A D E G H J K L M P R S Z

Alexandra Issa-el-Khoury

Mrs. Alexandra Issa-el-Khoury served as the Vice-Chairwoman of the Standing Commission from November 1973 until October 1977. Previously, she had been a Member of the Central Committee of the Lebanese Red Cross since 1951 until she succeeded her mother as President of her National Society. During her tenure as President, her National Society was able to regain and maintain a truly unique position of impartiality and humanitarian spirit, which was respected by all parties to the tragic conflict in Lebanon. Mrs. Issa-el-Khoury has been an active member of the Movement on an international level too, having attended many international conferences and meetings. She received the Henry Dunant medal in 1981 and a road in Beirut, Lebanon has been named after her. She had a degree in Philosophy and was born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1926 where she died in 1997.[1][2]

[1] Standing Commission

[2] http://www.rdl.com.lb/1997/1926/khoury.htm

Alice Favre

1851-1929, Présidente de la Croix-Rouge genevoise

[The following is taken from “100 Elles” a website dedicated to remembering a number of important women. After that text, other material is appended, before the sources etc. given by 100 Elles are placed at the very end of the entry]

Alice Favre

“Née le 3 mars 1851 à Genève et décédée le 2 février 1929 au même endroit, Alice Favre est la fille d’Edmond Favre, colonel et écrivain militaire, et d’Henriette Sarasin, de profession inconnue. Alice Favre est une philanthrope impliquée dans la Croix-Rouge genevoise à la fin du 19ème siècle et jusqu’à l’entre-deux-guerres. Elle en est la présidente de 1914 à 1919.

Malgré les origines d’Alice Favre, qui grandit dans la haute bourgeoisie genevoise, très peu d’informations sont disponibles sur sa vie et les historiens et historiennes ne se sont encore que peu intéressés à son parcours.

Elle aurait passé ses jeunes années dans la villa La Grange, la maison familiale qui se trouve encore aujourd’hui au milieu du parc de la Grange. C’est dans cette maison qu’en 1864 un gala est organisé en l’honneur des diplomates chargés de la signature de la convention de Genève qui inaugure les bases du droit humanitaire en temps de guerre.

À cette époque, Alice Favre a 13 ans, et cet évènement fut peut-être sa première expérience avec l’organisation qui allait devenir sa vocation.

Dès 1889, Alice Favre s’investit au sein de la Société des dames de la Croix-Rouge genevoise et, en 1899, elle en devient la présidente. Grâce à son engagement humanitaire, elle voyage beaucoup, Saint-Pétersbourg en 1904 ou Washington en 1912, et s’exprime publiquement lors de différents congrès internationaux de la Croix-Rouge.

À l’époque, le comité de la Croix-Rouge genevoise est divisé en deux sociétés distinctes, l’une féminine et l’autre masculine. Dans ce cadre, les femmes s’occupent principalement de l’aide pratique, notamment en récoltant du matériel pour les blessés, comme des pansements ou du linge. Elles créent également un établissement d’infirmières qui travaillent avec les médecins. Les hommes sont plutôt chargés de la récolte de financement et de subventions.

En 1914, les deux sociétés fusionnent pour devenir la Section genevoise de la Croix-Rouge suisse. L’organisation est alors composée d’une grande majorité de femmes, avec 960 membres féminines et 186 membres masculins. C’est Alice Favre qui en devient la présidente.

D’après le journal Le mouvement féministe, elle est, en 1929, « la seule femme, sauf erreur, qui ait occupé un poste de cet ordre en Suisse ». Ce journal précise aussi qu’Alice Favre représente la Croix-Rouge suisse durant les assemblées générales de l’Alliance nationale des sociétés féminines suisses et qu’elle prend part à la première campagne suffragiste à Genève en 1914.

Pendant la guerre, Alice Favre et la Croix-Rouge genevoise organisent l’accueil des réfugiés et soldats à Genève. Elle met également en place des paquets de Noël pour les soldats suisses en poste à la frontière.

Et quand la guerre se termine, en 1919, son engagement ne s’arrête pas pour autant. Elle rejoint le Comité central de la Croix-Rouge suisse et dirige un nouveau programme d’activités qui comprend notamment la création d’un dispensaire d’hygiène sociale à Genève, réinventant ainsi le rôle de la Section genevoise en tant de paix qui prend une direction sociale et locale.

Alice Favre écrit aussi beaucoup, et quelques années avant sa mort, en 1924, elle publie Pensées sur la vie, un livre qui est le résultat de ses réflexions et qui reprend des lettres qu’elle adressait au Journal de Genève pour partager ses opinions.

À l’occasion de sa mort en 1929, Alice Favre reçoit les honneurs de plusieurs personnalités et journaux qui lui consacrent des notices nécrologiques fournies. L’une d’elles dit même : « [i]l restera […] maintes traces de l’activité qu’Alice Favre a déployé [sic] dans divers domaines et pendant tant d’années ».

Mais aujourd’hui, Alice Favre est une personnalité dont l’histoire reste encore à écrire, et pour qui les informations retrouvées sont très lacunaires. À l’occasion des 130 ans de la Société des dames, la Croix-Rouge genevoise rendra hommage à Alice Favre au travers d’un évènement le 14 novembre 2019.

– – – – – –

Alice Catherine Favre was, as noted above, born in Geneva Monday 3 March 1851[i]. Her parents were Guillaume Favredéputé du Conseil représentatif de Genève (1770-1851) (Lieutenant-colonel, érudit et historien) and Catherine Marguerite Bertrand (1782-1842). The two had been married in Geneva Monday 14 November 1842. Alice had two brothers, both older than herself: Camille Alphonse Favrecolonel de l’Armée suisse (1845-1914) Marié le 16 mai 1876 (mardi), Genève, Genève, Suisse, avec Louise Pauline Félicie de Seigneux (1854-1919) ; and William Victor Favre (1843-1918).

In 1902, in her capacity of chair of the Ladies’ Red Cross Society in Geneva, proposed to create a single Red Cross organization in the city and canton. According to the ICRC’s Review[ii]:

« UNION DES SOCIETES GENEVOISES DE LA CROIX-ROUGE

A la suite de l’assemblée générale de la Société genevoise des Dames de la Croix-Rouge, sur la proposition de la présidente, Mlle Alice Favre, et sur une base élaborée par M. le Dr Braun, les trois sociétés existant à Genève et poursuivant un but analogue ont décidé’ de créer entre elles une Union dirigée par un comité spécial. Ces trois sociétés sont : la Société genevoise des Dames de la Croix-Rouge, qui n’etait point rattachée jusqu’alors à la Société centrale suisse de la Croix-Rouge ; la Société des Samaritains, qui est une section de cette dernière ; enfin la section de Messieurs de la Croix-Rouge suisse, qui en fait également partie comme indique son titre.

Cette organisation nouvelle, qui se rattachera a la transformation salutaire que subira la Croix-Rouge suisse, si elle obtient des Chambres fédérales l’allocation annuelle qu’elle a demandée, laissera aux sociétés existantes leur activité et leur autonomie propres ; mais elles constitueront une Société cantonale genevoise de la Croix-Rouge suisse, ayant à sa tête un comité spécial. Celui-ci a déjà été désigné et charge de poursuivre dans cette voie la coordination et l’alliance des sociétés existantes. Son bureau est composé de M. le Dr Wartmann-Perrot, président ; Mlle Alice Favre, vice-présidente ; M. le Dr Braun, vice-président; M. Maurice Dunant, secrétaire; M. Ch. Ackermann, trésorier.

« Mademoiselle Alice Favre, Présidente de la Société des Dames Génevoises de la Croix- Rouge » participated in the VIIIth International Conference, which took place in London in 1907. A highlight, perhaps, was a banquet given by the Council of the British Red Cross in the evening of Friday 14 June with dinner “servi a huit heures dans la Grande Salle de l’Hôtel Cecil, somptueusement décoré[iii]

Alice Favre Chairs Ladies’ Committee in 1912

Alice Favre also participated in the Xth International Conference which was organized in Geneva in 1921, the first after the World War. She was there in her capacity of “présidente d ’honneur de la Section genevoise de la Croix-Rouge Suisse » and member of the Swiss Red Cross delegation.

One of the subjects debated at this Conference was the relationship between National Societies, and the extent to which one National Society should have the right to act in another country where another National Society had been created. This debate would lead to the so-called “1921 Rules”, which has underpinned international work of National Societies in the nearly one century that has passed, and which were also a key element in the eventual resolution of the “Emblem Question” in 2005/2006.

During this Conference[iv], and on the subject of « Sections étrangères de Croix-Rouge sur territoire national », Alice Favre took the floor when the following paragraph of the proposed decision was debate:

« M. le PRÉSIDENT. — Le paragraphe 2   est ainsi conçu : « Les Comités centraux sont invités à accorder cet agrément dans la plus large mesure lorsqu’il sera avéré que la section étrangère travaille exclusivement auprès de ses nationaux.  En cas de désaccord, les Comités centraux pourront en référer à l’autorité suprême de la Croix-Rouge internationale. » La parole est à Mlle Favre.

Mlle FAVRE (Suisse).   —  Je désire avoir une explication sur les mots : « La section étrangère travaille exclusivement auprès de ses nationaux. »  Cela signifie-t-il que la section étrangère s’occupera exclusivement   de   ses   nationaux, ou   qu’elle   accomplira   sa   mission   exclusivement   avec   ses  propres ressources ?  Si ces sections étrangères font appel aux ressources des pays dans lesquels elles travaillent, elles peuvent drainer à leur profit des subventions et des sources de revenus, et épuiser les ressources des Croix-Rouges nationales. Je   demande qu’il soit ajouté au texte les mots : « avec ses propres ressources. »

M le PRÉSIDENT. — La proposition reviendrait à dire que les sections étrangères n ’auraient pas le droit de faire des collectes sur le territoire de la nation où elles sont installées.

M VINCI (Italie). —  Il ne faudrait pas qu’il y ait confusion. Mlle Favre veut que les sections étrangères   travaillent seulement pour leurs propres nationaux. Sur ce point nous sommes d’accord. Mais le secours qu’elles porteront ne profitera-t-il qu’aux ressortissants étrangers ?  Nous ne pouvons pas l’admettre. Notre travail à l’étranger est un travail complémentaire.

J’estime que nous avons le droit et le devoir de compléter nos ressources au moyen de subventions locales dans les pays étrangers où nos sections sont établies.   Mais nous estimons que nos nationaux à l’étranger rendant des services au pays qui a recours à eux, la Croix-Rouge locale doit aussi les secourir.  C’est le principe qui   a toujours régi toutes les œuvres de bienfaisance. Notre pensée a été que chaque Croix-Rouge nationale doit prendre   la protection   de ses propres nationaux et si une organisation étrangère veut s ’en occuper également, elle a le devoir de demander l’autorisation de la Croix-Rouge nationale.  C’est pourquoi nous avons dit que les sections étrangères travailleront exclusivement en faveur de leurs propres nationaux.  Il me semble que ce texte est clair.

Mlle FAVRE (Suisse).  —   S’il y a cinq, six ou sept Croix-Rouges étrangères qui viennent s’établir dans une ville, elles drainent tout l’argent et il n’en reste plus pour la Croix-Rouge nationale.

M le PRÉSIDENT. — Je mets aux voix l’amendement de Mlle Favre tendant à ajouter dans le deuxième paragraphe, après les mots « travaille exclusivement auprès de ses nationaux » ceux-ci : « avec ses propres ressources ».

(L’amendement, mis aux voix, n ’est pas adopté.)

M le PRÉSIDENT. — Je mets aux voix le deuxième paragraphe.

(Le deuxième paragraphe, mis aux voix, est adopté.) »

Alice did not participate in the following International Conference, the XIth which took place in Geneva, but in 1925, when the XIIth International Conference took place, also in Geneva, in 1925, « Mlle Alice Favre, de la section genevoise de la Croix-Rouge suisse » was present as a guest[v].

Alice Favre died, 77 years of age, in Geneva on Saturday 2 Februar 1929.

