Bertha Nordenson facts for kids
Bertha Harriet Nordenson (1857–1928) was an important Swedish activist. She worked hard for women's rights and for women to get the right to vote. From the late 1880s, she supported women gaining more freedom and equality.
She joined the Married Woman's Property Rights Association. This group worked to give married women control over their own money and belongings. Later, she became a leader on its board. When this group joined the Fredrika Bremer Association, Bertha continued her work. She helped make laws better for women. She also played a big part in the National Council of Swedish Women. Bertha was also very interested in healthcare. From 1908, she led a group that helped poor families get medical care at home. She received a gold medal for her great work with the Swedish Red Cross.
Early Life
Bertha Harriet Nordenson was born in London on September 25, 1857. She was one of five daughters. Her father, Johan Gustaf Carl Pontus Kleman, was a successful businessman. Her mother was Bertha Amalia Hierta.
In 1882, Bertha married Erik Wilhelm Nordenson, who was a famous eye doctor. They had five children together. Bertha grew up in wealthy families in London, Paris, and southern France. She received a very good education. She learned to speak English, French, and German fluently. She often spent holidays in Sweden with her grandparents. Her grandfather, Lars Johan Hierta, was a newspaper publisher. These visits helped her become very good at speaking Swedish too.
Working for Change
After getting married, Bertha and her husband lived in Paris for a while. When Bertha was 30, they moved back to Sweden and settled in Stockholm. Besides raising her family, Bertha became deeply involved in the fight for women's rights. Many of her female relatives were also working for these causes.
She became a very active member of the Married Woman's Property Rights Association. Her aunt, Anna Hierta-Retzius, a well-known women's rights reformer, had started this group. When it combined with the Fredrika Bremer Association, Bertha joined the committee. This committee focused on improving the legal rights of women. She later became a board member. In 1899, she was one of the people who signed a special request to the king. This request asked for women to be allowed to vote.
Bertha also worked closely with her cousin, Ellen Kleman. They were both active members of the National Association for Women's Suffrage. In 1911, Bertha helped organize a large international meeting in Stockholm. This was the Sixth Conference of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance. It brought together women from many countries to discuss voting rights.
She was a key contributor to the National Council of Swedish Women. She led this important organization from 1921 until 1927. She stepped down because of poor health. Bertha also cared deeply about medical help for those in need. From 1908, she led a group called Föreningen för sjukvård i fattiga hem. This group provided medical care in the homes of poor people. For all her hard work and help, she received a gold medal from the Swedish Red Cross.
Bertha Nordenson passed away in Stockholm on January 24, 1928.
