Welthy Honsinger Fisher (September 18, 1879 – December 16, 1980)Our Founder: Welthy Honsinger Fisher
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World Education
an
World Literacy Canada
She was married to Frederick Bohn Fisher, a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, missionary, author, and official in Methodist missionary and men's movements. She was an intellectual, activist, and feminist requested by her friend

Mohandas Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

to begin Literacy House outside of Lucknow, India, at the age of 73.

Birth and family

Welthy Blakesley Honsinger was born in Rome, New York, on September 18, 1879."Welthy Fisher, Missionary and Educator, Dies at 101," New York Times, Dec 17, 1980Swenson, Sally. ''Welthy Honsinger Fisher: Signals of a Century - The Life and Learning of an American Educator, Literacy Pioneer and Independent Reformer in China and India 1879 - 1980''. Ontario, Canada, 1988.

Education and early work

After graduating from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

in 1900,Johnson, Sharon. "Welthy Fisher: Woman With a Mission," ''New York Times'', April 2, 1978 Honsinger became a teacher at Rosebud College, a one-room school in Haverstraw, New York, where she was in charge of 15 students.History of Education: Selected Moments of the 20th Century
/ref> In 1906, Honsinger become the headmistress of the

Baldwin Baldwin is a Germanic name, composed of the elements ''bald'' "bold" and ''win'' "friend". People * Baldwin (name) Places Canada * Baldwin, York Regional Municipality, Ontario * Baldwin, Ontario, in Sudbury District * Baldwin's Mills, Qu ...

Memorial School in Nanchang. While there, she encouraged her girls to develop into new, modern Chinese women, often against the wishes of their traditional parents. She was committed to the idea of women's independence, however, and knew that if she could give them the tools they needed through education, they could change the face of China.

Personal life

In 1924 she married Frederick Bohn Fisher.Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity: Welthy Honsinger Fisher
/ref> The Fishers were well-acquainted with and respected by Gandhi and other prominent leaders of the Indian Independence movement. Following her husband's death in 1938, she wrote her husband's biography and traveled widely, returning to China and then to India.

Literacy work

During the 1940s, Fisher spent "semesters" studying the educational systems of Mexico, Peru,

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, Brazil, India and the Middle East. During this time she studied women and educational systems, and lectured throughout the U.S. on women of the world and Chinese Industrial Cooperatives. In December, 1947, six weeks before his death, Gandhi urged Fisher to return to his country to continue her work in education in India's villages. In 1952, at the age of 73, Fisher returned to India to work with Frank Laubach, the Christian Evangelical missionary and literacy pioneer. Deciding that literacy training linked with agricultural and industrial development was a key strategy to eradicate poverty, Fisher broke with Laubach. In 1953, she founded Literacy House at

Allahabad Allahabad (), officially known as Prayagraj, also known as Ilahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The other five cities were: Agra, Kanpur (Cawnpore), Lucknow, Meerut, and Varanasi (Benares). It is the administrat ...

, a small, non-formal school that combined literacy with vocational training. In 1956, Literacy House moved to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where it became famous for its effectiveness. Realizing the need for literacy programs linked with social and economic development throughout the world, Fisher and her fellow literacy pioneers started two non-profit organizations, World Education (in 1951, which started as World Literacy) and the World Literacy of Canada (in 1955). Fisher was closely involved in both organizations for many years, either as President or an advisor. Throughout her nineties, she traveled throughout the world. Fisher made her final trip to India as a government guest in 1980, shortly before her death at the age of 101 in Southbury, Connecticut. Fisher was honored by the Indian government, which based its village literacy programs on her ideas, and issued a stamp in her likeness.

Awards and honors

Stamp of India - 1980 - Colnect 145661 - Welthy Fisher

* 1964

Ramon Magsaysay Award The Ramon Magsaysay Award (Filipino: ''Gawad Ramon Magsaysay'') is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealis ...

for International Understanding.1964 Ramon Magsaysay Award for International Understanding BIOGRAPHY of Welthy Honsinger Fisher
/ref> * On March 18, 1980, the government of India issued a Welthy Honsinger Fisher commemorative postage stamp. She is the only American to be so honored. *She became the first recipient of the Nehru Literacy Award, India

In the media

Welthy's work in India was highlighted in the 1966 ''Time'' magazine article "Education Abroad: India's Literacy Lady"."Education Abroad: India's Literacy Lady."
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Welthy Honsinger 1879 births 1980 deaths Activists from New York (state) American feminists American women in World War I Ramon Magsaysay Award winners People from Rome, New York Syracuse University alumni