In 2019, 90 years after she passed away, the Geneva Red Cross caused a plaque to be placed in Avenue Pictet-de-Rochemont:

– – – – – –

[Again, from 100 Elles].

Œuvre

  • Pensées sur la vie, Genève, Sonor, 1924.

Sources

  • Société Genevoise des Dames de la Croix-Rouge, Rapport pour l’année 1898 présenté par Mlle Alice Favre, 17 février 1899, in Société genevoise des dames de la Croix-Rouge 1890-1913.
  • Section genevoise de la Croix-Rouge suisse, Rapport pour l’année 1914 présenté par Mlle Alice Favre, 14 avril 1914, in Section genevoise de la Croix-Rouge suisse, rapport 1914-1919, Mlle. A. Favre, présidente.
  • S.A, « Celles qui disparaissent : une ancienne présidente de la Croix-Rouge genevoise Mlle Alice Favre », Journal de Genève, 5 février 1929.
  • Dr. M., « Mademoiselle Alice Favre », Revue mensuelle de la Croix-Rouge suisse, 1er mars 1929.
  • E. GD, « In memoriam : Mlle Alice Favre », Le mouvement féministe, vol. 17, 1929.

Bibliographie

 

 

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[i] Geneanet ; https://gw.geneanet.org/rossellat?lang=fr&p=alice+catherine&n=favre&oc=1

[ii] https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/S1816968600007994a.pdf

[iii] HUITIÈME C o n f é r e n c e In t e r n a t i o n a l e DE LA CROIX-ROUGE TEN U E À LONDRES du 10 au 15 J U I N 1907. COMPTE – RENDU; p 502; https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1907_RAPPORT.pdf

[iv] Dixième Conférence Internationale de la Croix-Rouge tenue a Genève du 30 Mars au 7 Avril 1921 ; PP 141-142 ; https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1921_RAPPORT.pdf

[v] DOUZIÈME CONFÉRENCE INTERNATIONALE DE LA CROIX-ROUGE TENUE A GENÈVE du 7 au 10 octobre 1925, Compte Rendue ; p 21, https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1925_RAPPORT.pdf

Alice Masarykova

Alice Masarykova was born on May 3 1879, the first child of the future founder and first president of Czechoslovakia, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk and his American wife Charlotte[1].

Josef Svejnoha is a leading figure in the Czech Red Cross, an organisation with which Alice Masarykova was closely associated. He filled me in on the details of her life at the Czech Red Cross’s office on Prague’s Thunovska street, just below Prague Castle – by the way, the building was once Alice Masarykova’s home.

Alice Masarykova

“Alice Masarykova was born in Vienna. They moved to Prague when she was three. She spoke Czech because her father was Czech of course but she was also in a German environment in Vienna and learned German. She spoke English too because her mother was American.” 

T.G. Masaryk was a strict father and he and his wife Charlotte brought their children up according to humanist prinicples. As well as Alice, they had two sons Jan – the future Czechoslovak foreign minister and Herbert – who went on to become an artist – and another daughter, Olga.

Alice Masarykova went to school in Prague, first to an all-girls primary school on Vodickova street and then to the Minerva grammar school, which was also for girls only. It was unusual for girls to go to university in those days, but then Alice came from an unusual family. Josef Svejnoha again.

“She started studying medicine because she’d wanted to be a doctor from the age of eight. She was accepted by the medicine faculty where she was the only girl in a class of fifty boys. She was a bit handicapped by the fact she was short-sighted and wouldn’t wear glasses. She then switched to the arts faculty where she graduated as a doctor of history in 1903. After that she worked as a teacher.” 

Alice Masarykova began her teaching career after completing a post-graduate course in social care in the United States – she taught at secondary schools in Ceske Budejovice and Prague. At the same time, she began her involvement in the Red Cross movement. That involvement was to intensify with the onset of World War I, but not before Alice Masarykova – at the age of 35 – spent a period behind bars.

“During World War I – in 1914 – when her father Tomas Garrigue Masaryk emigrated, he left a message, for the police too, for his papers to be hidden and his family not to know where they were. However, during a search they did of Masaryk’s flat they arrested Alice Masarkyova and she was imprisoned in Vienna for nine months. She was first sentenced to death, then twelve years in prison. Then under pressure from the American government and people, who organised huge petitions, she was released from prison.” 

During the war, Alice Masarykova’s work in the Red Cross had a very hands-on nature – she tended to sick and injured soldiers and civilians. Josef Svejnoha has more.

“Just after the foundation of Czechoslovakia she was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly. In February 1919 she was a founder of the Czechoslovak Red Cross and for the next twenty years she was the chairwoman of the organisation. She was very active in the International Red Cross. After around six years she became the chair of the organising committee of the world-wide conference of social workers.” 

In 1921 she represented her National Society at the International Conference of the Red Cross[2]. She was elected to the function of secretary – the only woman of the 11 who filled that role. She participated in the work of “Commission N° V: Organisation Internationale Des Croix Rouges” – essentially an attempt to sort out relations between ICRC and the League.

After her mother’s death in 1923 Alice Masarykova became the woman of the Masaryk house, so to speak and dedicated herself to looking after her father, who was by that time of course the president of Czechoslovakia. But she still found time to do charity work, and not just with the Red Cross – she was also active in the temperance movement of the time.

“She was heavily involved in the abstinence union, against alcohol. She looked at it more from the point of view of the social consequences of excessive drinking – the broken homes, children being brought up badly, unemployment. She saw the issue from the social point of view more than the health point of view.” 

Alice Masarykova was instrumental in establishing another institution in Czechoslovakia – Mother’s Day. It was thanks to her that the tradition began in this country; the year was 1926. She also started the Red Cross Easter Silence, a two-minute silence which was observed around the country. In 1948 the tradition was radically transformed into International Red Cross day, and was moved from Easter to May 8 to remove religious connotations.

Around this time she was also a member – the only female one – of the Executive Council of the League of Red Cross. (IFRC Archives, RESUME DE  LA  REUNION DU COMITE EXECUTIF Mardi, 15   mars 1927″

Her good works also involved working with the Yugoslav architect Jozo Plecnik on the redesign of Prague Castle’s buildings and gardens.

Josef Svejnoha of the Czech Red Cross says that between her charity works and looking after her father, Alice Masarykova perhaps neglected her own personal life.

“She was never married – she was what they call an old maid. You could say she sacrificed herself for others and she did a lot of work for charity. There was no time left for any kind of private life.” 

Tomas Garrigue Masaryk died in 1937. Two years later the Germans invaded Bohemia and Moravia – two weeks after the occupation began Alice Masarykova left the country, eventually joining her brother Jan in London.

“When he was ambassador to Great Britain she emigrated there too in 1939 and she lived with him in London. They both moved back to Czechoslovakia in 1945 and she spent the three years till the death of Jan Masaryk living opposite the Foreign Ministry. They met each other often and their relationship was very good.” 

Jan Masaryk – by then foreign minister and an enemy of the Communist Party – died in mysterious circumstances not long after the Communists came to power. He was found dead under the window of his office at the Foreign Ministry – we shall never know whether he was, as many believe, pushed. Alice Masarykova spent a few months in Prague after the death of her beloved brother before leaving Czechoslovakia in December 1948.

She first went to Switzerland where she stayed with her sister Olga, who had married there. From there she went to Britain before eventually settling in the United States, where she lived in Florida. Alice Masarykova was never to see her home again. How did she feel about her exile? Josef Svejnoha again.

“Was she bitter about it? Well, she was sad about having to leave Czechoslovakia of course. In the 1950s Radio Free Europe very often broadcast her Christmas, New Year and Easter messages. In America she moved in Czech and Slovak circles a lot.” 

Alice Masarykova had always been short-sighted and in 1959, when she was 80 years old, she went completely blind following a stroke. In 1966 her health was deteriorating and she went to live in a Czech old folks home in Chicago. She died in November of that year, at the age of 87. Her ashes were interred in the Masaryk Mausoleum in Chicago. But that was not the end of her story.

“In the 1990s the Czech Red Cross and several other organisations got together and had her urn brought from America to the Czech Republic. A service was held and her urn was placed in the Masaryk family tomb in Lany where Tomas Garrigue Masaryk is, along with his wife Charlotte and their son Jan, her brother. So she lays there too now.” 

 

[1] https://www.radio.cz/en/section/czechs/alice-masarykova

[2] International Conference, Geneva, 1921, https://library.icrc.org/library/docs/DIGITAL/CI_1921_RAPPORT.pdf

Angela Countess of Limerick

Angela Countess of Limerick

Angela Countess of Limerick served as Chairwoman of the Standing Commission from October 1965 until November 1973, when she retired after having been re-elected as Chairwomen in September 1969. The Countess of Limerick first joined the Movement in 1915 as a Nurse working for the British Red Cross and her outstanding Red Cross career would ultimately span 61 years.

Angela, née Trotter, spent her early childhood in Romania. During World War I, she worked as a Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse in military hospitals in England and France. Between the wars she studied for a diploma in Social Science at the London School of Economics, married the subsequent 5th Earl of Limerick and expanded her Red Cross, local government and social work. From 1934 until 1940, she was President of the London Branch of the British Red Cross. During World War II Angela was in charge of Red Cross services throughout London during the “blitz” and from 1942 was also deputy chairman of the Executive Committee of the War Organization of the British Red Cross Society (BRCS) and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1944-45 she toured the War Organization’s Commissions in the Middle East and Italy and inspected relief work, visiting 17 countries.[1] Post war, 1946-63 Angela was a Vice-Chairman of the BRCS’s Executive Committee and a leading figure at the 1946 meeting in Oxford of the League of Red Cross Societies. She visited most of the BRCS Overseas Branches in Africa, the Far East and the Caribbean and a large number of National Societies. She was widely respected for her uncompromising support of the integrity of the Movement and its fundamental principles. In 1948, she was elected as the Vice-President of the British Red Cross Society and one of the Governors of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.[2] Angela was a valuable member of the Joint Committee for the Re-Appraisal of the Role of the Red Cross 1972-75, chaired by Donald Tansley. She also chaired the Council of the BRCS from 1974-76 and, on retiring, she was appointed a Vice-President.[3]

Angela was known for her wide vision and gave encouragement and inspiration to many people. The Times of London said in her obituary: “Angela Limerick had a great breadth of vision, an astonishing memory and grasp of detail, and a remarkable ability to establish close and lasting personal relationships after brief acquaintance; above all she had the gift of inspiring and encouraging others and bringing out the best in them.”[4] She received numerous awards, including a G.B.E. and a C.H., and in 1975 she received the Henry Dunant medal. The Countess of Limerick was born in 1897 and died in 1981.[5]

[1] British Red Cross

[2] Standing Commission

[3] British Red Cross

[4] http://www.redcross.int/en/history/not_limerick.asp

[5] Standing Commission

Augusta Stang

Augusta – the full name was Julie Augusta Georgine – was born in Christiania 11 December 1869 and baptized[i] in the Cathedral there – the Church of our Saviour – 28 April 1870. Witnesses at the ceremony were Minister of the Crown, Stang, and his wife Mrs Ministress Stang; Professor Rasch; the Reverend[ii] I. H. Lund; Student N. Berg; Mrs. Fredrikke Berg; and Miss Sophie Pharo.

Her parents were the solicitor[iii], Emil Stang, and his wife Adeleide Pauline, nee Berg. They had married four and a half years before Augusta was born. Their wedding[iv] took place in the Church of the Trinity in Christiania 12 July 1865. Banns were read 25 June, 2 July, and 9 July. Their witnesses were their fathers: Fredrik Stang and Per A. J. Berg.

The same year, in the autumn, Augusta’s paternal grandfather founded[v] the Norwegian Red Cross

The first child of this union was a girl. Marie Henriette came into the world 31 March 1866 and baptized[vi] in the Cathedral in Christiania 3 July the same year. The witnesses were Prime Minister F. Stang; Merchant P. A. J. Berg; Solicitor P. A. Hielm; Mrs. Berg; Ministress E. Berg; and [NN] Augusta Stang.

