The Empress Frederick and female education in the late nineteenth century: Germany, England and Italy

The long-time Prussian/German Crown Princess Victoria (1840-1901), known after her husband's death as the Empress Frederick, played an important role as patroness of and advocate for many forms of academic and vocational education for girls and women. This article examines her work for various institutions in Berlin as well as her homeland. It also introduces a hitherto ignored link to the philanthropist Julie Schwabe, who brought Victoria into contact with the kindergarten movement, including not only the Pestalozzi-Froebel House in Berlin but also the Istituto Froebeliano in Naples and the Froebel Educational Institution in London.