Oberlin, Johann Friedrich, 1740-1826

John Frederick Oberlin was born in the French city of Strasbourg in 1740. He entered the University of Strasbourg at age 15 and took the Ph. D. at age 23. He then engaged himself as tutor in the home of a local physician, where he increased his understanding of medicine and the education of children. After two years, he rematriculated, this time in theology. He was ordained in 1767. In the tradition of German Lutheran Pietism, he dedicated himself to a life of renunciation in the service of God. He settled in the Vosges mountains in a small, desolate, and impoverished community called Ban de la Roche. There, he brought about dramatic improvements in the life of the people, establishing the world's first infant schools, or kindergartens. He also introduced advances in road construction, agriculture, health and hygiene, landscape architecture, and plant ecology. In 1804, the French government made Oberlin a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He died in 1826.

From the description of Papers, 1766-1955. (Oberlin College Library). WorldCat record id: 27766039