Ellen Rebecca Whitmore (also Goodale; March 2, 1828 – February 23, 1861) was the first principal teacher at the Cherokee Female Seminary in modern-day Oklahoma and later served as a missionary in Hawaii.
[1] Her journey from Massachusetts started on October 5, 1850, and ended on November 13 of the same year when she, along with Sarah Worcester and David Vann, arrived in Park Hill, Oklahoma.
[2] Upon their arrival to the location of the new school, Whitmore wrote in her journal:"The little room where I am writing, and which they call mine, is unfinished,—has neither paint nor plaster,—but it has a nice comfortable bed, a nice rocking chair and a bright blazing fire in the corner, and its occupant is very cheerful and happy.
While at the seminary Whitmore had to deal with a lack of funding, and a dwindling amount of student enrollment.
[3] In June 1852, Ellen Whitmore and Warren Goodale were married at the home of John Ross.