Adolphine Bianka Wilhelmine Ernst was born 17 October 1872 in Watertown, Wisconsin.
She was the daughter of Reverend August Frederic Ernst, a prominent professor and
later President at Northwestern University at Watertown.
Ernst received her college degree in 1901 from University of Wisconsin-Madison and
was elected Phi Beta Kappa. She then began teaching at Milwaukee-Downer College and
later at the University of Kansas. In 1905, she obtained her Master of Arts degree
from University of Wisconsin-Madison. While pursuing her Ph. D. at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1909, she was awarded a European fellowship from American
Association of University Women. In 1912 she received her doctoral degree.
In 1914, Miss Ernst joined the faculty of the University Extension division and from
1923-1928 she was also the director of the German House on Madison’s campus. In
1927, she became an associate professor of German and remained in that position
until her retirement in 1943. She passed away 5 June 1944 in Milwaukee.
The radio addresses were presented on WHA radio, AM 970, currently known as Wisconsin
Public Radio. Ernst’s broadcasts were part of regularly scheduled programming
presented by WHA.
