Anna Olsson (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Olsson
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From left to right: Mia Olsson, Lydia Olsson, Anna Olsson, Hannes Olsson.
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| Born | Anna Olsson 19 August 1866 Värmland, Sweden |
| Died | 15 February 1946 (aged 79) Rock Island, Illinois |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Moline, Illinois |
| Occupation | Author, teacher |
| Language | Swedish, English |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Augustana College (Illinois) |
| Notable work | En prärieunges funderingar |
| Relatives | Olof Olsson |
Anna Olsson (born August 19, 1866, in Värmland, Sweden – died February 15, 1946, in Rock Island, Illinois) was a famous Swedish-American writer. She is best known for her children's books, which often shared stories from her own childhood.
Contents
Anna Olsson's Early Life
Anna Olsson was the first daughter and oldest child of Olof and Anna Lisa Olsson. In 1869, when Anna was three years old, her family moved from Värmland, Sweden, to the United States. They settled in Lindsborg, Kansas. Her father, Olof Olsson, worked there as a pastor.
Anna later used many of her childhood experiences on the Kansas prairie in her books. In 1877, her father became a professor at Augustana College. The family then moved to Rock Island, Illinois.
Education and Travel
Anna returned to Lindsborg in 1882 and 1883 to attend Bethany Academy. In 1883, she joined her family in Rock Island and started studying at Augustana College. She focused on German language and literature, and also enjoyed philosophy.
Anna graduated in 1888 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was only the second woman to ever graduate from Augustana College. From 1889 to 1890, Anna traveled in Europe with her father and siblings. They visited Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. During this trip, Anna continued her studies at a German school. She also attended lectures on literature and philosophy at the University of Zurich.
Later, from 1896 to 1898, she studied Italian, French, and literature at Augustana College again.
Family Life and Responsibilities
In March 1887, a year before Anna graduated, her mother, Anna Lisa, passed away. This was a very sad time for the family. Anna had to take on many of her mother's duties. She helped care for her younger siblings and managed the household.
It was only after her siblings grew older and her father had also passed away that Anna could fully focus on her dream of becoming a writer.
Anna Olsson's Career as a Writer and Teacher
Anna Olsson spent her career both teaching and writing. In 1888, she went back to Lindsborg, Kansas, to teach in the Children's Department at Bethany Academy. She left this job to travel in Europe with her family.
In 1895, Anna became the principal of Ladies' Hall at Augustana College. She worked as principal until 1900. Then, she became an English instructor at the college. Her first story was published in 1901 in a magazine called Ungdomsvännen. She wrote it anonymously, meaning her name was not on it. Anna left her teaching job at Augustana College in 1902.
Her Writing Style and Famous Works
Anna Olsson wrote both fiction (made-up stories) and non-fiction (true stories). She wrote in both Swedish and English. She often used a special Swedish-American way of speaking in her texts. Her books were published using the pen name "Aina." Most of her writings were for children.
Her most famous book is En prärieunges funderingar. This book tells a semi-autobiographical story. It means it's partly about her own life. It shares her family's journey to the United States and their years living on the Kansas prairie. Anna was also a popular writer for Swedish and Lutheran magazines. She published her work in Ungdomsvännen, Fosterlandel, Prairieblomman, Julrunan, and Julgranan, among others.
Anna Olsson continued to write until she passed away on February 15, 1946, at the age of 79. She and her siblings never married or had children. The house where they lived after their father died became a special landmark in Rock Island in 1996.
Works
- Anna Olsson published her work in many Swedish-American magazines. These included Ungdomsvännen, Fosterlandel, Prairieblomman, Julrunan, and Julgranan.
Later Editions of Her Books
Anna Olsson's books were republished several times in Sweden and the United States.
- Prärieungen: Anna Olssons barndomsminnen was a shorter version of En prärieunges funderingar. It was published by Joan Sandin in 1984.
- Martha Winblad and Elizabeth Jaderborg translated and edited En prärieunges funderingar in 1978. They called it Anna Olsson: "A child of the prairie".
- You can find information about the Olof Olsson family papers (1861-2011). These are kept at Augustana Special Collections in Rock Island, Illinois.
