Brownson, Josephine (1880–1942)

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Brownson, Josephine (1880–1942)

American Catholic religious educator. Born Josephine Van Dyke Brownson, Jan 26, 1880, in Detroit, Michigan; died Nov 10, 1942, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan; dau. of Henry Francis Brownson and Josephine (Van Dyke) Brownson; paternal granddau. of Orestes Brownson; maternal granddau. of James A. Van Dyke (mayor of Detroit); attended Detroit Normal Training School; University of Michigan, AB, 1913; never married; no children.

Began catechetical class and social center in basement of a parochial school (c. 1896); with group of women, founded Weinman Settlement (1904), from which League of Catholic Women developed under her sponsorship (1916); began teaching industrial mathematics at Cass Technical High School (1914) and became 2nd assistant to principal at Cass (1919); organized Catholic Instruction League (1916); wrote syllabus for teachers urging new approach to catechism (Stopping the Leak, 1925); wrote widely used elementary-school textbook, Learn of Me series, to provide essentials of religious instruction and prepare students for 1st Holy Communion.

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