Elisabeth Irwin

Elisabeth Antoinette Irwin (29 August 1880 –16 October 1942) was the founder of the Little Red School House.

She was an educator, psychologist, reformer, and declared lesbian,[1] living with her life partner Katharine Anthony and the two children they adopted.

"[2] Faced with funding cuts, it appeared that the experiment would end, but a group of parents came together in an ice-cream parlor, urging her to start her own school and promising financial support.

In September 1932, the "Little Red School House" got its own building at Bleecker Street.

[3] She was survived by her partner, Katharine Anthony,[4] and their two adopted daughters, Mrs. Howard Gresens of Plandome, New York and Mrs. R.O.