Lida Brown McMurry

[2] McMurry authored several books for instructors on how to incorporate aspects of German Herbartianism into early childhood education.

[3] In addition, her journal submission, "Plan of Concentration for the First Two School Years"[7] in the First Yearbook of the National Herbart Society,[8] is revered as one of the greatest contributions to the American Herbartian movement, as it earned her national notoriety and gave definitive goals for educators to aim for.

"[2][9] In 1900, McMurry left Illinois State Normal University to join Charles A. McMurry and John W. Cook at Northern Illinois State Normal at Dekalb, where she would continue educating throughout the early twentieth century.

[10] In 1872, while enrolled at Illinois State Normal University, McMurry invited several classmates to her room to participate in a prayer meeting, though only six had attended.

Today, the YWCA focuses on serving women and children through a variety of wellness programs that aid the victims of sexual assault, trafficking, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health struggles.