A year and a half later, 27 December 1867, a boy arrived. He was named for his paternal grandfather, Fredrik when he was baptized[vii] in the Cathedral 4 March 1868. As witnesses the parents chose Minister Stang; Judge[viii] Morgenstierne; Chamberlaine B. Stang; Lieutenant P. O. S. Berg; Ministress Stang; Mrs Laura Lundh; and Miss Olvia Berg.

And so, it was Augusta’s turn – as the third child. The next one was also a girl. Adeleide was born 16 September 1871 and was home baptized[ix] by the doctor 30 of the same month.

The reason the doctor baptized her was, apparently, that she was very ill: she died the same day and was buried[x] 4 October. She lived only two weeks, the little one.

She was followed by another other girl who saw the light of day 30 November 1872. when she was baptized[xi] in the Cathedral 15 May the following year – she had not been baptized at home – she was named for her mother, Adelaide Pauline. The witnesses were Lieutenant Herman Stang; Lieutenant Johs. Solum; Joachim Lund; Solicitor Heffermehl; Erik Berg; Widow Marie Berg; Mrs Kathrine Hopp; and Miss Kristine Stang.

The sixth of the Stang siblings was Peder Berg. He was born 24 March 1875 and baptized[xii] in the Cathedral 10 May the same year. Peder’s witnesses were Prime Minister Fredrik Stang; Wholesaler Knud Graah; Premier Lieutenant Peter O. J. Berg; Mr Gustav Berg; Widow Marie H. Berg; [NN] Mrs. Emma Heffermehl; and Miss Agneta Lund.

In the census for 1875[xiii] – conducted in early 1876 – Augusta can be found, with her parents and siblings, in an apartment in Prinsens Gade 3a in Christiania, not far from the main railway station. Her father is listed as solicitor, her mother housewife. Her two brothers and two sisters are there, too: Marie Henriette (10); Fredrik (8); Adeleide Pauline (3); and Peder Berg (1). The three servants were all women – Frederikke Elise Kynell from Larvik (30); Kristine Kristiansen from Romedal (24); and Petra Vetlesen from Nesodden (24).

Two years later, 9 October 1877, the little sister Emilie was born. When she was baptized[xiv] 2 December the same year the ceremony was witnessed by Mrs Jakobine Stang; Prime Minister F. Stang; Sorenskriver Kristian Frisch; [NN]-doctor [NN] [NN]; Mrs J. Augusta G. Stang, n. Morgenstierne; and Mrs [NN] [NN] n. Morgenstierne.

Emilie died as a small child on 10 April 1878. The cause was a lung-infection. She was buried[xv] three days later.

Augusta’s youngest brother, Emil, announced his arrival 22 September 1882. He was baptized[xvi] 10 November the same year, and the witnesses were Prime Minister Fr. Stang; the National Archivist Birkeland; Premier Lieutenant Alexis von Munthe af Morgenstjerne; Student Emil Stang Lund; Marie Berg; Mrs Christine Berg; and Miss Marie Stang.

Emil, like his father and grandfather, and like Augusta herself, became politically active – but in opposition to the family he was first a socialist, then a communist and participated in the First International, and a journalist and lawyer who ended up as a Supreme Court Justice after the Second World War[xvii].

When Augusta was around 15, her paternal grandfather died. His life ended 8 June 1884 and was buried Thursday 12 the same month, with the ceremony[xviii] taking place in the Church of the Trinity at 2:15 in the afternoon.

A year later, in 1885[xix], there was another census. In this Augusta – with no more given names – is found with her parents in an apartment in Grev Wedels Plass 5. Of the other children, Marie (19); Fredrik (18); Adeleide (13); Peder (10); and Emil (3) are present.

The servants include Elise Fredrikke Kynell (39) – most probably the same as in 1875, even if the order of the given names has been altered – Bredine Olsen (31) from Laurdal; and Sophie Christensen (27) from Eker.

Some years passed, and the family had moved to a new house: now to Raadhusgade, house number 19. That is where one finds Augusta in 1891[xx], together with her parents. She is a bit difficult to find in the census material, for the transcriber has misinterpreted the family name as “Steng”.

Many of the siblings are still with their parents. And a number of servants: now also a male one – Jens Kristian Johannesen Hauger, a 29-year old man from Drøbak; but also several female ones: Hanna Matilde Olsen (30) from Eidsvold; Henriette Karoline Halvorsen (27) from Drammen; Dina Dahl (33) from Nittedal; and the ever-present Lise Fredrike Kynnell (45) from Larvik.

Augusta was enrolled at Nissen’s Pikeskole – a girls’ school in one of the better districts of Christiania and graduated from there in 1896[xxi] with a teacher’s certificate. She then began working at Frogner School, also in the west end of the city.

In 1900[xxii], Augusta has left her parent’s household. During the census of this year she is found at the Holmenkollen Sanatorium, currently a hotel. By occupation she is still teacher, and she has remained unmarried.

The same year she published a book for children: Til arbeide og lek. Haandbok for gutter og piker – «For work and play. A Handbook for Boys and Girls”.

In 1905 she appears to have quit her teaching job for, over the next years, a free-lance life of writing and translating.

In 1906 Augusta, together with her sister Adelaide and someone called Yngvar Brun, published a “reading book” for school children.

In 1909 she appears as the translator[xxiii] of a German work by A. L. Grimm, Stories from the Heroic Age of the Greeks and Romans, adapted for Youth.

Ten years later, in 1910[xxiv], she is back with her – now retired – parents in an apartment on the third floor of Nobel’s Street 18 in Kristiania. The teaching career seems to have petered out: she is listed as having no occupation. Her sister Marie, too, lives there – but has a job as an assistant in the national insurance service. With a smaller family they had reduced the number of servants to two: 26-year old Thora Halvorsen from Drammen and the three years younger Agnes Jacobsen from Sem.

Two years later Augusta lost her father. Emil Stang died, 78 years old, 4 July 1912. The funeral[xxv] took place at the graveyard of Our Saviour Church 8 July, but the record of this has not been found.

The same year she appears as translator of a book[xxvi] by Howard Pyle,  in Norwegian called “Squire and Knight”.

With her father gone, living at home was probably impractical, for the same year she start working for Aftenposten, a Kristiania newspaper of a conservative persuasion.

Here she edited the column “For the Little Ones”, and initiated the newspaper’s annual fundraising campaign, the Argus campaign.

She was, increasingly, active in politics. First at the municipal level: she was member of the council of Christiania – Oslo from 1925 – during the period 1920-31. From 1931[xxvii] to 1933 she was the second female member of parliament for the Conservative Party, whose Women’s Organisation she chaired for ten years until 1937.

In 1920, Augusta represented the Norwegian Red Cross at the first conference of the League of Red Cross Societies, which took place in Geneva 2-8 March 1920.

Her interests were focussed on the welfare of children, and for that reason she participated in the “International Conference on the Treatment of Women and Children[xxviii]” which took place in Geneva 30 June to 5 July 1921, at which she represented the Norwegian Red Cross.

Augusta’s parliamentary career was short, in 1933 she was deselected[xxix] by the Conservative Party in Oslo and replaced by Mrs Gulla Grundt.

Augusta died in 1944, around 75 years old. The funerals are not available for this year.

_______________________________________

[i] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0017: Ministerialbok nr. 17, 1869-1878, s. 76

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216011045

[ii] In the original «Res. kapellan», a sort of junior vicar, often in charge of a subsidiary church and congregation.

[iii] The term used is «Høyesterettsadvokat», a lawyer who has won the right to plead a case before the Supreme Court of Norway.

[iv] SAO, Trefoldighet prestekontor Kirkebøker, F/Fc/L0001: Ministerialbok nr. III 1, 1858-1874, s. 162

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060213040508

[v] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Red_Cross

[vi] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0016: Ministerialbok nr. 16, 1863-1871, s. 175

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216010777

[vii] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0016: Ministerialbok nr. 16, 1863-1871, s. 275

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216010878

[viii] The term used is «sorenskriver», literally “sworn scribe” a legal official appointed by the Crown.

[ix] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0017: Ministerialbok nr. 17, 1869-1878, s. 171

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216011141

[x] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0026: Ministerialbok nr. 26, 1867-1884, s. 62

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060215020584

[xi] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0017: Ministerialbok nr. 17, 1869-1878, s. 278

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216011248

[xii] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0017: Ministerialbok nr. 17, 1869-1878, s. 419

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216011391

[xiii] Folketelling 1875 for 0301 Kristiania kjøpstad, https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052055005191

[xiv] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0017: Ministerialbok nr. 17, 1869-1878, s. 526

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060216011502

[xv] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0026: Ministerialbok nr. 26, 1867-1884, s. 176

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060215020701

[xvi] SAO, Oslo domkirke Kirkebøker, F/Fa/L0029: Ministerialbok nr. 29, 1879-1892, s. 94

Brukslenke for sidevisning: https://www.digitalarkivet.no/kb20060921070430

[xvii] Haffner, Vilhelm; Stortinget og statsrådet : 1915-1945. B. 1 : Biografier : med tillegg til Tallak Lindstøl: Stortinget og Statsraadet 1814-1914; Oslo:[Aschehoug], 1949; pp 559-660; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007060100024

[xviii] Aftenposten; 10.06.1884; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_aftenposten_null_null_18840610_25_132_1

[xix] Folketelling 1885 for 0301 Kristiania kjøpstad, https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01053257006885

[xx] Folketelling 1891 for 0301 Kristiania kjøpstad, https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01052721058360

[xxi] Haffner, Vilhelm; Stortinget og statsrådet : 1915-1945. B. 1 : Biografier : med tillegg til Tallak Lindstøl: Stortinget og Statsraadet 1814-1914; Oslo:[Aschehoug], 1949; p 660; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007060100024

[xxii] Folketelling 1900 for 0218 Aker herred; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01037028017603

[xxiii] Fischer, Karl; Katalog over bøker skikket for folkeboksamlinger : hovedkatalog 1909 med register; Kristiania, 1909;  P 13; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012081424001

[xxiv] Folketelling 1910 for 0301 Kristiania kjøpstad; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01036392089173

[xxv] Aftenposten; 05.07.1912; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_aftenposten_null_null_19120705_53_335_2

[xxvi] Pyle, Howard|Stang, Augusta; Væbner og ridder; Kristiania, 1912; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2012081508178

[xxvii] Smaalenenes Social-Demokrat; 22.10.1930; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_smaalenenessocialdemokrat_null_null_19301022_15_245_1

[xxviii] http://www.indiana.edu/~league/conferencedata.htm

[xxix] Smaalenenes Social-Demokrat; 02.09.1933; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_smaalenenessocialdemokrat_null_null_19330902_28_202_1

Dr. Nadejda Troyan

Dr. Nadejda Troyan

Dr. Nadejda Troyan served as a member of the Standing Commission from November 1973 until October 1977. Prior to her election, Mrs. Troyan was President of the Red Cross Society of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

Edvarda Hole

Edvarda Ragnhild was born in the parish of Nesset in September 1887, a day’s walk north-east of the town of Molde on the west coast of Norway. Curiously, her baptism has not been found in the parish records, but as one church was torn down in 1885, and the present one built in 1878, but in a different location it is possible that some records have been lost.

Her parents were the rural police chief, Erik Ingebriktson Hole, and Elise Hanstad; they had two children already[i]. Erik was, by many accounts, a remarkable man who was engaged in local and regional matters and who was rewarded for his contributions by being awarded the King’s Medal of Merit in silver[ii].

The first of the siblings was Ivar Andreas who took up his father’s occupation elsewhere, and Marie Antonette who, with her husband Erling Kloster, eventually settled in Eagle Grove in Iowa.

Edvarda was number three and after her followed Olav Halvdan, who eventually took over the farm, with Agnes Ingeborg as the fifth child.

In 1891[iii], at the census of that year, the family is found on the farm Hargaut – actually only a position of it which Edvarda’s father had bought in 1880 for the sum of 4’500 Norwegian crowns. In the census record one learns that both parents came from other parts of the country: Erik from Lesja, Elise from Lillehammer. All the children have survived, so far. In addition to them the farm also sees Erik’s own father, the 70-year-old widower Ingebrigt Eriksen. And, as usual, servant girls. Three of them: Hanna Jakobsdatter from Lesja (36); Eli Larsdatter from Visdal (46); and Beret Anna Andersdatter who was a local and 26 years old.

