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With the first text published in 1849 and the last in 1911, Clarisse Coignet’s work is characterized by its remarkable longevity and eclecticism. She wrote texts with a philosophical dimension, particularly when she was involved in the networks of La morale indépendante under the Second Empire, and textbooks for the moral instruction of pupils, when the Third Republic was laying the foundations of its educational project. She also wrote works of history and essays on topics of social interest. The aim here is to analyze how this woman, who had no university degree or training, made her way in the humanities and social sciences, and in particular in philosophy, with a strong propensity for what began to be known at the end of the nineteenth century as the “science of education.” How did Clarisse Coignet train in the humanities? What networks did she rely on to gain recognition in the intellectual milieu? By what roundabout means did she succeed in building a career in philosophy, or, more precisely, “on the fringe” of philosophy, before becoming a leading figure in the emerging science of education?