The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) was one of the first establishments to introduce a Western-style educational system to the peoples of the Ottoman Empire. This thesis is an examination of the emergence of interest in foreign missions among American women in particular, and the latter’s contribution to missionary activities. It seeks to determine how and why educational facilities for Armenian females were established and their social and religious impact, largely from the perspective of the missionaries themselves. It looks at how contact with Armenians prompted adjustments in missionary approaches and policies towards educational missions. The notion of educated Christian womanhood entailed the championing of female education and a re-imaging of the role of women as wives and mothers. The promotion of female education facilitated new opportunities for Armenian women via teaching and evangelism. The central argument of this thesis is that American missionary activity significantly contributed to the increased interest in female education among the Armenian communities of the Ottoman Empire in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Künye

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER II

MISSIONS: THE SECOND GREAT AWAKENING

The Formation of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, New Divinity and Disinterested Benevolence

The Formation of the Woman's Board of Missions and the Rise of Educated Christian Womanhood

CHAPTER III

EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS TO ARMENIAN WOMEN AND GIRLS

'The Anglo-Saxons of the East'

Missionaries' Views of Armenian Women

From Humble Beginnings

Overcoming Opposition to Female Education

CHAPTER IV

THE ROLE OF THE PRINTING PRESS

The Revival of Modern Armenian

The Distribution and Diversification of Texts

CHAPTER V

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GIRLS' SCHOOLS AMONG GREGORIAN ARMENIANS

The Impact of Mission School

Missionaries' Response to Armenian Schools

Changes in Popular Attitudes to Female Education

CHAPTER VI THE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS

The Civilizing Impulse

'The Beginnings of a Civilization that has a Christian Aspect'

Prayer Meetings and Mothers' Meetings

Armenian Bible Wome

CHAPTER VII

REINVENTING THE HOMEMAKER

CHAPTER VIII

THE EMERGENCE OF FEMALE ARMENIAN TEACHERS

CHAPTER IX

SHIFTS IN EDUCATIONAL MISSION POLICY AND TOWARDS SELF-SUPPORT

The Secularization of Curricula

The Inclusion of Foreign Languages

Armenian Contributions to Educational Missions

CONCLUSION

APPENDICES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX