Emma Jacobina Christiana Marwedel

Emma Jacobina Christiana Marwedel, also known as Emma Marwedel (February 27, 1818 – November 17, 1893), was a German-American educator, known for her establishment of schools based upon Friedrich Fröbel's ideas.[1]

Emma Jacobina Christiana Marwedel
Born(1818-02-27)February 27, 1818
Hann. Münden, Germany
DiedNovember 17, 1893(1893-11-17) (aged 75)

Early life

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Marwedel was born on February 27, 1818, in Hann. Münden.[1]

Educator

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Marwedel was a teacher in Germany. In 1867, she became the first director of the Girls' Industrial School in Hamburg. Leveraging Friedrich Fröbel's ideas, she also operated a kindergarten.[1]

Elizabeth Peabody visited Marwedel in Germany and was impressed by her. After being invited by Peabody and Caroline Severance to come to the United States,[1] Marwedel founded the first private kindergarten in Washington, D.C. by 1872.[2] She developed a kindergarten teacher-training program[2] and established additional schools near Long Island, Los Angeles, and Brentwood.[1]

 
Round House for the Pacific Kindergarten Normal School, circa 1880-1885

In 1880, she opened her model kindergarten, Pacific Kindergarten Normal School, which she operated for six years. She retired in 1886.[1]

Later years and death

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Marwedel died on November 17, 1893, in San Francisco in a German hospital.[2]

Publications

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  • Conscious Motherhood: or the Earliest Unfolding of the Child in the Cradle, Nursery and Kindergarten (1887)[1]
  • The Connecting Link, to Continue the Three-Fold Development of the Child from the Cradle to the Manual-Labor School (1891)[1]
  • Undated pamphlets such as An Appeal for Justice to Childhood, Games and Studies in Live Forms and Colors of Nature for Home and School.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Notable Women M - Emma Jacobina Christiana Marwedel". Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  2. ^ a b c "Death of Miss Emma Marwedel - Her Educational Work". The Los Angeles Times. 1893-11-21. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-05-29.