She had a musical talent from an early age and was a pupil of Johannes Brahms and Hans von Bülow during her stays in Berlin and Hamburg.
Around 1865/66, she met Henriette Breymann, who gave lectures on the experiments and ideas of Friedrich Fröbel.
The school was also located in the palace, which since 1970 has been home to the Gymnasium im Schloss, which has long been open to girls and boys and is attended by around 1500 pupils.
In order to improve scientific education opportunities for women, her efforts led to the establishment of a special training course for female teachers at the Universität Göttingen.
She is considered an important pioneer of the emerging women's movement, which campaigned for a better education for girls.