Elin Engström facts for kids

Augusta Eleonora "Elin" Engström (born 1860, died 1956) was an important Swedish politician and a leader in trade unions. She was one of the first people to join and help build the workers' movement, the Social Democratic movement, and the fight for women's rights in Sweden.

Elin Engström's Early Life

Elin Engström's father worked as a bath house attendant, and her mother also worked there. In 1878, Elin married Jöns Engström. He was a barrel maker and also a leader in trade unions.

Facing Hard Times

Sadly, Elin's husband died in 1889 from tuberculosis. This left her to care for their six children all by herself. She took on many temporary jobs to support her family. She wrote letters for others, washed clothes, and babysat. Even with all her hard work, she had to place two of her children in an orphanage for a while. Back then, it was common for poor parents to do this temporarily. They would take their children back once they could afford to care for them again.

Working for Social-Demokraten

From 1886 until she retired in 1935, Elin worked as an office clerk for the Social Democratic newspaper, Social-Demokraten. At first, this was volunteer work because the newspaper was just starting out and didn't have much money. But as the workers' movement grew, the newspaper became more successful. In 1904, Elin Engström got a permanent job. She became the chief of the newspaper's subscription and distribution office. This allowed her to support herself and her family.

Elin Engström's Political Work

Elin's husband was a co-founder of the Cooper Trade Union. He was also one of the first members of the Social Democratic Association. This association later became the Swedish Social Democratic Party in 1889.

Joining the Social Democrats

Elin was one of the very first women to join the Social Democratic Association before it became a political party. In 1892, she helped start the Stockholm Women's Public Club. She was a member of the Committee of Female Agitation from 1900 to 1901. She also served on the Social Democratic Women's Congress from 1908 to 1914. Later, she was an accountant for this group from 1914 to 1920. She continued as an accountant for the Social Democratic Women in Sweden from 1920 to 1936.

Public Service Roles

Elin Engström also held important positions in Stockholm's city government. She was a board member of the Communal Retirement Board of Stockholm from 1917 to 1935. She also served as a board member of the Communal Housing Board of Stockholm from 1917 to 1923.

Fighting for Women's Right to Vote

In 1902, Elin Engström, along with Anna Branting and Erika Lindqvist, helped create the National Association for Women's Suffrage. This group worked to get women the right to vote. Elin and other Social Democratic women strongly supported working together with the wider movement for women's voting rights.