Educators: Catherine Ferguson

Episode Summary

The podcast episode profiles Katherine Ferguson, an African American woman who lived in 18th century New York City. Katherine was born into slavery around 1774 on a ship traveling from Virginia to New York. Her mother was an enslaved woman owned by a Presbyterian elder named R.B. When Katherine was young, R.B. sold her mother away, separating them forever. This traumatic event inspired Katherine's later advocacy for poor and orphaned children. Though uneducated, Katherine became deeply religious. As a teenager, she was noticed by a philanthropist named Isabella Graham, who bought Katherine's freedom for $200. By age 18, Katherine was a free woman. She married and had two children, but they sadly died in infancy. To support herself, Katherine began a cake business. Seeing the poverty and homelessness of children in New York City after the Revolutionary War, Katherine began teaching Sunday school classes in 1793. She later moved the classes to a local church. Katherine took in a total of 48 orphaned and neglected children over her lifetime, raising some herself and helping place others in better situations. In addition to Sunday school, Katherine held weekly prayer meetings at her home for over 40 years. She was credited with establishing the first Sunday school in New York City and had a profound impact on her neighborhood. Katherine died of cholera in her late 70s, steadfast in her Christian faith to the very end. The podcast episode is part of a series about women who shaped education. It highlights Katherine Ferguson's selfless work to help poor and orphaned children through religious education and personal mentorship.

Episode Show Notes

Catherine Ferguson (1779-1854) was an African-American educator and philanthropist who founded the first Sunday school in New York City. Although illiterate herself, she believed that every child should be educated. For those of you tuning in for the first time, welcome! Here’s the deal: Every weekday, we highlight the stories of iconic women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. We’re talking about women from around the world and throughout history. Each month is themed. This month we’re going back to school, highlighting educators and intellectuals.

Episode Transcript

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At Morgan & Morgan, we've made it really easy. Anything that we need from you, you're able to do from the comfort of your home. You can just dial pound law and you talk to someone like me. SPEAKER_00: If you or any one of your family has been injured, call Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. We've collected over $15 billion for our clients. It's easy. Visit forthepeople.com for an office near you. SPEAKER_04: Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Womanica. Today we're talking about a woman who was something of a patron saint for poor and orphan children. She's often credited with establishing the first Sunday school in New York City. And in her lifetime, she took in nearly 50 children from the streets. Let's meet Katherine Ferguson. Katherine Ferguson was born on a ship. Her mother, an enslaved woman, was on her way from Virginia to New York. It was the 1770s. The United States was brand new and still reeling from the Revolutionary War. Katherine and her mother were enslaved by a family who lived in what's now Lower Manhattan. The husband of that family, R.B., was an elder in a New York City Presbyterian church. When Katherine was still quite young, R.B. sold Katherine's mother. Katherine would later recall, "'I remember that before we were torn asunder, "'she knelt down, laid her hand on my head, "'and gave me to God.'" Katherine never saw her mother again. The pain she felt at losing her mother, at feeling alone in the world, would later drive her to help other poor, orphaned, and neglected children. Christianity became an anchoring force in Katherine, or Katie's, life. Though she was never taught to read or write, she became well-versed in the Bible. As a young teenager, Katie began attending a local Presbyterian church. It was a largely Scottish denomination, and Katie soon made an impression on Isabella Graham. Isabella was a Scottish-born philanthropist and the founder of a school for girls. When Katie was around 16 years old, Isabella Graham bought her freedom for $200. Katie was initially given six years to work off the debt, but Isabella later agreed to 11 months of work for $100. Isabella's son-in-law raised the other half of the money. By the age of 18, Katie was free. She soon married and had two children, but both died in infancy. To support herself, Katie began making cakes, but she soon became increasingly concerned about the children she saw on the street. The devastation from the Revolutionary War, along with the huge influx of immigrants, created dire levels of poverty throughout New York. That was especially true in lower Manhattan, where Katie had spent much of her life. In 1793, Katie began gathering children from the streets on Sundays for religious instruction. They met at her home at 51 Warren Street. The reverend from her church soon heard of her classes. He offered her space in a spare room of his new congregation on Murray Street. That's actually the street I live on now. It's believed that Katie's was the first Sunday school in New York City. Over the course of her life, Katie took in 48 children, some she rescued from the city's poorhouses, others from their families. She would raise them herself or help get them placed in better situations. Katie never had much money herself, having spent it all on her children, but she had an endless supply of prayers and a faith. For more than 40 years, she held a prayer meeting at her house on Fridays in addition to the Sunday school, and by a number of accounts, Katie's neighborhood was notably bettered by her efforts. In her late 70s, Katie became sick with cholera. Knowing the end of her life was near, she said to a friend standing by her bedside, what a good thing it is to have a hope in Jesus. And with that, she said her last words, all is well. All month, we're going back to school, talking about women who shaped the world of education. 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