Helene Stähelin facts for kids
Helene Stähelin (born July 18, 1891, died December 30, 1970) was a smart woman from Switzerland. She was a mathematician, a teacher, and someone who worked hard for peace.
For many years, from 1948 to 1967, she led the Swiss part of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. This group works to stop wars and promote peace around the world. She also represented them in the Swiss Peace Council.
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Early Life and Education
Helene Stähelin grew up in a big family. She was one of twelve children! Her father, Gustav Stähelin, was a parson. In 1894, when she was young, her family moved to a town called Allschwil.
She went to school in Basel, Switzerland, called the Töchterschule. Later, she studied at two universities: the University of Basel in Switzerland and the University of Göttingen in Germany.
Becoming a Mathematician and Teacher
In 1922, Helene Stähelin started teaching. She taught mathematics and natural sciences at a school in Ftan.
She continued her studies and earned her PhD degree in 1924 from Basel University. Her special research was about complex math topics like "characteristic numbers of analytic curves."
In 1926, she became a member of the Swiss Mathematical Society. This showed she was a recognized expert in math. From 1934 to 1956, she taught at a Protestant secondary school in Zug. After she retired, she went back to Basel. There, she helped a professor named Otto Spiess edit important letters from the famous Bernoulli family, who were also mathematicians.
Working for Peace and Women's Rights
Helene Stähelin strongly believed in peace. She was a pacifist, meaning she was against war and violence. She joined the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (IFFF). This group fought against using science for warfare.
She was the president of the IFFF's Swiss section from 1947 to 1967. During this time, the group focused on important issues. They supported the United Nations Organization, worked to stop nuclear weapons, and spoke out against the Vietnam War.
Because she was so active in peace work, Swiss authorities watched her in the mid-1950s. Her file was kept secret until 1986. Helene Stähelin also worked for Women's suffrage in Switzerland. This was the right for women to vote. Sadly, she never got to vote herself, as women in Switzerland gained the right to vote after her lifetime.
See also
In Spanish: Helene Stähelin para niños
