Who was Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham?

Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham (1815–1864) was an American reformer and writer who advocated for rehabilitation in prisons. At age 15, she lived with her uncle and briefly attended Albany Female Academy. In 1836, she married Thomas Jefferson Farnham, a lawyer and explorer. Eliza's interest in reform movements grew as her husband worked on Travels in the Great Western Prairies (1841). In 1844, Farnham became matron of Sing Sing State Prison's women's division, implementing progressive methods like allowing inmates to speak and providing useful training. However, her approach faced opposition, leading to her resignation in 1848. She later worked with Laura Bridgman and then moved to San Francisco, where she recruited women to bring refinement to the city. Farnham remarried in 1852 but divorced in 1856. She continued to write and advocate for women, publishing Woman and Her Era , where she argued for women's natural superiority.

What kinds of writing did Eliza Farnham do?

Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham was an American reformer and writer who wrote on a variety of topics, including reform movements, her experiences, and the role of women in society. Farnham's writings include: * Essays, such as one in Brother Jonathan magazine in 1843, where she opposed political rights for women * Life in Prairie Land (1846), which was her first book * California, In-doors and Out (1856) * My Early Days (1859), a fictionalized memoir, later reissued as Eliza Woodson; or, The Early Days of One of the World’s Workers (1864) * Woman and Her Era (1864), where she argued for the natural superiority of women * The Ideal Attained , which was published after her death in 1865

What reforms did Eliza Farnham work for?

Eliza Farnham was an American reformer and writer who notably advocated for rehabilitation in prisons. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive changes such as allowing inmates to speak with each other, establishing discussion groups, and providing useful training. Although her approach was considered liberal, she faced opposition and was compelled to resign in 1848. Later, Farnham organized groups of women to settle in the West. She volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War and argued for female superiority in her 1864 book, Woman and Her Era .

How did Eliza Farnham try to improve prison conditions?

Eliza Farnham aimed to improve prison conditions, emphasizing rehabilitation at Sing Sing State Prison. As matron of the women’s division beginning in 1844, she implemented progressive reforms such as allowing inmates to converse, a practice previously forbidden. She also established discussion groups, offered privileges, and provided useful training. However, her liberal approach faced opposition, leading to her forced resignation in 1848.

What did Eliza Farnham believe about education and rehabilitation?

Eliza Farnham was an American reformer and writer who believed in the importance of rehabilitation within the prison system. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive methods such as allowing inmates to speak with each other, establishing discussion groups, and providing useful training. These reforms aimed to offer privileges and promote rehabilitation. However, her approach faced opposition, leading to her forced resignation in 1848. Farnham's advocacy for rehabilitation marked her as an early champion of humane and reform-oriented prison practices.

How did Eliza Farnham’s work influence reforms for women and prisoners in America?

Eliza Farnham, an American reformer and writer, significantly influenced reforms for women and prisoners in America. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive methods such as allowing inmates to speak and establishing discussions and training programs. Although her liberal approach was met with resistance and led to her resignation in 1848, Farnham remained dedicated to reform. She recruited women to bring refinement to the West and lectured publicly. In her 1864 work, Woman and Her Era , she argued for women's moral superiority, advocating for their elevated influence in shaping society.

Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham

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Quick Facts

Née:: Eliza Wood Burhans

Born:: Nov. 17, 1815, Rensselaerville, N.Y., U.S.

Died:: Dec. 15, 1864, New York, N.Y. (aged 49)

Notable Works:: “Woman and Her Era”

Subjects Of Study:: role

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Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham

American reformer and writer

Also known as: Eliza Wood Burhans

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Top Questions

Who was Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham?
Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham (1815–1864) was an American reformer and writer who advocated for rehabilitation in prisons. At age 15, she lived with her uncle and briefly attended Albany Female Academy. In 1836, she married Thomas Jefferson Farnham, a lawyer and explorer. Eliza's interest in reform movements grew as her husband worked on Travels in the Great Western Prairies (1841).

In 1844, Farnham became matron of Sing Sing State Prison's women's division, implementing progressive methods like allowing inmates to speak and providing useful training. However, her approach faced opposition, leading to her resignation in 1848. She later worked with Laura Bridgman and then moved to San Francisco, where she recruited women to bring refinement to the city. Farnham remarried in 1852 but divorced in 1856. She continued to write and advocate for women, publishing Woman and Her Era, where she argued for women's natural superiority.
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What kinds of writing did Eliza Farnham do?
Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham was an American reformer and writer who wrote on a variety of topics, including reform movements, her experiences, and the role of women in society.

