Let's make Katy's story part of the NYC schools' history curriculum!

Catherine “Katy” Ferguson is among the least recognized philanthropists in the history of New York City. While most Americans associate philanthropy with the three ‘boys’--John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and Henry Ford--Ms. Ferguson’s generosity predates their efforts by more than 50 years.
 
Catherine Ferguson was born into slavery in 1779 while her mother was traveling from Virginia to New York. At 16 years of age, a fellow member of her church agreed to lend her $200 (the equivalent of more than $6,000 today) toward the purchase of her freedom. After eleven months of hard work, she was able to raise $100 on her own and another church member loaned her the remaining $100 she needed to be free. To support herself, Ms. Ferguson became a well-known cake baker.
 
Using money she earned through her new vocation, Ms. Ferguson began providing funds for classes to teach children to read. Although she herself could not read, she convinced others who could read to teach these children. These reading workshops took place on Sundays when the children were taught to read the Bible. Ms. Ferguson is credited with possibly starting the first Sunday school in New York City. She primarily served as a foster parent. By the end of life, she had taken care of approximately forty-eight children; twenty of whom were white.
 
Although her story is remarkable, like so many other African American women through history, her legacy is not celebrated nearly enough. In a city lined with named streets and statues, there are no streets named after her, no plaques, and no mention in common New York City history books. In the words of Michael Seltzer, philanthropy expert and Distinguished Lecturer at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, Catherine Ferguson is truly "One of New York City's most unacknowledged philanthropists." 

Help us change that and get Katy the recognition she deserves, as another female pioneer in history, who has been overlooked!