Following the census, Edvarda had several younger siblings: Sigval Alfred who became a sailor and died in Brooklyn in 1960; Solveig who married within the district; Erling Trygve who was born in 1896 and died the same year, and, the vary last, Erling. He became a professor and worked in the Department of Agriculture in Washington.

In 1900[iv] there was another census, and the family lives on the same farm, Hargaut. Edvarda is listed as a pupil, her oldest brother as house-teacher and as employed in the rural police office, i.e. by his dad, all the other children except the youngest were also pupils. Some or all of the children are being home schooled, for in the household there is also 26-year old Marie Sannæs is governess and teacher. A 23-year old, Astrid Barstein, is employed as child-minder. The household is completed Marie Svenson, a 33-year old who is the milkmaid: they must have had rather more cows than most people.

In the autumn of 1909 Edvarda travelled by from Norway ship and at some stage came to Liverpool where she boarded SS Caronia, headed for New York. She arrived there 22 September[v].

How long she staid and what she did there is not known.

In 1933/34 Edvarda attended – or at least was proposed[vi] to attend – the League of Red Cross Societies course at Bedford College in London, an institution with which the League collaborated in providing advanced nursing training, and in conjunction with which the organization had established a home at 15, Manchester Square. The course she was to attend was the one for “Nurse Administrators and Teachers”.

The proposal from the Secretariat of the League contains some minimal biographical information about each candidate.

Here one learns that her home schooling ended in 1901, and that she after this attended high school for three years. What she did after this – apart from going off to New York – she did during the following 8-9 years is not known, but in 1914/15 she attended the “Red Cross School of Nursing”, whether in Oslo or Bergen is not known.

After completing her training, she worked as a nurse for the Red Cross for a couple of years, before deciding to earn some money and went into private nursing. This was followed by a stint as Head Nurse at an outpatient clinic and practice in the operating theatre.

At the time of application to the course in London, Edvarda worked as a Ward Sister in the Red Cross Hospital, where she was responsible for teaching student nurses.

She had good command of English, and was in good health, but age was an issue:

“This candidate is above the age limit but is strongly recommended by the Norwegian Red Cross where she holds a post on the staff of the School and in the Hospital.

She is also recommended by Miss E. Moe (Old International 1924/25) who is Superintendent of Nursing in the Norwegian Red Cross Hospital”.

Having completed her training in London as a “Special Student[vii]” with a half scholarship[viii], Edvarda returned to Norway where Drammen branch of the Red Cross had embarked on a cooperative venture with one of the senior doctors at the local hospital to establish a nursing school. This School opened in 1935[ix] who took up the position of Matron.

During her stay in London, the students staying at Manchester Square, in September 1933 went on an excursion to Papworth Village Settlement – where about 1’000 people suffering from tuberculosis lived – and worked. She wrote about this in the Norwegian Red Cross Magazine, and the article was later reproduced[x] in the newspaper of the Labour Party, on their women’s page. The description of the settlement is rather glowing – and ends with a reflection on whether the idea could be useful in Norway, too.

During these years Edvarda’s parents passed away – her father in 1932 and her mother in 1935.

Edvarda Hole

In 1940 war arrived in Norway – and to Drammen, something which was bound to affect a hospital – not least due to the many German soldiers, who also sometimes needed medical attention.

During the war Edvarda Hole got in trouble with the German occupation authorities, which was reported internally through their channels [xi]:

2. Deutschfeindliches Verhalten einer Schwester des Roten Kreuzes

Die im Städt. Krankenhaus in Drammen als Oberschwester tätige Rote Kreuz-Schwester Evarda Hole, geboren am 18.9.87, gelangte hier zur Anzeige, weil sie eine Lehrscwester wegen ihres deutschfreundligen Verhaltens zur Entlassung gebracht hatte.

Von hier durchgeführte Ermittlungen ergaben, dass i Lehrschwester [N.N.] sich mit einem Angehörigen der SS-Verfügungsgruppe in Drammen angefreundet hatte und mit dem SS-Mann mehrfach gesehen worden war. Als die Oberschwester hierfor Kenntnis erhielt, veranlasste si die fristlose Entlassung der Lehrschwester. Gegen diese fristlose Entlassung erhob die Lehrschwester Einspruch und bestand nach Rücksprache mit dem SS-Mann, der im Zivil-beruf Jurist ist, auf fristgerechter kündigung. Diese fristgerichte Kündigung wurde sodann nach Vortrag der Oberschwester durch den leitenden Arzt des Krankenhauses, Dr. Nikolaysen ausgesprochen. Als Grund zur Kündigung wurde undiszipliniertes Verhalten angegeben.

Die Oberschwester H o l e machte am gleichen Tage der [N.N] wegen ihres Umganges mit deutschen Soldaten vorhaltungen und versammelte alle Schülerinnen des Roten Kreuzes im Städt. Krankenhaus, etwa 60-70 Mädels um ihnen Verhaltungsmassreglen hinsichtlich des umganges mit deutschen Soldaten zu geben. Sie erklärten den Schülerinnen, man müsse im Ungang mit deutschen Soldaten sehr vorsichtig sein und immer bedenken, die deutschen Soldaten als Feinde nach Norwegen gekommen, und Norwegen befinde sich noch heute im Kriegszustand mit Deutschland. Viele Väter und Brüder seien in diesem Kriege von den Deutschen getötet worden und diesdürfe man nicht vergessen. Außerdem wies sie darauf hin, dass die in das Krankenhauseingelieferten deutschen Soldaten gleich Norwegern zu behandeln seien, dass sie jedoch nicht so verwöhnt und liebvoll behandelt werden sollten wie der englische Soldat, der sich einige Zeit im Krankenhaus befundet hatte.

In ihrer Vernehmung gab die Beschuldigte an sie habe sich verpflichtet gefühlt die Schülerinnen hinsichtlich ihres Umganges mit deutschen Soldaten aus moralischen Gründen zu warnen, und sie der Ansicht, dass sie für manches Mädchen Elternstelle zu vertreten habe.

Da nach den Ermittlungen feststand, dass die Oberschwester die treibende Kraft gewesen ist, die zur Entlassung des deutschfreundlich eingestellten Mädchens geführt hat, wurde sie für die Dauer der Ermittlungen vorlaüfig festgenommen. Ausßerdem wurde ihre Entlaßung aus dem Städt. Krankenhaus veranlaßt, da sie nach ihrem Verhalten nicht mehr dazu geeignet erschien, in einem Krankenhaus mit Lehrschwesternausbildung eine leitende Stellung als Oberschwester einzunähen. Die gleich Ernöffnung wurde dem Oberartz des Krankenhaus, Dr. Nikolaysen, gemacht.

Nach Abschluss der Ermittlungen wurde die Beschuldigte nach eindringender Warnung wieder aus der Haft entlassen. Dem Sekretär des Norwegische Roten Kreuzes, der in diese Angelegenheit hiervorsprach, wurde mitgeteilt, daß das Verhalten der Oberschwester ihre weitere Beschäftigung als leitende Schwester unmöglich gemacht habe und eine Entlassung erforderlich sei“.

Edvarda was, in other words, sacked[xii] – it was 8 September 1940, and the occupation had lasted less than half a year. She had just started a first aid-course, probably did not finish it, but was described[xiii] by a participant as both lively and inspiring.

In a history[xiv] of the Norwegian Red Cross during the occupation, the conflict that led to Edvarda’s dismissal is described somewhat differently. Here the story is she dismissed a student nurse for serious disciplinary misdemeanors, a dismissal that would have been seen as entirely reasonable had not the student nurse gone to the local Waffen SS Commander with her complaint. He “politicized” the issue, and it rose in the occuapation structures all the way to the Reich Commissariat in Norway – the highest authority in the land. The Norwegian Red Cross argued that the whole matter was an ordinary personnel one and sought support from the Sanitary Servies of the German Armed Forces – and received it. The Society had, when also Dr Nicoaysen was interrogated and the Occypying Authorities threatened to close the hospita and the school they had to back down. The Red Cross had to cancel its contract with Edvarda, but gave her a job at Headquarters in Oslo, where she was the manager of the office for Nursing issues. The girl whose dismissal had precipitated this whole little drama was reinstated – but not much later dismissed again: this time without any German intervention on her behalf.

One of the achievements Edvarda could chalk up in her new role was that  of opening a nursing school in northern Norway, which would reinforce the nursing capacity in that part of the country during a period of difficult communications. The nursing department – referred to as the “Sister Department” oversaw some 930 nurses across the country, so it was a considerable operation. She was intreviewed about this in a west coast newspaper[xv] in November 1942.

8 May 1945 the German Armed Forces in Norway capitulated; the same day the individual who had filled the position of Matron was sacked, and Edvarda came back into her old role, and staid in that position till 15 ctober 1948[xvi]. The next year the hospital employed its first neurologist – and who is mentioned here solely because of his name: Dr Emblem.

In the spring of 1946, it appears, Edvarda – who lived in Drammen – boarded the good ship Fernmoor and arrived in New York 15 May that year. She is listed as nurse by profession, with the Red Cross as her employer. The immigration record[xvii] shows that she could read and write English.

The visit to New York was reported in a newspaper published there: “Nordisk Tidende” or “Nordic Times” – published in Norwegian. In the edition[xviii] of 6 June 1946, one article is headed “Matron Edvarda Hole at Drammen Hospital has come here to study hospital administration” and goes on to note, as a subtitle, that she had been awarded the Norwegian Red Cross “Sign of Honour” at the first annual meeting of the organization after the war – on the same occasion as Folke Bernadotte was given the same.

Apart from sharing impressions from Norway during occupation, she said she had been asked to go to America by the director of her hospital, as he felt that the Norwegian health sector could learn a lot from the hospitals to be visited. Edvarda, reflecting her own professional experience, thought there would be an equal benefit to be reaped by visiting nursing schools. The programme would be worked out with the International Council of Nurses in New York, and would fill much of the six months she planned on staying.

The sources have very little to say about Edvardas life and work over the following years, until in 1960 it was announced that she had been awarded the King’s Medal of Merit – in gold. She received it during an audience with His Majesty – at that time Olav V – Monday 2 January 1961[xix].

Edvarda Hole and Dr Nicolaysen around 1960

Around that time, or a little earlier, the 25th anniversary of the nursing school in Drammen was celebrated, and many old colleagues – such as Edvarda and Dr Nicolaysen – met one another again. The photo shows Edvarda giving her old boss flowers on that occasion.

Five years after receiving the Medal of Merit, Edvarda was back in New York, this time in the context of Nordmannsforbundet – the “Norse Federation” – which had organized a charter flight from Oslo 3 November 1966. 150 people from all parts of Norway participated[xx].

Edvarda, who now lived in Oslo, continued a quiet existence for another 10 years, and passed away 7 April 1976[xxi].


