Kraus-Boelté, Maria (1836–1918)
Kraus-Boelté, Maria (1836–1918)
German-American educator. Name variations: Maria Kraus-Boelte; Maria Boelté. Born Maria Boelté on Nov 8, 1836, in Hagenow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany; died Nov 1, 1918, in Atlantic City, NJ; dau. of Johann Ludwig Ernst Boelté and Louise (Ehlers) Boelté; trained with Luise Froebel, widow of Friedrich Froebel; m. John Kraus (German-born educator), 1873 (died 1896).
Studied methods of Friedrich Froebel in Hamburg; taught at Froebel Union training school (Hamburg) and worked in kindergartens in London and Lübeck; came to US on request of Elizabeth Peabody (1872); with husband, opened New York Seminary for Kindergartners (1873), one of the most significant centers for kindergarten work in US; with husband, published The Kindergarten Guide (2 vols, 1877); served as president of Kindergarten Department of National Education Association (1899–1900).