Origins & Early Life

Helen Kim (also Kim Hwal-lan; Korean: 김활란; 1899–1970) was a South Korean politician, educator, social activist, and feminist. Her art name was Wuwol (우월). Kim was the founder of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women (WFMUCW), and the daily Korean newspaper, The Korea Times. Kim was born in Incheon to a large, modern family.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She attended Christian schools as a girl. She attended Ewha Girls School. Between graduating from Ewha, she "established the national YWCA Korea" in 1922. Then she went to Wesleyan College where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1924. Kim went to Boston University for a master's in philosophy (1931) and then received her PhD in education from Columbia University in 1931.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Kim later became dean of a girls' college (Ewha College) in 1931. At the time of her death, it was the largest women's university in the world. Kim was involved with Kŭnwuhwoe, which was a national women's organization that was dedicated to ending the "remaining Korean feudal practices and beliefs as well as colonial constraints." However, she didn't stay involved for long because she was "unwilling to work with women who were Marxists and socialists." On 26...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Al Capone — Contemporary (Born in 1899) (1899): Notorious American gangster and businessman during the Prohibition era.
• Aldo Nadi — Contemporary (Born in 1899) (1899): Italian fencing champion known for his Olympic success and teaching in the US.
• Alfred Hitchcock — Contemporary (Born in 1899) (1899): Master of Suspense, influential English filmmaker known for psychological thrillers.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Allen Lane — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing literature to the masses.
• Abdul Hamid II — Shared historical date (02-10 · Died) (1918): Last effective Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, navigating decline and constitutional upheaval.
• Alex Haley — Shared historical date (02-10 · Died) (1992): Pioneering author of 'Roots,' who brought Black American genealogy to global prominence.
• Antonio Luna — Historical peer (Died in 1899) (1899): Fierce Filipino general, strategist, and pharmacist who fought in the Philippine-American War.
• Béla Guttmann — Historical peer (Born in 1899) (1899): Iconic Hungarian footballer and coach, renowned for his success with S.L. Benfica.
• 1899 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1899
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• February 10 (02-10) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 10