Marie Christine Kohler

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Marie Christine Kohler (also Marie C. Kohler ; born July 18, 1876 in Sheboygan , Wisconsin ; † October 11, 1943 ibid) from the Kohler family was an American philanthropist. She worked in the social life of Sheboygan and in the social field and in particular in projects to improve living conditions and was known for her philanthropic activities.

Life

Marie C. Kohler was the fourth child of John Michael Kohler II and Elizabeth Lillie Vollrath. She attended schools in her hometown and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor's degree in English in 1901 . For a number of years she taught English literature at Sheboygan High School and worked as a secretary for the Kohler Company from 1905 to 1909 . Marie Kohler played a key role in the construction of the forest house in Kohler Village . The planning and realization of the building was the responsibility of the Austrian architect Kaspar Albrecht , the concept kept the tradition of the Bregenzerwald ( Vorarlberg , Austria ) alive. After its completion in 1931, the house was made available to the Girls Scouts for use.

The forest house in Kohler Village

Social and philanthropic benefits

Soon after her work in the school service, Marie C. Kohler turned to social issues, which, as a daughter from a wealthy family, she was able to support financially (donations, scholarships). In 1916 she set up the American Red Cross County Organization for Sheboygan and helped organize the Red Cross and Youth Red Cross branches in schools. In 1919 she initiated the Girl Scouts of the USA movement at Kohler. She was one of the organizers of the American Association of University Women in 1924 and chaired the first meeting. She was President of the Wisconsin Conference of Social Work at the time the Legislature was discussing the Children's Code and was heavily involved in the legislative text.

Marie C. Kohler was a member of the then Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover Committee on Home Construction and Ownership. In this context, she was also the country chairman of the Better Homes organization in America . She chaired the Sheboygan Better Cities competition for urban improvement sponsored by the Wisconsin Conference of Social Work in 1924 and 1925. 1921 and 1926 was active for the Sheboygan City Council in the Department of Leisure and Recreation. She also served for many years in the General Federation of Women's Clubs and served as the Wisconsin representative at the National Convention in New York City in 1916.

Marie C. Kohler was a lifelong member of the Wisconsin Archaeological Society and served on the State Advisory Council between 1929 and 1936, which looked after archaeological sites and museum collections.

She served as the state chairman of the Wisconsin Municipal Services Committee in the General Federation of Women's Clubs . In 1930 she raised the Sheboygan County Children's board to the status of a public (state) institution. Under their influence, Sheboygan County was the first in the state to employ a full-time employee in this area.

In the late 1930s, Marie C. Kohler served as chairman of the board of the American Cancer Society ( Woman's Field Army ) in its battle against cancer, and under her leadership, Sheboygan County achieved excellent results within the state of Wisconsin.

Later years

In 1940 she founded the Kohler Foundation ( Kohler Foundation ) together with her sisters, Evangeline Kohler and Lillie B. Kohler, her half-brother Herbert V. Kohler, Sr. and above Kroos .

Marie was chairman of the Scouting Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA and oversaw the conversion of the forest house for their headquarters in 1941. The building was also dedicated as a memorial to her father, John Micheal Kohler.

She died in October 1943 in St. Nicholas Hospital after illness. She was never married and had no heirs. Your will certain specific estates so u. a. $ 5,000 to the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation , $ 10,000 to the University of Wisconsin Regents Student Loan Fund . The majority of the estate went to the Kohler Foundation .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Miss Marie C. Kohler, Well Known Sheboygan Resident, Passes Away This Morning , Newspaper Article in The Sheboygan Press October 11, 1943, p. 10.
  2. ^ A b c David L. Browman: Cultural Negotiations
  3. ↑ Beautiful Waelderhaus At Kohler Village Dedicated , newspaper article in The Sheboygan Press on July 27, 1931, p. 8
  4. ^ American Red Cross Society , Newspaper Article in The Sheboygan Press , Nov. 16, 1916, p. 1
  5. ↑ Interesting Local Eventy , newspaper article in The Sheboygan Press, March 31, 1916, p. 5
  6. ↑ Waelderhaus In: Wisconsin Historical Society (accessed on 27 May 2014)
  7. ↑ Waelderhaus Is Girl Scout Headquarters , newspaper articles in The Sheboygan Press on July 31, 1942 p 14
  8. ^ Estates Made In Will by Miss Marie C. Kohler , newspaper article in The Sheboygan Press, December 9, 1943, p. 1
personal data
SURNAME Kohler, Marie Christine
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kohler, Marie C.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American social activist and benefactor
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1876
PLACE OF BIRTH Sheboygan
DATE OF DEATH October 11, 1943
Place of death Sheboygan