Juanita Breckenridge Bates
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Juanita Breckenridge Bates (December 31, 1860 - June 11, 1946) was an American Congregationalist minister, her application being the test case to determine the policy of the denomination. She was the first woman to be awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Oberlin College (1891), and Oberlin was the first school to award this degree.[1] For decades, she was a community organizer in the women's suffrage movement.[2]
Juanita Breckenridge was born in Hopewell, Rivoli Township, Mercer County, Illinois on December 31, 1860.[3][4] She was the daughter of Hugh and Mary (Watson) Breckenridge.[3] Her father was a Methodist minister.[5]
She was educated at Rock Island High School, Wheaton College (B.S.), and Oberlin College Theological Seminary (1891, B.D.). While at Oberlin, she was a member of Ladies' Literary Society.[3]