[i] The information about the family has been taken from Roaldset, Ottar; Gards- og ættesoge for Nesset. 2; Nemnda, 1974; pp 284-285, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015011424003

[ii] Romsdals Budstikke; Molde, 22.05.1923; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_romsdalsbudstikke_null_null_19230522_80_112_1

[iii] Folketelling 1891 for 1543 Nesset herred; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01053053000856

[iv] Folketelling 1900 for 1543 Nesset herred; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01037398000774

[v] https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger-details/czoxMjoiMTAxNjgzMDYwMTcxIjs=/czo5OiJwYXNzZW5nZXIiOw==

[vi] https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/file/b8542b38-1d2e-4fbe-91c7-5f02b2837025/1/BC_AL_333_6_15.pdf [vii] https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/file/47042816-c205-465a-a044-d132de26bcce/1/BC_AL_335_19.pdf

[viii] http://rcnarchive.rcn.org.uk/data/VOLUME082-1934/page015-volume82-january1934.pdf [ix] Palmer, Herbert; Drammen røde kors 50 år; [Foreningen], 1967; p 25, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2016090848245 [x] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo); 04.01.1934; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19340104_52_3_1

[xi] Meldungen aus Norwegen 1940-1945, Die geheimen Lageberichte des Befehlshabers der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD in Norwegen; edited by Stein Ugelvik Larsen, Beatrice Sandberg, Volker Dahm; R. Oldenbourg Verlag München 2008; pp 115-116: https://books.google.no/books?id=nm_oBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA115&lpg=PA115&dq=%22edvarda+Hole%22&source=bl&ots=yvsdigfaVi&sig=ACfU3U3EmtKfyIoctkW5hpi0kfCg3ibBYg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim4MDv75HnAhXpo4sKHWXOCXIQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22edvarda%20Hole%22&f=false [xii] Palmer, Herbert; Drammen sykehus/Buskerud sentralsykehus 100 år; [Sentralsykehuset], 1987; p 65; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015042008080

[xiii] Palmer, Herbert; Drammen sykehus/Buskerud sentralsykehus 100 år; [Sentralsykehuset], 1987; p 347; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015042008080

[xiv] Schilling, Dag Fr. Chr.|Ottersen, Kåre; Barmhjertighetsfronten : Norges røde kors under krigen 1940-1945; Norges Røde kors, 1995; p 135; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2008031200036

[xv] Fylkestidende for Sogn og Fjordane; Kinn, 07.11.1942; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_fylkestidendeforsognogfjordane_null_null_19421107_70_60_1

[xvi] Palmer, Herbert; Drammen sykehus/Buskerud sentralsykehus 100 år; [Sentralsykehuset], 1987; p 366; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2015042008080

[xvii] “New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-994J-BV29?cc=1923888&wc=MFK4-W29%3A1030132201 : 2 October 2015), 7104 – vol 15303-15304, May 16, 1946 > image 55 of 989; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

[xviii] Nordisk Tidende; 06.06.1946; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_nordisktidende_null_null_19460606_56_23_1

[xix] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo); , 03.01.1961; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19610103_76_2_1

[xx] Nordisk Tidende; 03.11.1966; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_nordisktidende_null_null_19661103_75_44_1

[xxi] Aftenposten; Oslo, 09.04.1976; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_aftenposten_null_null_19760409_117_169_1; accessible from terminals in Norwegian libraries.

Geneviève de Galard

[From Wikipedia]

Genevieve du Gallard

Geneviève de Galard Terraube, née à Paris le , est une infirmière militaire française, convoyeuse de l’air, qui, durant la guerre d’Indochine, fut surnommée « l’ange de Ðiện Biên Phủ ».

Biographie

La petite enfance de Geneviève de Galard se déroule à Paris, dans le 17e arrondissement, avec ses parents et sa sœur aînée, Marie-Suzanne. Lorsque son père meurt, en 1934, Geneviève de Galard a neuf ans.

Les circonstances de la Seconde Guerre mondiale contraignent la famille à quitter Paris pour Toulouse lors de l’hiver 1939, la mère de Geneviève de Galard craignant pour ses filles les bombardements sur la capitale. Elles reviennent à Paris pendant l’été 1943. Geneviève de Galard suit des cours d’anglais à la Sorbonne et se lance dans des activités associatives auprès de handicapés dans un hôpital.

Elle obtient le diplôme d’État d’infirmière en 1950, puis réussit en 1952 le concours de convoyeuse de l’air au sein de l’Armée de l’air française.

1953 – 1954

À sa demande, elle est affectée en Indochine à partir de mai 1953, au cœur de la guerre qui oppose les forces françaises à celles du Việt Minh.

Stationnée à Hanoï, elle opère des évacuations sanitaires par avion à partir de l’aéroport de Pleiku. À partir de janvier 1954, elle participe aux évacuations de la bataille de Diên Biên Phu. Ses premières victimes transportées sont principalement des soldats souffrant de maladies. Mais à partir de mi-mars, la plupart d’entre eux sont des blessés de guerre. Parfois, les avions sanitaires de la Croix-Rouge doivent se poser au milieu des barrages d’artillerie viêt minh.

Le , le commandant Blanchet, qui est le commandant en second du groupe de transport Béarn, son équipage et Geneviève de Galard arrivent vers 5 heures 45 au-dessus de Diên Biên Phu. Le commandant tente d’atterrir sur la courte piste de Diên Biên Phu. L’atterrissage est trop long et le moteur gauche de l’avion est sérieusement endommagé. Les réparations ne pouvant s’effectuer sur place du fait des conditions (terrain inapproprié), l’avion est abandonné et, à l’aube, l’artillerie viêt minh le détruit ainsi que la piste, les rendant irréparables.

Geneviève de Galard se porte alors volontaire pour servir comme infirmière dans l’hôpital de campagne commandé par le docteur Paul Grauwin. Bien que le personnel médical masculin soit initialement hostile — la légende qui fait d’elle la seule femme dans le camp oublie le BMC d’une vingtaine de prostituées, essentiellement vietnamiennes mais également thaïlandaises et algériennes, qui devinrent aussi infirmières3 — ils font finalement des adaptations de logement pour elle. Ils lui arrangent également un semblant d’uniforme à partir de bleus de travail camouflés, de pantalon, de chaussures de basket-ball et d’un t-shirt. Geneviève de Galard fait de son mieux dans des conditions sanitaires dérisoires, consolant les mourants et essayant d’entretenir le moral face aux pertes humaines montantes. Plus tard, beaucoup d’hommes la complimenteront pour ses efforts.

Le , Geneviève de Galard est faite chevalier de la Légion d’honneur et est décorée de la Croix de guerre des Théâtres d’opérations extérieurs par le commandant du camp retranché de Diên Biên Phu, le général de Castries. Le jour suivant, pendant la célébration de la bataille de Camerone, la fête de la Légion étrangère, Geneviève de Galard est nommée légionnaire de 1re classe honoraire aux côtés du lieutenant-colonel Bigeard, commandant du 6e BPC.

Les troupes françaises de Ðiện Biên Phủ cessent le combat le  sur ordre du commandement militaire de Hanoï. Le Việt Minh autorise cependant Galard et le personnel médical à continuer les soins sur les blessés. Geneviève refusera toujours toute coopération, quand certains Việt Minh commencent à utiliser les médicaments pour leur propre usage, elle en cache dans sa civière.

Le , Geneviève de Galard est évacuée à Hanoï, en partie contre sa volonté.

Elle est accueillie par une foule nombreuse à l’aéroport d’Orly à son retour en France1, faisant la une de Paris Match (« La France accueille l’héroïne de Dien Bien Phu », elle fait trois fois la une de ce magazine). Elle est plus tard invitée aux États-Unis par le Congrès et le président américain1 qui lui remet le  la médaille de la Liberté (Medal of Freedom)4 lors d’une cérémonie dans la roseraie de la Maison-Blanche à Washington. C’est aux États-Unis qu’elle est pour la première fois surnommée « l’ange de Diên Biên Phu ».

Elle reprend un temps son travail de convoyeuse puis suivra ensuite son mari, officier dans l’armée, dans ses différentes affectations.

Vie privée

Elle vit, en 2011, à Paris avec son mari, le colonel Jean de Heaulme, qu’elle a épousé le  en l’église Saint-Louis des Invalides à Paris.

Ils sont parents de trois enfants : François, Véronique et Christophe.

Très liés à Marguerite Hoppenot, la fondatrice du mouvement Sève7 décédée en  à l’âge de 110 ans, Geneviève de Galard et son mari sont membres de ce mouvement2.

Ouvrages publiés

  • Une femme à Dien Bien Phu de Geneviève de Galard avec la collaboration de Béatrice Bazil, Paris, Éditions des Arènes, 2003, et Éditions J’ai Lu, Paris, 2004.
  • Angel of Dien Bien Phu : The Lone French woman at the Decisive Battle for Vietnam de Geneviève de Galard, Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 20139.

Harriet Berg

Harriet Berg was born in London in 1898: precisely why her parents were there at that time has not been ascertained, but as her father was a lawyer he may have been posted there by his firm.

It cannot have been a very long posting, for the Norwegian census of 1900[i] places him – Christian Hansson – and his wife Dagny at Bjerkheim in Bærum just outside Oslo. He is around 30 years of age, she 28 and they have probably not been married for a very long time, for their first child, Michael, is said to have been born in 1897. He trained as an engineer in Grenoble and later settled in the United States[ii]. The family had two servants: Emma Christine Moe, a 22-year-old from Tromsø (like Dagny), and Olufine Peders., who was the same age and also from northern Norway, but in her case from Malangen.

Ten years later, in 1910[iii], the family has moved closer to Christiania, to Huk Aveny 15, a fashionable district of villas and gardens, but close enough to the city that one could see the centre. Over the preceding ten years Harriet has been given two younger siblings: Ellen (born in Christiania 1902) and Per (born in Aker,1905). And the obligatory servants: three of them now. They were Gjertrud Olsen, 18, from Tønsberg; Oline Kristiansen, 25, from Tønsberg; and Ingeborg Halvorsen, 27 and from Horten.

Eldste barn var Michael Mørch Hansson, født 3. januar 1897, diplomingeniør fra Grenoble 1919, drog til USA 1919, død 1947. Gift Hjørdis Lund, født 1895. 1 barn. Kfr. slektstavlen. Nesteldste barn Harriet Mørch Hansson, født 8.4.1898, død 1975, gift Arild Kristofer Berg, født 28.7.1894 i Oslo. 3 barn. Kfr. slektstavlen. Per Mørch Hansson, født 6.7.1902, død 3.5.1903. Ellen Mørch Hansson, født 6.7.1902, død ved ulykkestilfelle i Paris 25.11.1919.

Harriet married the businessman Arild Berg from Høvik, just outside Oslo. This was announced[iv] by Kjeld Stub, the vicar at the garrison church in Christiania, Friday 8 August 1919. The marriage was celebrated[v] in her parents’ home on Bygdø, just outside Oslo town, 19 September the same year.

In a family history[vi] can be found a brief entry for Harriet:

Harriet Mørch Berg,

born Hansson,

1898-1983

Thus, Harriet Mørch Hansson, married Berg, edited the weekly “We ourselves and our homes”. This was one of our most respected weeklies with high standards and elegant journalism. Harriet Berg held a long series of offices, especially in the Red Cross, and received honours in Norway, Sweden and Finland, apart from the King’s Medal of Merit in gold. In the book issued in connection with the 25th anniversary of her cohort of students she wrote “Admirer of unafraid personal effort””.

One of the first times Harriet Berg appeared publicly in a Red Cross context was in September 1945, when an appeal was launched by the Red Cross in Oslo, as in other districts, for people to become members – partly to support the ideals of the organization, partly to help finance the role of the Red Cross in meeting emerging needs now the occupation was over. Everywhere there is need the Red Cross is present – nationally and internationally, the ad in Friheten[vii] – a communist mouthpiece – said. And continued: “We appeal to all citizens of “the city with the big heart” and ask you to support us through membership and through contributions to our activities”. Annual membership cost NOK 2,40 – at the time around GBP 0.12.

In the spring of 1947, Harriet Berg’s magazine appears to have published an article which discusses the situation of women in America and Norway, comparing the two interviewing “experts” – psychologists etc – about the causes of increased stress and less polite children, standard fare for ladies’ magazines throughout the times.

This was picked up by a journalist who wrote under the name of Skule in Friheten[viii], the Communist Party mouthpiece. He refers to the magazine as one for society ladies and has a number ironic comments on the article – Anguished Women, parts of which were taken from Harper’s Bazaar –  but doesn’t really engage Harriet: for his main concern is to use that article as his starting point for arguing something else: to make it illegal to hit children.

And: 40 years later, in 1987, that finally became the law in Norway.

Harriet Berg was elected, at some stage as member of the board of an NGO, Build your Country, which was founded just after liberation in 1945. But she didn’t stay very long, for at the organisation’s annual meeting in April 1947 she stepped down[ix].

One reason for stepping down from her role in Build your Country may have been a deeper involvement in the Red Cross in Oslo, where she was re-elected to the Board in June 1950[x].

Although Harriet Berg had stepped down as editor of the magazine, We Ourselves and Our Homes continued to use her as a writer, and in September 1951 an article about House for Handy Family with Children was published[xi].

