An early education: The Mary Baldwin School for Girls

The Mary Baldwin School in Gunsan, circa late 1910s.

By Robert Neff

It is nearly March and that means the start of a new school year in Korea. One of the most famous schools in Korea a century ago was the Mary Baldwin School for Girls in Gunsan.

According to an old year book:

“It is built on a beautiful spot of the Mission compound on the side of a hill overlooking the broad river which flows into the Yellow Sea. The building is of gray brick and stone. Though built in 1912, it is in fine condition and makes a most comfortable home for the school.

“The school compound is surrounded by a stone wall so as to make the grounds more private for the girls. In the yard there is another small tile-roofed Korean building which is used as a dormitory. In the basement of the building are the kitchen and laundry. On the first floor there are four dormitories on one side and the dining-room and two bed-rooms on the other. On the second floor there are five class-rooms and the office.”

The school boasted that many young women were educated in this building and then went out and spread their knowledge in villages throughout Korea. The school played a valuable role in the education of young women during a period when their education was neither desired nor appreciated.