EMILIE RICHTER

MISS EMILIE RICHTER DIES AT AGE OF 90
Was Teacher of State's First Public Kindergarten Here, Established In 1873
Miss Emilie Richter, teacher of the state's first public kindergarten,
established in Manitowoc in 1873, and a lifelong resident of Manitowoc, died
early today at the home, 1235 South Eighth street. She was 90 years of age.
Miss Richter, who lived a retired life since leaving the teaching profession,
had been in failing health the past two months.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. from the Richter home in charge
of the Rev. C. H. Phipps on the First Presbyterian church. Interment will be in
Evergreen cemetery.
Miss Richter, daughter of a pioneer Manitowoc manufacturer, was active in school,
church, and literary circles of Manitowoc for more than three score years. She
was only 17 years of age when she taught her first school.
She was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Richter. Her parents came to
this country from Germany, settling first in Sheboygan county, then moving to
Newton and finally to Manitowoc. She was born in 1851. Her father later came to
this city, where he became city clerk and established the A.M. Richter & Sons,
vinegar manufacturers.
Miss Richter had hardly completed her schooling before she decided on a teaching
career. She taught rural schools in the county near Silver Lake and at Osman.
In 1872 C. F. Viebahn, a young teacher filled with ideas of "new methods" and
deeply interested in possibilities of his profession came to Manitowoc and assumed
charge of the first ward school. From the first he planned a kindergarten. At an
Osman school meeting he met Miss Richter and recognized she had the ability to
carry out the program he desired.
Mr. Viebahn engaged her and the kindergarten was opened here in the fall of 187__.
Previously Mrs. Carl Schurz had opened a private kindergarten in Watertown, Wis.,
and the German-English Academy in Milwaukee where Miss Richter visited to learn
kindergarten methods, also operated a private kindergarten. The one in Manitowoc,
however, was the first in the state to be operated by a public school.
Now a Model System
From that beginning Manitowoc's kindergarten system advanced until today it is
recognized throughout the country and its program is copied by many other school
systems. The system here is considered a model.
Miss Richter, after giving up kindergarten teaching enrolled in the Oshkosh Normal
school from which she was graduated. She returned here to teach in the first ward
high school for a number of years. She retired from teaching to devote her activities
to club, literary and social work.
She was named to a place on the Library Board, serving several years. Miss Richter
was a charter member of the Clio club, the first woman's organization in Wisconsin.
She was also a member and active worker, until recent years, in the First Presbyterian
church.
Survivors are a sister, Mrs. Clara Gehm of Chicago, and several nieces and nephews.
The body may be viewed at the Richter homestead on South Eighth street from Wednesday
at 2 p.m. until the hour of services, Thursday.
Manitowoc Herald Times, October 14, 1941 P. 2
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[Emilie/Miss/d. 10-14-1941/age 90 yrs./cause: coronary sclerosis/
bur. on A.M. Richter lot]