Minnie Vautrin “Goddess of Mercy” at Nanjing

Wilhelmina “Minnie” Vautrin (1886–1941) was born in Secor, Illinois, to French immigrants. Her mother died when Minnie was 6, and she was raised by her father and grandparents. She excelled at school and worked her way through Illinois State Normal University and later, the University of Illinois. In keeping with her Disciples of Christ faith, Minnie was a missionary to China for 28 years, teaching at Ginling College at Nanjing, first as an instructor then later serving as president. When the Japanese army invaded China in 1937, Nanjing became a target and thousands of civilians were displace, tortured, or killed. Women were especially vulnerable. Vautrin opened Ginling’s gates as a refuge to civilian women and girls, saving an estimated 10,000 lives. Written accounts report that she stared down armed Japanese soldiers to protect her charges, for which she is remembered as “The American Goddess of Mercy.”