Farnham's writings include:
* Essays, such as one in Brother Jonathan magazine in 1843, where she opposed political rights for women
* Life in Prairie Land (1846), which was her first book
* California, In-doors and Out (1856)
* My Early Days (1859), a fictionalized memoir, later reissued as Eliza Woodson; or, The Early Days of One of the World’s Workers (1864)
* Woman and Her Era (1864), where she argued for the natural superiority of women
* The Ideal Attained, which was published after her death in 1865
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What reforms did Eliza Farnham work for?
Eliza Farnham was an American reformer and writer who notably advocated for rehabilitation in prisons. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive changes such as allowing inmates to speak with each other, establishing discussion groups, and providing useful training. Although her approach was considered liberal, she faced opposition and was compelled to resign in 1848. Later, Farnham organized groups of women to settle in the West. She volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War and argued for female superiority in her 1864 book, Woman and Her Era.
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Eliza Farnham try to improve prison conditions?
Eliza Farnham aimed to improve prison conditions, emphasizing rehabilitation at Sing Sing State Prison. As matron of the women’s division beginning in 1844, she implemented progressive reforms such as allowing inmates to converse, a practice previously forbidden. She also established discussion groups, offered privileges, and provided useful training. However, her liberal approach faced opposition, leading to her forced resignation in 1848.
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What did Eliza Farnham believe about education and rehabilitation?
Eliza Farnham was an American reformer and writer who believed in the importance of rehabilitation within the prison system. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive methods such as allowing inmates to speak with each other, establishing discussion groups, and providing useful training. These reforms aimed to offer privileges and promote rehabilitation. However, her approach faced opposition, leading to her forced resignation in 1848. Farnham's advocacy for rehabilitation marked her as an early champion of humane and reform-oriented prison practices.
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Eliza Farnham’s work influence reforms for women and prisoners in America?
Eliza Farnham, an American reformer and writer, significantly influenced reforms for women and prisoners in America. As matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in 1844, she implemented progressive methods such as allowing inmates to speak and establishing discussions and training programs. Although her liberal approach was met with resistance and led to her resignation in 1848, Farnham remained dedicated to reform. She recruited women to bring refinement to the West and lectured publicly. In her 1864 work, Woman and Her Era, she argued for women's moral superiority, advocating for their elevated influence in shaping society.
1 Britannica Source
1. Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham (born Nov. 17, 1815, Rensselaerville, N.Y., U.S.—died Dec. 15, 1864, New York, N.Y.) was an American reformer and writer, an early advocate of the importance of rehabilitation as a focus of prison internment.

Eliza Burhans grew up from age four in the unhappy home of foster parents. At age 15 she came into the care of an uncle, and she briefly attended the Albany Female Academy. In 1835 she went to live with a married sister in Tazewell county, Illinois, where in 1836 she married Thomas Jefferson Farnham, a lawyer who soon won fame as a Western explorer. In 1840 they settled in Washington Hollow, near Poughkeepsie, New York. While her husband was working on his widely read Travels in the Great Western Prairies (1841), Farnham began to take an interest in reform movements. One of her earliest published essays, in Brother Jonathan magazine in 1843, was in opposition to political rights for women, a step she feared would actually reduce the influence of women.

In 1844 Farnham won appointment as matron of the women’s division of Sing Sing State Prison in Ossining, New York. She instituted a highly advanced regime, allowing inmates to speak to one another, which had previously been banned, and setting up a system of discussions, privileges, and useful training. Her liberal approach to penology won her numerous enemies, however, and in 1848 she was forced to resign. During that period she had published her first book, Life in Prairie Land (1846). She then worked briefly with Laura Bridgman, who was deaf, at Boston’s Perkins Institute, until she heard of the death of her husband in September 1848 in San Francisco. The following spring, after a period of ill health, she set out for San Francisco accompanied by a small number of unmarried women she had recruited to bring refinement to the disorderly city. She bought a farm in Santa Cruz (California) county in 1849 and in 1852 married again, but she was divorced in 1856. In that year she returned to New York City and published California, In-doors and Out. Over the next several years she organized numerous parties of destitute women seeking homes in the West.

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In 1859 Farnham published My Early Days, a fictionalized memoir reissued in expanded form in 1864 as Eliza Woodson; or, The Early Days of One of the World’s Workers. Also in 1859 she returned to California, where she delivered a number of public lectures and in 1861 became matron of the female department of the Stockton Insane Asylum. She returned to New York City in 1862. She joined the Women’s National Loyal League in 1863 and in July of that year volunteered for service as a nurse in the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg. In 1864 her magnum opus, several years in the preparation, was published as Woman and Her Era. In this work she expounded the natural superiority of women over men and attributed the disabilities laid on women in the practical spheres to the unconscious recognition by men that women were not meant to labour or serve on an equal footing but were rather to occupy a higher station from which their moral influence would shape the course of events. Her fictional The Ideal Attained appeared posthumously in 1865.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Eliza Wood Burhans Farnham

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