Ferguson, Abbie Park (1837–1919)

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Ferguson, Abbie Park (1837–1919)

American educator. Born Abbie Park Ferguson, April 4, 1837, in Whately, Massachusetts; died Mar 25, 1919, in Wellington, South Africa; dau. of John and Margaret Snow Eddy Ferguson.

With Anna Bliss, opened Huguenot Seminary for girls in South Africa (1874); became head of higher department at Huguenot (1875); with Bliss, co-founded Women's Missionary Society (later Vrouwen Zending Bond) at Huguenot; toured South Africa for opportunities for mission work (1887); established branch seminaries at Bethlehem in Orange Free State and at Greytown in Natal; established 1st women's college in South Africa, Huguenot College, which, as Huguenot University College, was incorporated by Parliament into University of South Africa (1916); served as its president (1898–1910); helped establish Women's Interdenominational Missionary Committee. Received honorary degree from Mount Holyoke College (1911).