Woman of the Century/Anne Eugenia Felicia Morgan

MORGAN, Miss Anne Eugenia Felicia, professor of philosophy, born in Oberlin, Ohio, 3rd October, 1845. Her father. Rev. John Morgan, D. D., was one of the earliest professors in Oberlin College. Called to the chair of New Testament literature and exegesis upon the opening of the theological seminary, in 1835, he retained his official Connection with the college during forty-five years, and was always one of the leading spirits in the institution. Miss Morgan's mother was of a New Haven family, named Leonard. The daughter treasures a ticket admitting Miss Elizabeth Mary Leonard to Prof. Silliman's lectures in chemistry in Yale College. The Leonard family removed to Oberlin in 1837. There Miss Leonard entered u|>on the college course, but in her sophomore year she became the wife of Prof. John Morgan. Had she completed the academic course, she would have been the first woman in this country to receive the bachelor's degree Miss Anne Eugenia Morgan was graduated from Oberlin in 1866. Throughout her collegiate course she was distinguished for brilliant scholarship, notably in the classics. The appointment to write the Greek oration was assigned to her as an honor in her junior year. Her humorous imagination declared that distinction of being the earliest woman to receive that college honor to be chiefly due to her mother, since her mother's wisdom in preferring the highest home achievements before the distinction of being the first woman in the bachelor's degree had prepared her daughter in time to strive for classical scholarship in that historic epoch. Inheriting from her father a mind essentially philosophical, she was always in close sympathy with his thinking and, after graduation, pursued theological studies in his classes. She received the degree of M. A. from Oberlin in 1869. Later on she was for three years in New York and Newark, N. J., conducting classes in philosophy and literature and devoting considerable attention to music, studying harmony with her brother, the distinguished musician, John Paul Morgan, at that time director of the music in Trinity Church, N. Y. In those years there came to her mind many revelations of the philosophy to be discovered through embodiments of human thought and life in literature and music. Her vivid interest in the philosophical aspects of language and art led her to pursue studies in Europe for fifteen months before she returned, in 1875, to teach Greek and Latin in Oberlin. In 1877 she accepted an appointment to teach in the classical department in Vassar College. That work was undertaken in her characteristically philosophical way. always seeking explanations beyond the forms of language in the laws of the mind-effort that formed them. In 1878 she was appointed to the professorship of philosophy in Wellesley College, and that appointment she retains at the present time. A philosopher of rare ability, uniting a poet's insight with keen logic, ANNE EUGENIA FELICIA MORGAN. Prof. Morgan is developing a system of thought of marked originality and power. As an instructor, she leads students to do their own thinking, aiming rather to teach philosophizing than to impose upon her classes any dogma of human opinion. The influence of her personality is an inestimable power for good. Herself a splendid example of symmetrical christian character, she offers to all who come in contact with her a strong fellowship towards high ideals and earnestness of life. She possesses charming social qualities, drawing about her a large circle of listeners to conversations which are full of thought and sympathy, and in occasional public addresses manifesting her vivid interest in the great social movements. In 1887 Prof. Morgan published a small volume entitled "Scripture Studies in the Origin and Destiny of Man," consisting of scripture selections systematically presented in the lines of interpretation in which she has conducted successive Bible classes. Her little book entitled "The White Lady " is a study of the ideal conception of human conduct in great records of thought. The book is a presentation of lecture outlines and of notes on the philosophical interpretation of literature.