Lina Hjort facts for kids
Anna Karolina (Lina) Hjort (1881–1959) was an amazing Swedish woman. She was a teacher, a house builder, and a strong supporter of women's suffrage. This means she believed women should have the right to vote.
Lina was born into a poor family in northern Sweden. She worked hard from a young age, collecting wood to help her family. She was very good at school and even went to a special college to become a teacher.
Later, Lina changed careers and started building houses in a town called Kiruna. She became very successful and well-off. In 1913, she started helping women in her area fight for their right to vote. She held meetings in her home to gather support. We know a lot about her life because she kept detailed diaries. These diaries are now kept at the Norrbottens Museum.
Lina Hjort's Early Life and Education
Lina Hjort was born in 1881 in a place called Hietaniemi Parish. This area is in Norrbotten, very far north in Sweden, close to the Finnish border. Her parents were Johan Petter Aronsson and Margareta Johanna Hjort.
Lina wrote in her diaries that she sometimes felt unwanted by her parents. But she had a very close and loving relationship with her grandmother. Even though they were poor, her grandmother cared for her deeply.
As a child, Lina was strong and healthy. She earned a little money by collecting and chopping wood from the nearby forest. This helped her family.
Lina did very well in school. She even received a special scholarship. This scholarship allowed her to attend a teacher training college in Haparanda. She worked hard and became a qualified teacher.
In 1901, after finishing college, Lina became a schoolmistress. She was sent to a small village called Kurravaara. This village was north of Kiruna.
Lina found teaching in Kurravaara quite difficult. The children and their parents did not always think school was important. This made her job very challenging.
Building a New Life in Kiruna
Lina eventually grew tired of her job in Kurravaara. She wanted to earn more money than teaching offered. So, she asked the director of the mining company in nearby Kiruna for a job.
The director, Mr. Lundbohm, hired her right away. He was known for taking good care of his employees. He even gave Lina permission to use old bricks and wood that were no longer needed.
Lina used these materials to build her own house. It was a great success! She then decided to build even more houses. She rented out rooms in these houses to other teachers and women.
Lina became quite wealthy from her house-building business. She was successful enough to host parties. At these parties, she would play the piano or accordion. She truly enjoyed her new, prosperous life.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Lina Hjort quickly became a respected person in her community. The doctor's wife, Mrs. Lind, encouraged Lina to get involved in politics. She especially wanted Lina to support the cause of women's suffrage.
Lina realized that women faced many unfair situations. She believed they should have the right to vote. So, she started visiting farms and villages nearby. She encouraged women to sign up and support voting rights for women.
By 1913, the local group for women's suffrage had grown. It was part of the National Association for Women's Suffrage. This local group had 150 active members.
Lina Hjort's home became a regular meeting place for these suffrage meetings. Lina also formed close friendships with important leaders of the suffrage movement. These leaders included Lydia Wahlström, Gulli Petrini, and Frigga Carlberg.
Lina Hjort lived the rest of her life in Kiruna. She passed away on August 12, 1959.