Oslo Red Cross grew rapidly after the war, and continued to do so in the early 1950s: at its annual meeting[xii] – where Harriet Berg was re-elected to the board – it was announced that the membership had risen to 15’000 individuals, and that the activities had yielded a financial surplus of NOK 25’000, or GBP 1’253.

At the General Assembly of the Norwegian Red Cross in October 1954, Harriet Berg was elected Vice President of the organisation, replacing Mrs Ingrid Luet Cherat[xiii].

The Norwegian Red Cross, for decades, did not celebrate international Red Cross day but organised an annual “Red Cross Week” early in the autumn. In 1955, Norwegian Radio planned to transmit from the opening of this week, and a leading politician, Carl Joachim Hambro, and Harriet Berg both were speakers[xiv]. Carl Joachim Hambro was also the last President of the Assembly of the League of Nations and in that capacity handed over the archives and other possessions to the new United Nations.

In February 1956, wrote Arbeiderbladet[xv] – a newspaper then representing the Labour Party – Harriet Berg was one of the speakers at an occasion at the Red Cross’ “Sister Home”, where 27 new Red Cross Sisters received their diplomas. Other speakers included the Chairman of the Oslo Branch, Pastor Alex Johnson, ad Dr H. Ramstad.

In early 1956, We Ourselves and our Homes published its last issue[xvi], but at this point someone else was editing it – Harriet had returned to the magazine just after the war, but only for a short time.

In 1956 armed forces of the Soviet Union entered Hungary in order to restore that country to communist party rule. This caused a large number of Hungarians to flee to the West, first to Austria. The League of Red Cross Societies mounted a large-scale relief and assistance-operation, for which it received the Nansen Medal in 1957[xvii]. The form of the operation would, in modern terminology, perhaps be referred to as “co-ordinated bilateralism”, and drew on capacities and resources of member National Societies.

The Norwegian Red Cross, initially, sought to mobilize support for action within Norway, but soon came to the conclusion, in consultation with the Refugee Council (of which the Red Cross was a member) that resources might be better used elsewhere.

A piece[xviii] written for the 60th anniversary of the events concludes with the following paragraphs:

“I Norway the humanitarian organization the Refugee Council, later reorganized and given a new name in Norwegian, took care of Hungarian refugees.

Initially with assistance in the areas where the refugees had arrived, so that NOK 70’000 were telegraphed to the representative of the Refugee Council in Austria, according to the history book “Assistance and Protection. The Refugee Council 1946-1996”.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees appealed to Norway and other countries to receive refugees to be transferred from Austria, something the Refugee Council and Norwegian authorities initially rejected. In the first instance, one wanted to see whether many of the Hungarians might wish to return home.

And, presaging present day refugee debates:

“In any case all experience showed that the money reached farther when they could be used where the refugees were located – in this case, Austria”

Harriet Berg in the Red Cross advised that, according to plan, should have appeared in NRK’s The Housewife’s Hour and appeal to all housewives in the country to open their doors for Hungarian refugees. Following the decision of the Board of the Refugee Council these plans were suspended”

One of the duties, at least informally, of Vice Presidents of the Norwegian Red Cross is to participate in the annual meetings at the district level, Thus, in late May 1956, Harriet Berg was in Levanger for the meeting of Nord-Trøndelag District Branch. During the meeting she made a presentation of the international activities of the Norwegian Red Cross. On the Sunday there was a Red Cross mass in Alstadhaug Church, followed by a guided tour of that building[xix].

In September 1956 Harriet Berg travelled to Hetland by Stavanger, where the local Red Cross branch was celebrating Red Cross week in co-operation with Stavangerflint, a pottery. On the premises of that company, the Red Cross organised a “House-wives’ Market”, where they also served coffee and homebaked cakes and bread. On two of the days there would be a fashion show, and in the middle of the week Harriet Berg would give a presentation[xx].

In February 1957 Harriet Berg appeared on radio[xxi], in a programme called House and Home and made a presentation on the idea of “patient friend” – the term used by the Norwegian Red Cross for those volunteers who spend time visiting people who are hospitalised or otherwise isolated as a result of illness.

In April 1957 Harriet Berg was back at Bakkebø, where they opened the ninth “pavilion” on the property. The pavilion is described in the local newspaper[xxii] as the most beautiful of all of them and was opened by Bishop Smith.

The same year the Norwegian Red Cross held its National Meeting in Stavanger, and during that Harriet Berg was re-elected as member of the Board[xxiii].

The National Meeting also appointed the delegates of the Norwegian Red Cross to the International Conference which was scheduled to take place in New Delhi later in 1957. Harriet Berg was the leading governance person, and with her would travel the Secretary General, Sten Florelius, and Administrative Secretary Dagny Martens[xxiv].

This International Conference was mentioned in several newspapers (possibly “inspired” by the Norwegian Red Cross), including one in Grimstad[xxv], a small town on the south-east coast of Norway, and one with a traditionally international outlook resulting from the shipping business conducted from there, and the many sailors. The small article mentions the number of National Societies, that five more would be recognised during the Conference, and notes that “Red Cross Representatives from both East and West Germany, North and South Vietnam, and North and South Korea” would participate, in spite of the mutual rejection of their respective states. The article also refers to the 24th meeting of the League’s Board of Governors and at which there would be National Societies “from all 6 continents”. Among the issues to be debated, the newspaper mentions protection of civilians during wartime, especially in light of the continuing development of nuclear weapons.

At the next National Meeting, in the autumn of 1960, Harriet Berg was again elected to the Board of the Norwegian Red Cross[xxvi].

The Bakkebø home for intellectually disabled children became an independent foundation established by the Norwegian Red Cross through a Supervisory Board decision dated 23 November 1958. It had its own board, and Harriet Berg was a member of this, together with representatives of the Red Cross Districts concerned, and of the authorities in the same regions.

Mrs Heddy Astrup, who had chaired the project committee and since the opening of the institution’s board, had asked the Norwegian Red Cross to step down during the summer of 1961. At the following board meeting in June 1962, a new Chair was elected, and Harriet Berg became Vice Chair.

Bakkebø was, at this stage, a considerable operation: 300 children and 100 employees, but the Bard had ambitions and discussed expansion to a capacity of 400 children as well as a building for elderly[xxvii].

In the spring of 1964, Harriet Berg travelled south- eastwards – but only around 65 kilometres or an hour by train to Mysen where Østfold District of the Red Cross held its annual meeting. The District branch proudly announced it ha reached nearly 13’000 members and that the Red Cross Week had raised around NOK 400’000 – more than 20’000 pounds sterling. Harriet Berg made a presentation to the meeting: the topic was asthma, which she noted was a significant problem in Norway with more that 10’000 children awaiting treatment – and waiting times at the National Hospital very long. For that reason the Norwegian Red Cross had decided to build a home in the vicinity of Oslo. It would be an expensive project, and would represent a significant challenge for the organization in the coming years[xxviii].

In late 1964 preparations were well underway for the celebration, during the following year, of the 100th anniversary of the Norwegian Red Cross. Harriet Berg chaired the “Arrangements Committee” for the anniversary, which among other elements was to feature a membership drive with the motto of “Every Norwegian in the Red Cross”[xxix].

29 April 1965 there was a small ceremony at the headquarters of the Norwegian Red Cross[xxx]. The occasion was the award of the Norwegian Red Cross’ highest honour to Hans Høegh – who later served as Secretary General of the League – for his services to the Red Cross. Harriet Berg expressed the warmest thanks on behalf of Oslo District. Hans Høegh, subsequently, went on to become President of the Norwegian Red Cross and, then, Secretary General of the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

In 1965 the Norwegian Red Cross celebrated its 100th anniversary, and Harriet Berg was the chair of the committee organizing the events in that regard. One of those was a gala in the “Aula of the University of Oslo”, the city’s and, perhaps the country’s, premier premises for celebrations. The Association of Oslo Florists and that of Oslo Gardeners provided flowers for that, and also for the service in the Cathedral. Outside the brass band of the Norwegian armed forces performed in a nearby part from 11 am the same day. Reported[xxxi] the newspaper of the Communist Party.

In an earlier report, the Labour Party Newspaper, Arbeiderbladet, conveyed more of the programme. The meeting at the University Aula would be attended by the King of Norway; nearly all costs associated with the celebrations would be paid for by contributions from private sector or others; the Cabinet offered a dinner at the Castle of Akershus.

The first item on the programme was laying a wreath at the Monument to the Fallen at the Castle of Akershus, the same on the grave of Prime Minister Frederik Stang, the founder of the Norwegian Red Cross; at the bust of Fridtjof Nansen, and on the graves of eminent members of the organization. And there was devotional service in the Cathedral, presided over by Bishop Smemo, then the head of the Church if Norway. And – to cap it all – there were visitors from the Ethiopian Red Cross[xxxii].

The Board of Bakkebø met in late March 1966, at Bakkebø, So Harriet Berge – who still was the Vice Chair – probably travelled there by rail, a journey of 8-10 hours or so. The Board passed the accounts, which showed expenses of four and a half million NOK, or nearly a quarter million pounds sterling. Other issues before it, a new sports hall, roofing the swimming pool, improvements to the agricultural activities – it was quite a complex operation[xxxiii].

Oslo Red Cross had many activities in the late sixties and needed cash to keep going: in September 1967 the Red Cross held a 10-day bazaar in “The Craftsman”, a restaurant in central Oslo. Harriet Berg spoke at the opening, during which the Female Students’ Song Association sang[xxxiv].

After the war, the Norwegian Red Cross became involved in efforts to provide better care for children with intellectual disabilities, and responding to an idea put forward by three people – Kiss Tveit, Leiv Tveit and Heddy Astrup – a central institution for the southern three provinces of Norway was established in 1947. This institution – Bakkebø in Egersund – kept working until the early 1990’s when a changed attitude to children like this led to a reform away from institutions. Harriet Berg came onto the board of this at an early stage and was still part of it

In the summer of 1968, Bakkebø had been open for 20 year. From a first intake of 45 children, the institution had grown to 320, and the number of staff was now 140, and Harriet Berg was still Vice Chair of the institution[xxxv].

Harriet Berg edited a magazine – We Ourselves and our Homes” – from 1934 until it was closed by the occupation authorities in 1944, and during the war she joined the Red Cross. So it is reported in the newspaper Tromsø 27 August 1969[xxxvi], when they prepared their audience for a radio programme the same day at 2 PM, the “Midday Time”.

A Norwegian radio programme called, roughly, “the Midday Pause” aired daily at 2 PM – later at 1 PM – from 1966 to 1995 and was meant to engage the elderly. On 27 August 1969, Harriet Berg was scheduled to be interviewed, and the Arbeiderbladet[xxxvii] newspaper wrote about it the same day. She spoke about her career as an editor, and as a Red Cross person, and her social work during the war as in peacetime. Looking back at a life of cultural and social activity she ends with a quote from the ageing Arnulf Øverland: “… sorrows I have put away… tears are for children and the very young…”.

In the autumn of 1969, the Norwegian Red Cross organised its general assembly – the national meeting – in the town of Kongsberg, and among many other decisions honoured Harriet Berg and her many years of service. As reported in the Labour Party newspaper[xxxviii]:

«Harriet Berg

honorary member of

Red Cross

Kongsberg, Sunday (NTB)

At the Norwegian Red Cross’s 24th national meeting in Kongsberg on Saturday, Torstein Dale, Oslo, was re-elected as president of the National Association. Moy Nordahl, Fauske, was re-elected as Vice President, and as new Vice President after Jørgen Velle was elected Per Røiseland, Moss. Grethe Johnsen, Stavanger, and Lothar Larsen, Steinkjer were elected as new Central Board members. Kaare Michelsen, Bergen, and Oddborg Skattum, Gjøvik, became alternate members of the board. Hjørdis Kolbeinsen, Jørgen Jørgensen and Charles Østby stepped down from the central board.

Former chairman of the Oslo district, Harriet Berg, who has been active in the Norwegian Red Cross for 30 years, was named honorary member.

