The Bethmann family immigrated to the United States from Germany, where the kindergarten movement was born.
Emilie served as the principal of the Julia Ward Howe Kindergarten School, while her daughter Frieda, who had acted as her assistant, was appointed principal of the Thomas N. Hart Kindergarten School, both in Boston. Freida was asked by President Grover Cleveland and his wife Frances to come to the White House during his second term to serve as the kindergarten teacher for their two daughters. Freida was granted a leave of absence by the Boston School Committee in order to accept the offer. The Bethmanns are credited with expanding the development of the kindergartens in the Boston Public School system.
