Anne Eugenia Felicia Morgan
Anne Eugenia Felicia Morgan (October 3, 1845 – December 23, 1909) was an American professor, philosopher, writer, and game inventor from the U.S. state of Ohio. Remembered as a philosopher of rare ability, she united a poet's insight with logic, developing a system of thought marked by originality and power. As an instructor, she led students to do their own thinking, aiming rather to teach philosophizing than to impose any dogma of human opinion. Early years and education Anne Eugenia Felicia Morgan was born October 3, 1845, in Oberlin, Ohio. Her father, Rev. John Morgan, D. D., was one of the earliest professors in Oberlin College. Called to the chair of New Testament literature and exegesis upon the opening of the theological seminary, in 1835, he retained his official connection with the college during 45 years, and was always one of the leading spirits in the institution. The mother was of a New Haven family, named Leonard who studied chemistry in Yale College. The Leonard family removed to Oberlin in 1837. The mother studied at Oberlin College, but in her sophomore year she married Prof. John Morgan. Had she completed the academic course, she would have been the first woman in the United States to receive the bachelor's degree. Morgan's three brothers were all musically gifted; all three came to New York City, and all died comparatively young. One of the brothers, William H. Morgan, was principal bass in the Trinity Church choir. John Paul Morgan was an organist and composer. Morgan studied psychological interpretation of literature, music and art. Throughout her collegiate course she was distinguished for brilliant scholarship, notably in the classics. The appointment to write the Greek oration was assigned to her as an honor in her junior year. She declared that the distinction of being the earliest woman to receive that college honor was due to her mother's choice of preferring to be a homemaker since this prepared her for classical scholarship. Inheriting from her father a mind essentially philosophical, she was always in close sympathy with his thinking and, after graduation, pursued theological studies in his classes. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1866 with a B.A. degree. In 1869, she received the degree of M.A. from this same institution. Morgan studied philosophy in Germany (1872–74) and returned to Europe for further studies during the periods of 1886-87 and 1893–94. Career In New York City and Newark, New Jersey, for three years, Morgan conducted classes in philosophy and literature, devoting considerable time to music and the study of harmony with her brother, John Paul, who at that time, was director of music in Trinity Church. In those years there came to her mind many revelations of the philosophy to be discovered through embodiments of human thought and life in literature and music. Her vivid interest in the philosophical aspects of language and art led her to pursue studies in Europe for fifteen months. In 1875, she taught Greek and Latin in Oberlin College. In 1877,