Society for Promoting Female Education in China, India, and the East

The Society for Promoting Female Education in China, India and the East was founded 25 July 1834. It had its origins in an appeal for women missionaries to work amongst Chinese women made by an American missionary, Mr David Abeel, during a visit to England in 1834. Its title was abridged to the Society for Promoting Female Education in the East by 1838 and it is also sometimes referred to as the Female Education Society.

It was established as an interdenominational missionary society and was staffed by women and employed women agents. Its principal object was the establishment and superintendence of schools in China, India and the adjacent countries. It supplied missionaries and school teachers, who were given passage and outfit money but who were expected to be supported locally; they, in turn, trained native women. The Society also gave schools grants of money, supplies of school materials and boxes of work materials for sale.

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