Elsa Alkman facts for kids
Elsa Alkman (born November 18, 1878 – died February 21, 1975) was an important Swedish woman. She worked hard for women's rights, which means she believed women should have the same rights as men. She was also a suffragist, someone who fought for women's right to vote. Elsa Alkman was also a talented writer.
While living in Eslöv, she became very active in a group called the National Association for Women's Suffrage (LKPR). She gave talks, wrote articles, and helped organize events to support women's voting rights. In 1916, she wrote about how women in Denmark voted for the first time. Even after Swedish women won the right to vote, she kept working for women's equality in the 1920s. Later in life, she moved to Norrköping and enjoyed playing the violin and writing music.
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Elsa Alkman's Early Life and Education
Elsa Anna Maria Ahlström was born on November 18, 1878, in Dalarna, Sweden. She was the only child of Otto Theodor Ahlström, an engineer, and Clara Elisabeth Guinchard. Her family moved often because of her father's work on railways. She lived in many different places like Täby, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Härnösand, and Sölvesborg.
In 1897, Elsa went to the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. She studied the violin there and finished her studies in 1900. After trying to be a music teacher in Sölvesborg, she worked at a bank in Malmö. There, she met Olof Alkman, a pharmacist. They got married in 1906.
Moving to Eslöv and Joining the Fight for Women's Vote
After they got married, Elsa and Olof moved to Eslöv. In 1907, Elsa joined the local group of the LKPR. This group was working to get women the right to vote. From 1911 to 1913, she was a leader on the board for the LKPR's group in Skåne.
Elsa Alkman strongly believed that women would eventually get the right to vote. She was sure it was only a matter of time.
Observing Danish Women Vote
In December 1916, Elsa visited Denmark. She wanted to see how Danish women were voting for the very first time in a special election. She wrote about what she saw in the LKPR's newspaper, Rösträtt för kvinnor (which means Suffrage for Women).
Elsa wrote that women from all walks of life were very happy to cast their votes. She hoped that Swedish women would soon be able to do the same.
Elsa Alkman as a Writer
While living in Skåne, Elsa Alkman wrote a novel called En oförbätterlig (1911). This book was inspired by her work for women's voting rights. The story was about a singer who fought for the same rights as men in a small town. The book received good reviews. In September 1916, Elsa also became a mother to her daughter, Inga Linnea.
Later Life and Music
In the mid-1920s, Elsa and Olof moved to Norrköping because Olof got a new job there. In Norrköping, Elsa was able to focus on her love for music again. She took lessons to learn more about music theory and wrote pieces for local concerts.
In the 1930s, she joined a group called the Union of Liberal Women in Norrköping. She helped this group organize events and raise money to support people seeking safety in Sweden.
Elsa Alkman passed away on February 21, 1975, in Norrköping, when she was 96 years old. She is buried in the local cemetery there.
