Cora Agnes Benneson
Personal Information
Born: 1851
Died: 1919
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: White
Education
University of Michigan Bachelor of Arts 1878, Bachelor of Laws 1880, Master of Arts in Jurisprudence & German 1883; Radcliffe College MA 1902
Professional Life
Field of Study: Law; Author
Institution/Corporation: None found
Degrees & Memberships: Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science (1899); College Club; Unity Club; League for Progressive Democracy; Author's League of America; Illinois State Historical Society
Awards & Achievements
Awards: None found
Achievements: wrote papers and delivered talks on constitutional law, education, government, and culture focusing in particular on women's issues; believed women should strive to better humanity through volunteerism, but they should continue to raise children in the home as moral educators; believed reform must come through individual betterment rather than social imposition;
was licensed to practice law in Illinois and Michigan
1883 to 1885 she traveled the world to learn about legal cultures and how they affected women.
was licensed to practice law in Massachusetts in 1894
opened a school for the "Americanization of Foreigners" in 1918
at age 8 was writing and editing a magazine with her sisters and cousin called The Experiment
was proficient in reading Latin at 12
briefly worked as an editor of West Publishing's law reports in 1886
1887 took a history fellowship under then-professor Woodrow Wilson
was a founder of the Unity Clubs of Ann Arbor and Quincy, a member of the College Club, and incorporating counsel for the Woman's Club House Corporation of Boston
died the day before authorization to operate her school for the Americanization of Foreigners arrived
applied to Harvard Law School but was rejected because she was female
her letters, notes & diary entries of her world tour were published in 1890 in The Unitarian magazine as part of a series called "Palestine To-day"
she held nativist beliefs and portrayed foreigners in racist & stereotypical ways
believed women shouldn't marry until they were economically independent
Ralph Waldo Emerson was a frequent visitor in her parents' home when she was growing up & influenced her philosophical studies