Caroline Freeman

Caroline Freeman (c.1856–16 August 1914) was the first female graduate of the University of Otago, New Zealand. She was born near Halifax, Yorkshire, England on c.1856. She came to Otago, New Zealand, with her parents William and Lucy Freeman on the Nourmabal in 1858.

The Freemans farmed at Abbotsford, Green Island, Dunedin. Caroline, educated at the small Green Island School, was dux and was a pupil-teacher there for four years. She received the usual allowance of 10 pounds per year and her headmaster and mentor, A. G. Allen, seven pounds 10 shillings. Mr. Allen wrote: 'Caroline Freeman promises to become a very good pupil-teacher'.

Although Caroline had had no formal secondary education, she moved from Green Island School to become infant mistress at a large working class school, Caversham, in Dunedin. With the support of her headmaster, William Milne, she undertook study so that she might matriculate, that is, gain university entrance. She studied while working at Caversham, and at the end of 1877 she left to enrol at Otago University. In 1878, she was the first woman to matriculate at the University of Otago; she passed the first section of her B.A. in 1882; and the second in 1884. As well, she won the Bowen Essay Prize, which was open to all New Zealand undergraduates. Caroline was capped as Otago's first woman graduate on 27 August 1885.

Freeman's studies were always part-time. Early in 1882, she had been appointed first assistant at Otago Girls' High School. The position was re-advertised in December, the board possibly wanting an older, more experienced person in the role. Angry, Caroline resigned from the school staff.

In 1886, in Dunedin, Freeman opened her own school. Girton College - the name was taken from that of an educational facility for women at Cambridge University. She began with four girls in a disused hall but moved to better premises where she had 60 pupils and an associated boarding establishment.

In 1897, Caroline opened a second Girton College in Latimer Square, Christchurch, also with 60 pupils. The schools were popular with parents. They gave moral guidance and were excellent finishing schools. They also prepared some of the pupils for tertiary study, after which they would go on to be secondary school teachers.

At Otago Girls' High School, Caroline had taught Helene Fodor. Later, Helene's mother, Georgina, was one of those who helped finance the establishment of Girton College. At the school, Helene taught French, drawing and painting. On Georgina's death in 1900, Helene inherited the loan. In 1906, Helene married Christchurch wine merchant Charles Cross. The marriage failed and Helene returned to Girton as a teacher and Caroline's companion.

A foundation pupil at Girton College, Frances Ross, returned as first assistant in 1891. In 1991, she bought the Dunedin establishment from Caroline. In 1915, Ross merged the southern Girton with Braemar House and became the first headmistress of the modern Columba College.

In 1911, Caroline and Helene settled at Girton College, Christchurch. In 1912, they put the school in the capable hands of Mabel Brown and left for England in the hope that Caroline might recover her health. They returned with the health issues unresolved.

Caroline Freeman sought to resume control of the Christchurch school and Mabel Brown left, taking a number of the girls with her. On 27 May 1914, Helene obtained a divorce. Helene confirmed that, 'from having seen her die', Caroline had succumbed to a heart attack on or about 16 August 1914.

A former student noted that Caroline Freeman had

... a straight sincere half humorous, half tender glance .... We had not intended to do anything more than ... slip through our lessons with as ... little application as could be practiced without punishment. But ... the look from the keen frank blue eyes of our new mistress ... put us on our mettle .... She made us believe that we wanted to work, that knowledge was the finest power on earth ... that to become well-behaved, cultured, kindly women was our one ambition in life ... She led us to follow her breathlessly through a world of new things .... History was an interesting story; literature ... laughter and tears combined; arithmetic had a reason for its existence; geography was a journey over the delightful parts of the world. As to English, our own language of our forefathers, she spurred our enthusiasm and our loyalty as she proudly pointed out its origin and told us its romantic story ....

On the gravestone, at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Caroline is recalled as 'the beloved teacher and guide of many of New Zealand's girls'.

Caroline's estate was valued at under 1700 pounds. Helene, her trustee and sole beneficiary, later, became Mrs. G. D. Greenwood.