Anna Petronella van Heerden facts for kids

Anna Petronella van Heerden (1887–1975) was a very important South African woman. She was the first Afrikaner woman to become a medical doctor. She earned her doctorate in 1923. Her medical paper was the first ever written in the Afrikaans language. Anna worked as a specialist in women's health, called a gynecologist. She retired in 1942. She also helped during World War II as part of the South African medical team.

Becoming a Doctor

Anna van Heerden was born on April 26, 1887. Her birthplace was Bethlehem, in South Africa. Her parents were Francois Willem van Heerden and Josephine Ryneveldt Beck Horak. Anna was the middle child in her family. She had an older brother named Alexander and a younger brother named Frankie.

Anna went to school at the Huguenot Seminary in Wellington. She also studied at Victoria College in Stellenbosch. From 1908 to 1915, she attended the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. There, she completed her medical degree.

After finishing her studies, Anna worked as an intern in 1916. This was at the Volkshuishospitaal in Bloemfontein. In 1917, she opened her own medical practice in Harrismith.

Specializing in Women's Health

Anna decided to become a specialist in gynecology. This is the study of women's reproductive health. She went to London in 1921 to study this field. Later, she returned to Amsterdam to finish her PhD.

In 1923, she earned her doctorate. Her special paper was called Die sogenamde adenioma van die ovarium. This means "The so-called adenoma of the ovary" in English. After this, she moved to Cape Town. There, she worked as a gynecologist.

During World War II, Anna van Heerden joined the South African medical corps. She helped treat soldiers and others. In 1942, she decided to retire from her medical practice.

Other Interests and Activities

Anna van Heerden was interested in many things beyond medicine. She was a very active person.

Getting Involved in Politics

In 1924, Anna became part of the main committee for the Cape National Party. This was a political group. She played a big role in a disagreement about the national flag of South Africa. She also worked hard to help women get the right to vote. This is called suffrage.

Exploring Ancient History

Anna was also interested in Archaeology. This is the study of human history through digging up old sites. In 1931, she joined an important dig. This excavation was at Wadi el Maghara, near Mount Carmel in Palestine. A famous archaeologist named Dorothy Garrod led the project.

Later Life and Legacy

After retiring from medicine, Anna van Heerden spent time on a farm. She enjoyed raising cattle there. People often saw her at cattle auctions. She actively bought and sold animals. This was very unusual for a woman in South Africa at that time.

Anna van Heerden never got married. She passed away in Cape Town on January 10, 1975. She is remembered as a pioneer. She opened doors for many women in medicine and other fields in South Africa.

See also

In Spanish: Anna Petronella van Heerden para niños