At the national meeting, the Norwegian Red Cross Medal of Merit was awarded to Leif Pihl, Sandnes, and Lillemor Haarseth Roheim, Jørstadmoen. The Norwegian Red Cross Relief Corps Medal was awarded to Oddbjørn Folleraas, Sogndal, Rolv Beyer, Sandnes, and Per Hornburg, Bodø. The Norwegian Red Cross plaque is awarded to Guttorm Friis, Kåre Krogstad, Kristian Søgnen and Asbjørn Vik.

The national meeting addressed the work program for the next three years, and the meeting advocated increased efforts by the Norwegian Red Cross at the international level, both in disaster relief and development assistance in the association area »

By 1970, when Harriet Berg was 72, a new generation and its views on social work was becoming the dominant voice in debates over how people in social distress ought to be supported. Apparently, Harriet Berg had written an article in the Red Cross Magazine Over alle grenser – “Across all frontiers” – on the roles of professionals and volunteers, respectively, in these fields. She seems to have used the language of her own generation, but setting her views in a modern context of rights rather than charity: the magazine article has not been available. Anyhow, this article provoked a reaction that was expressed in Arbeiderbladet[xxxix] in early August 1970 and in the form of a letter from a reader, Tone B. Jamholt.

Ms Jamholt pointed out a terminological error on the part of Harriet Berg, and went on to attack the use of the word “to help” in the context of social assistance, claiming it would demean the recipient. She went on to try and explain her views in a simplified form – seemingly oblivious of the intellectual snobbery implied by her own choice of words. Insisting on the primary role of the public sector, she grants that private organizations have the right to exist – but only as pressure groups or in order to shape attitudes – in the direction Ms Jamholt prefers.

Towards the end Ms Jamholt declares that she will not hide the fact that humanitarian organizations have done some good in the past, nor will she cast doubt on the good will of Harriet Berg, but believes that the humanitarians have constituted an excuse for the public sector not to act. And in conclusion, she accepts that people behave as good friends towards acquaintances, on condition it is not conceived of as help – humanity must exist without being organized. If that is not the case, then it will be necessary to study the structures and locate the errors.

What Harriet Berg’s reaction, if any, to this was is not known  but the little episode has been included as an illustration of the hard-line debates that took place during the late 1960’s and through the 1970’s, and which led to quite radical changes in both the Red Cross and the wider world of Norwegian organizations.

Monday[xl], 14 June 1975, was a good day for Harriet Berg: she was received in audience by the King of Norway, Olav V. Several other people had the same honour that day: the Chief of Pensions, Olav Hagna; Dr. Sidney A. Rand, Northfield, USA; Mechanic Henry O. Brække; Foreman in a paper factory Trygve Bye, Carpenter Lars Jensen, Cellulose worker Håkon Johannesen; Foreman Arne Y. Johansen; and Wage-cashier Arthur Rød  all from the town of Halden.

Harriet Berg died in Oslo just before the middle of April 1983[xli]. Her funeral took place in Vestre Krematorium at midday, Wednesday 20 April[xlii].

______________________________________________

[i] Folketelling 1900 for 0219 Bærum herred; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01037029004460

[ii] Gunnar Christie Wasberg Fil.dr., Universitetsbilotekar emeritus, editor; “CHRISTIANIA-SLEKTEN HANSSON”, based on an earlier work of the same title by a S. H. Finne-Grønn, 1939; p 94; https://hansson.priv.no/slekt/slektsbok.pdf

[iii] Folketelling 1910 for 0218 Aker herred; https://www.digitalarkivet.no/census/person/pf01036372005867

[iv] Norsk Kunngjørelsestidende; Oslo, 08.08.1919; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_norskkundgjoerelsestidende_null_null_19190808_37_291_1

[v] Morgenbladet; Oslo, 17.09.1919; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_morgenbladet_null_null_19190917_101_470_1

[vi] Gunnar Christie Wasberg Fil.dr., Universitetsbilotekar emeritus, editor; “CHRISTIANIA-SLEKTEN HANSSON”, based on an earlier work of the same title by a S. H. Finne-Grønn, 1939; p 94; https://hansson.priv.no/slekt/slektsbok.pdf

[vii] Friheten (Oslo); Oslo, 22.09.1945; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_friheten_null_null_19450922_5_121_1

[viii] Friheten (Oslo),

Norge, Oslo, Oslo09.04.1947

https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_friheten_null_null_19470409_7_81_1

[ix] Halden Arbeiderblad02.04.1948, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_haldenarbeiderblad_null_null_19480402_16_75_1

[x] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)17.06.1950, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19500617_62_137_1

[xi] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)08.09.1951, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19510908_63_208_1

[xii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo), 05.06.1953, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19530605_65_127_1

[xiii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)14.10.1954, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19541014_1954_238_1

[xiv] Radioprogrammene for uken, Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)25.08.1955, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19550825_67_196_1

[xv] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)09.02.1956, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19560209_68_34_1

[xvi] Nordisk Tidende, USA22.03.1956, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_nordisktidende_null_null_19560322_66_12_1

[xvii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nansen_Refugee_Award

[xviii] https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/norge/2016/10/20/195250240/sondag-er-det-60-ar-siden-oppror-brot-ut-i-ungarn-mot-sovjet-diktaturet

[xix] Innherreds Folkeblad Verdalingen25.05.1956, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_innherredsfolkebladv_null_null_19560525_51_39_1

[xx] Rogalands Avis03.09.1956, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_rogalandsavis_null_null_19560903_58_204_1

[xxi] Rogalands Avis, Stavanger08.02.1957, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_rogalandsavis_null_null_19570208_59_33_1

[xxii] Dalane Tidende, Eigersund26.04.1957, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_dalanetidende_null_null_19570426_73_47_1

[xxiii] Rogalands Avis, Stavanger30.09.1957, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_rogalandsavis_null_null_19570930_59_226_1

[xxiv] Friheten (Oslo)03.10.1957, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_friheten_null_null_19571003_17_228_1

[xxv] Grimstad Adressetidende31.10.1957, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_grimstadadressetiden_null_null_19571031_102_125_1

[xxvi] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo), 10.10.1960, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19601010_72_236_1

[xxvii] Dalane Tidende, Norge, Rogaland, Eigersund02.07.1962,https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_dalanetidende_null_null_19620702_78_75_1

[xxviii] Moss Dagblad22.04.1963, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_mossdagblad_null_null_19630422_52_91_1

[xxix] Moss Dagblad, Norge, Viken, Moss28.12.1964,https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_mossdagblad_null_null_19641228_53_300_1

[xxx] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo), 30.04.1965, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19650430_1_99_1

[xxxi] Friheten (Oslo)18.09.1965, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_friheten_null_null_19650918_26_213_1

[xxxii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)18.09.1965,https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19650918_0_216_1

[xxxiii] Dalane Tidende, Norge, Rogaland, Eigersund01.04.1966, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_dalanetidende_null_null_19660401_82_38_1

[xxxiv] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)06.09.1967, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19670906_0_206_1

[xxxv] Dalane Tidende, Norge, Rogaland, Eigersund15.07.1968, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_dalanetidende_null_null_19680715_85_79_1

[xxxvi] Tromsø27.08.1969, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_tromso_null_null_19690827_72_196_1

[xxxvii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)27.08.1969,

https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:nonb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19690827_1_197_1

[xxxviii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)06.10.1969, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19691006_null_231_1

[xxxix] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)04.08.1970, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19700804_1_178_1

[xl] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)17.06.1975, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladetoslo_null_null_19750617_0_135_1

[xli] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)15.04.1983; https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladet_null_null_19830415_100_85_1

[xlii] Arbeiderbladet (Oslo)19.04.1983, https://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digavis_arbeiderbladet_null_null_19830419_100_88_1

 

Helena Paderewska 

Helena Paderewska around 1929

The Polish Red Cross organisation was set up under the patronage of Helena Paderewska (the second wife of Prime Minister Ignacy Jan Paderewski), in the aftermath of the First World War and the restoration of the Polish State[i].

Helena Maria von Rosen Górska Paderewska (August 1, 1856-January 16, 1934) was a Polish social activist who helped found the Polish White Cross society during World War I (among other humanitarian activities), and also is known as the second wife and partial biographer of Polish patriot, prime minister and musician Ignacy Jan Paderewski

– – – + – – –

 

 

(From Wikipedia)

 

Helena Maria von Rosen Górska Paderewska (August 1, 1856-January 16, 1934) was a Polish social activist who helped found the Polish White Cross society during World War I (among other humanitarian activities), and also is known as the second wife and partial biographer of Polish patriot, prime minister and musician Ignacy Jan Paderewski.[1][2][3]

Early and family life

Born in Warsaw in 1856 to an aristocratic Polish father of Baltic German descent (Baron Wladislaw Friedrich Johann Kasimir von Rosen, b. 1829) and a Greek mother, the former Sophia Taube, who had met during his military service in the Crimean War. Her mother died shortly after Helena’s birth.[4] At the time, Warsaw was part of Congress Poland, with the Russian Tsar also the Polish King since the 1815 treaty ending the Napoleonic Wars, which also contained a provision suppressing the name “Poland” (one of Napoleon’s allies having been the Duchy of Warsaw). Polish identity and culture had been forced into dissident channels, particularly in Russian- (and after 1871 also Prussian-) administered areas. (The last Polish-Lithuanian King, Augustus III of Poland, had died in 1763 and the resulting Commonwealth government had launched Europe’s first secular school system a decade later, as the big-power partitions which led to the Polish state’s dismemberment began).[5] She had an elder brother, possibly the father of Robert Otto von Rosen (b. 1879). Her father remarried and Helena von Rosen was raised by her paternal grandmother, Katarzyna Rucinska Rosen, and her aunt Emilia Rosen Jaszowska.[6] She became fluent in four languages (especially French) but received little formal education. At age 17, she married Władysław Górski (1846-1915), then a decade her senior and a violin soloist with the Warsaw Opera orchestra.[7] Their son, Wacław Otton Górski (1877-1936) would move to the United States, become a journalist, marry twice, and would be buried in Indianapolis.[8] However, marital issues which began the year after their son’s birth caused their separation.

Divorce not being recognized by the Catholic church, von Rosen lived for years with Ignacy Jan Paderewski, her future second husband and a widower since his first wife Antonina Korsak had died of complications following the birth of their severely disabled son Alfred (1880-1901). Helena and Ignacy had first met circa 1878, when Paderewski was a rising young pianist near her age who played concerts with her husband. Their friendship eventually grew into a romance.[9] Beginning in 1895, Rosen attempted to annul her first marriage with Górski, on grounds that her father had not given the necessary consent to the marriage (since she was then a minor) and that the marriage ceremony had occurred in a parish to which neither spouse belonged.[10] Shortly after receiving the annulment, Helena and Ignacy married in Warsaw on May 31, 1899.

Social activist

Shortly after their marriage, Paderewski bought a villa, Riond-Bosson, near Morges, Switzerland, where he recovered from his worldwide concert tours, and they both experimented with new farming and husbandry techniques. She raised prize-winning purebred chickens at Riond-Bosson and donated 300 for breeding by the Warsaw Agricultural Society, as well as founded an agricultural school to teach Polish country girls poultry farming and gardening techniques in Julin in northeast Poland.[11] Paderewski also owned a large estate in Galicia and a property near Nyon on the shores of Lake Geneva, and circa 1913 bought two ranches near Paso Robles, California, where they spent summers in a nearby hotel, as well as cultivated walnuts, almonds and plums (processed into prunes).[12]

Mr and Mrs Paderewski at Philadelphia Emergency Aid Benefit 1916

By 1910, Paderewski was wealthy and famous both as a philanthropist and musician. He had embraced the new phonograph and sound recording technologies (like the opera star Enrique Caruso and the violinist Fritz Kreisler), as well as performed at concerts throughout Europe, the United States, Australia, South America and South Africa.[13] While he met with the powerful and courted wealthy donors for various charities they supported (some by specific concerts), Paderewska wrote letters and appeals, met with grassroots workers and parish priests, and handled marketing and money. Among her projects was a club for Warsaw’s newspaper boys, and a home for elderly female veterans (including of the failed January Uprising of 1863 against Russia and the Revolution in the Kingdom of Poland (1905-1907)).

