss equal rights, but to be actively and personally engaged in the cause.
Some years before the Jamestown Union School was organized, she taught pupils from all over the village. One hundred and seventy names were registered and with only one paid assistant she was greatly taxed both mentally and physically. Her pupils were doing work in all grades from Kindergarten to High School which demonstrated the need for a graded system. Miss Jones’ plan for the establishment of a Union School was bitterly opposed when first presented. When the law authorizing the formation of union free school districts was passed in 1853, Jamestown did nothing. There were six districts in the village. If fifteen signers in each district petitioned the trustees, they would be obliged to call a meeting to discuss the matter of uniting. Miss Jones took it upon herself to circulate petitions from shop to factory to office to get the required number of signatures to insure a meeting, which she, being a woman, could not attend. Many people criticized her for meddling in men’s business, but those whose opinions counted upheld her vision and a union free school district was established.
Miss Jones also took a keen interest in the affairs of the nation and world. She subsequently deposited the first ballot in Jamestown after women had been granted that privilege in New York State. As a teacher during the American Civil War, she was not afraid to instill in the hearts and minds of the young men under her charge their duties of patriotism to their country. It is said that many of the men who went to battle and returned looked back in admiration at the woman who first showed them their duties as men and as citizens of a mighty nation.
In the former Administration Building on Fourth Street, which has recently been renovated and now houses the Technology Academy, hangs a plaque in memory of Miss Jones. It states:
“This tablet is given in memory of a faithful teacher
Calista Selina Jones
1823-1890
who did the first effective work toward the establishment of the Jamestown Union School and who toiled wisely and well for nearly sixty years in the public schools of Chautauqua County.”
Information courtesy of Pam Brown, retired JPS records management coordinator
Note: Information for this biographical sketch was taken from The Paragraph, Vol.1, No. 7 published for Jamestown High School, May, 1891 and Chautauqua County: A History by Helen G. McMahon.