Born: 1837, Bulgaria
Died: 1915
Country most active: Bulgaria
Also known as: Анастасия Михова Тошева, Anastasia Tocheva
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
She was born in Stara Zagova and her first studies were under the old master, Mr. Anastassoff, in a private school. In 1848 she entered the school of the nun, Anna Michalakeva. In 1850 she left Bulgaria for Odessa, Russia, to continue her studies, being one of the first Bulgarian women to study in Russia. After seven years in Odessa she returned to Stara Zagova, where she was joyously received by the whole population, some of the notable citizens of the city included.
She founded a school close by the church of the Blessed Virgin. The school however, was short-lived, as, due to an epidemic of grippe among the children, the school was closed. In 1858 she was married. In spite of the prejudice of her time, her husband supported her desire to return to her old profession and on April 24, 1863, under the patronage of the municipality, she founded a school for young ladies. To better prepare her teachers and enlarge the scope of her instruction, Mme. Tocheva in 1865 sent three of her students to Belgrade. After an absence of four years, the new professors returned to Stara Zagova from Belgrade and were assigned to the departments of physics, ethics and pedagogy. In 1880 Mme. Tocheva visited Gabrova, where she assumed direction of a school for young ladies. While in this city, aside from her professional duties, she founded an association among the women called ‘‘Mother Love” and endowed a pension for the students of the college. Ill health forced her to retire, but after the liberation of the fatherland, she was moved to return to her work.
Having achieved renown as an excellent professor and director of public instruction of Roumelie Orientale, she accepted as guest, the post of Directress of a college for young ladies at Plovdiv.
After the union of the Roumelie Orientale and Bulgaria, Mme. Tocheva returned to her original position as Directress at Stara Zagova, however, she was forced shortly after to resign, her health and age demanding a life of more tranquility.