Her husband, Paderewski, also became involved in Polish affairs. Noting that Russia forbad erection of a statute to the national poet Adam Mickiewicz on the 100th anniversary of his birth, Paderewski refused invitations to perform in Moscow and St. Petersburg. After Prussia forbad the proposed erection of a statue honoring the Polish and Lithuanian warriors who won the Battle of Grunwald against the Teutonic Knights 500 years earlier (which Paderewski said he dreamed about since he was 14 years old), Paderewski proudly refused multiple invitations to perform again in Berlin. Paderewski also substantially funded both monuments, which the Austro-Hungarian Empire permitted in Kracow, Poland’s historic capital (and a “free city” after the Napoleonic Wars, annexed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1846 and thereafter the capital of its province “Galicia“).[14] In erecting these monuments, Paderewski became associated with Roman Dmowski, president of the Polish Club of Petrograd and leader of the Polish members of the Russian Duma, but whose anti-Semitism would later become an issue used against Paderewski in the United States.[15]

As World War I’s hostilities began in late July 1914, the Paderewskis were celebrating his name day and her birthday with their customary gathering of friends, musicians and politicians at their Swiss home. Their funds (and especially those of their Polish friends) were frozen in Lausanne (although they managed to live on credit), and travel became difficult. They hosted about 50 people for several weeks, and Lausanne became a gathering place for Polish exiles. In November 1914, Russian Grand Duke Nicholas reportedly promised Polish independence after the war, but Paderewski feared it a ruse to quiet rampant unrest, and began working with Erasmus PiltzHenry SienkiewiczWincenty LutoslawskiJózef Wierusz-KowalskiJan Kucharzewski and other Polish exiles for Polish relief.[16]

In January 1915, Paderewski planned a three month trip to Paris, London and the United States, initially thinking he and his wife could lobby for Polish relief, as well as continue his concert career. However, they soon realized the difficulty of the task they had undertaken. Russia’s ambassador in Paris, Count Alexander Izvolsky, was anti-Polish, though a politically necessary member of any relief committee of Polish exiles in that country. Meanwhile, Paderewska through contacts with Mildred Barnes BlissDenys Cochin and Wladyslaw Mickiewicz was able to visit Polish conscript prisoners from the German army, as well as start a doll-making project among nearly destitute Polish students and artisans in Paris. For the next several years, she hauled trunks of dolls and sold them in conjunction with her husband’s concerts to develop profits to buy milk for Polish babies and do other good works. In London, Russia’s ambassador Count Alexander Benckendorff assisted Paderewski’s Polish relief efforts both in Britain and its overseas colonies. However, the English public knew little about Poland, so Paderewski began writing letters to newspaper editors, which some published. Thus began his role as Polish spokesman. In April 1915, the Paderewskis boarded the transatlantic steamship Adriatic for the United States, but the sinking of the Lusitania the following month transformed their short trip into one of more than three years.[17]

Dolls made by WW1 Polish refugees in France for sale through Helena Paderewska.

In the United States, the Paderewskis made a hotel in New York City their base, but spent possibly more nights aboard overnight railway cars, not only traveling for benefit performances (during which his wife sold dolls as well as signed autographs), but also to meet the Polish community in the United States (and get them to overcome their various hostilities to Prussia or Russia or loyalty to the broken Austro-Hungarian Empire). Paderewski advocated Poland’s cause before his concerts, and also used his fame to meet key politicians and influencers, thus becoming a key spokesman in exile for Poland. He developed a relationship with Col. Edward House, who became a key aide of President Woodrow Wilson, and also became acquainted with future President Herbert Hoover (who initially worked to evacuate Americans trapped by the conflict and later coordinated aid in Europe). Wilson endorsed the idea of an independent Polish state immediately before his election in 1916, and chose not to block (and eventually endorsed) Paderewski’s idea of an army of Polish exiles, initially proposed as Kosciuszko‘s Army, and later called the Blue Army or Haller‘s Army, which France endorsed and Canada permitted to train. The Paderewskis made many trips to Chicago (the headquarters of several Polish organizations) and in August 1918 a thousand Polish emigrant delegates from North American (of all political persuasians) met in Detroit and agreed to raise ten million dollars to benefit Poland. However, by September 1917, the press of Polish affairs forced Paderewski to stop further concerts.[18]

During their three years of travels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, Helena Paderewska organized help for the war’s victims in Poland, as well as for Polish soldiers, who first fought in France and later on the Eastern Front.[19] With the help of Polish emigrants in the United States, Paderewska founded the Polish White Cross in February 1918 (initially the Red Cross would not permit use of its name since Poland was not a country), and also helped found the Relief Society for Intelligence.[20]

First lady

Poland briefly regained its independence as the war ended on November 11, 1918, in what became known as the Second Polish Republic. As transatlantic crossings again became safe, the couple steamed to London, where (after overcoming lodging problems) the British Foreign Office asked Paderewski go to Warsaw and help establish a stable government, necessary if Poland were to have representatives at the upcoming peace conference. After brief consultations with Mr. Dmowski in Paris (where the Peace Conference would begin), the Paderewskis and Major Iwanowski (Paderewski’s secretary) embarked on a British cruiser, escorted by a destroyer, for Gdansk. After a snowstorm delay, they reached Poland on Christmas day. Enthusiastic crowds greeted the Paderewskis in Gdansk and again in Posnan after a train trip the following day, although retreating Prussian authorities had opposed Paderewski’s stops in either city. Moreover, Paderewski had caught a cold during the stormy sea voyage, so Paderewska took his place on the reviewing stand for the children’s parade, only to learn that some Prussian soldiers were firing upon Poles elsewhere in the city. Paderewski survived an assassination attempt (bullets shot into their hotel room) before they left for Kalisz (destroyed by Prussia early in the war). Travel proved slow as Polish soldiers cleared the rail line to Warsaw, plus in every village en route people greeted them with flowers, bread and salt. Despite arriving at Warsaw at 1a.m., a crowd of peasants wearing national costumes unyoked the carriage’s horses in order to pull the Paderewskis the mile to their hotel through another massive crowd.[21]

However the political situation remained chaotic, and not only because the country had been devastated by years of war. Many people lacked food, as well as boots and proper winter clothing. Despite speedy diplomatic recognition from the United States, Poland faced border disputes, particularly in Silesia with the Czechs. Russian Bolsheviks continued to fight in the north and east, and Ukrainian Bolsheviks besieged Lwow/Lemberg. On January 5-6, a bloodless failed coup led the unpopular leftist Jedrej Moraczewski government to resign, though Józef Piłsudski remained Poland’s temporary chief of state. Furthermore, personal threats against Paderewski by radical elements greatly worried Paderewska, though her husband responded “there is no place in politics for a man who is afraid of death.”

From January 16 to December 9, 1919, Paderewski became the Second Republic’s Prime Minister (technically president of the Council of Ministers), and Foreign Minister as well for a slightly longer time. In Poland’s first elections, he had been elected from Warsaw and Lublin, and accepted the former seat.[22] Helena Paderewska accompanied him during many of these meetings, and government business was conducted at their hotel homes. She also influenced her husband’s policy, and that involvement became a focus for criticism by some afraid to attack her husband directly (somewhat akin to the later Eleanor Roosevelt). During their seven months in Paris, Paderewska became one of the few women present at the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 (her husband being Poland’s signatory) and also witnessed the signing of the Treaty of St. Germain (which formally ended hostilities with the Austro-Hungarian empire) in September before they returned to Warsaw.[23] However, Paderewski resigned his positions in December, his health having failed after further elections failed to produce a majority government. They returned to their Swiss home, where Paderewska wrote her memoirs of the previous decade with the assistance of native English speakers.[24]

The following year (1920), Paderewski briefly represented Poland at the League of Nations in New York, while war continued with Russia and Ukraine, and the Red Army nearly captured Warsaw. However, the World War had also destroyed Paderewski’s fortune, so he resigned that position in 1921, resumed his musical concerts in 1922, and world tours beginning in 1924. In 1924, the year of his last personal visit to Poland, Paderewski also sold his interest in the Warsaw daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita and ended his political career.[25]

On January 18, 1919, all organizations working on Polish soil that followed the ideals of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement gathered, and soon amalgamated as the Polish Red Cross Society. Paderewska had participated as leader of the Polish White Cross. The Polish government soon approved the new entity, and a few months later – after the aristocratic first president Paweł Sapieha (1860-1934) resigned – Paderewska became the relatively new society’s president. She continued in the position until 1926, although she last visited Poland in 1924. Paderewska also supported the Polish YWCA, and was an honorary member of Polish Women’s Alliance of America.

In 1921 Pope Benedict XV awarded Paderewska the pontifical cross for her humanitarian work.[26]

Death and legacy

During the final two years of her life, Helena Paderewska suffered several illnesses. Her husband, Ignacy Paderewski, canceled his winter tour of the United States in order to comfort her in her final days. Helena Paderewska died in Switzerland on January 16, 1934 at the Paderewski estate Riond-Bosson in Tolochenaz near Morges. Her husband buried her at Cimetière des Champeaux in Montmorency, Val-d’Oise near Paris next to his Alfred (1880–1901). Deeply affected by her death, Paderewski made known his wish to be buried beside her.[27] However, he survived her by about seven years, during which time he continued to advocate for Polish independence and indicated that he wanted to be buried in Poland once it again became free, which later happened, so his remains never have been buried beside her.

In 2014, the Hoover Institution announced that curator Maciej Siekierski had discovered two copies of an unpublished typescript by Paderewska which contained a political biography of her husband during the years 1910-1920. Paderewski had entrusted it to fellow musician and U.S. military intelligence officer Ernest Schelling, who never published it, although following Siekierski’s editing, it was published in 2015.[28]


References[edit source]

  1. ^Piotr Majewski,MPs and Senators of the Republic of Poland 1919-1939. Biographical Dictionary, volume IV M-P Wydawnictwo Sejmowe, Warsaw, 2009, p. 307
  2. ^“Helena Paderewska: Memoirs, 1910–1920”. Hoover Institution.
  3. ^Maciej Sierkierski, Helena Paderewska: Memoirs, 1910-1920 (Hoover Institution Press 2015) ISBN 978-0-8179-1964-4 Parameter error in {{ISBN}}: Invalid ISBN.
  4. ^Sierkierski, p. xviii
  5. ^Norman Davies’ introduction in Sierkierski p. xii
  6. ^Sierkierski p. xviii
  7. ^Sierkierski p. xviii
  8. ^Sierkierski p. 186
  9. ^Sierkierski p. xviii
  10. ^Sławomir Koper, Private life of the elite of the Second Republic, Bellona 2011, p. 188-189.
  11. ^Sierkierski p. 79
  12. ^Sierkierski pp. xix, 23-25
  13. ^Sierkierski p. xiii
  14. ^Sierkierski p. xix
  15. ^Sierkierski pp. 14-17, 21-23
  16. ^Sierkierski pp. 32-40
  17. ^Sierkierski pp. 41-51
  18. ^Sierkierski pp. 55-117
  19. ^Helena Paderewska, Paderewski: The Struggle for Polish Independence (1910-1920) , ed. Ilias Chrissochoidis (Stanford, Brave World, 2015), pp. 130-134.
  20. ^Lexicon of Polish History from 1995, p. 543
  21. ^Siekierski pp. 123-134
  22. ^Siekierski pp. 145-146
  23. ^Siekierski pp. 135-143
  24. ^Siekierski pp. 166-172
  25. ^Siekierski pp. 173-174
  26. ^ Zygmunt Kaczyński (January 18, 1934). “Ś. Helena Paderewska”Kurier Warszawski. Letter to. pp. 10–11.
  27. ^ DrozdowskiIgnacy Jan Paderewski. Pianist, composer, statesman, Wydawnictwo DiG, Warsaw, 2001, p. 115
  28. ^“Helena Paderewska Memoirs Discovered in the Hoover Archives”. Hoover Institution.

[i] https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/polish-red-cross-marks-its-centenary-with-beautiful-outdoor-exhibition-7221