Nynne Koch facts for kids

Anna Lise (Nynne) Koch (1915–2001) was a Danish feminist, writer, and a leading researcher in gender studies. She wrote novels in the 1950s. In 1961, she joined the Royal Danish Library. There, she helped create Kvinfo, the Danish Centre for Research on Women and Gender.

In the early 1980s, she taught courses on women's studies in Copenhagen. She also edited the journal Forum for Kvindeforskning. Roskilde University gave her an honorary doctorate in 1986. This was to honor her important work in women's studies.

Early Life and Education

Anna Lise Koch was born in Copenhagen on 13 December 1915. Her father was a judge, and her mother was a musician. She grew up in a family that encouraged her to achieve great things.

She was tutored at home before attending N. Zahle's School at age 16. She was a very bright student. She soon moved to the Polyteknisk Læreanstalt. There, she started studying architecture.

Later, she switched to engineering. It was at the university that she first faced unfair treatment. This experience likely made her interested in feminism and women's rights. She had five children: Karen, Lene, Lone, Jørn, and Kim.

Career Highlights

In the mid-1930s, Nynne Koch began her literary journey. During World War II, she wrote detective stories with a friend. Later, she published her own novels. These included Møde med sig selv (1950) and Hug en hæl (1952). Her books often focused on nature and life.

After this, her articles increasingly supported women's liberation. She became a strong voice for the new women's movement.

Shaping Women's Literature at the Library

In 1961, Nynne Koch started working at the Royal Danish Library. She began in a clerical role. Even without formal training, she had a great career in librarianship. She was inspired by similar collections in Sweden and Aarhus.

She convinced the national librarian to highlight literature about women. At first, she made a catalog of women's books. By 1973, she was in charge of buying books related to feminism.

Pioneering Women's Studies

Nynne Koch was very good at public relations. She created the term "feminology" for her department. In 1971, she organized a "Feminology Exhibition." It showed the history of feminism from ancient Greece to Denmark's Red Stocking Movement.

From 1975, she pushed for women's studies in Danish universities. She led a new department at the People's University in Copenhagen. In 1981, she helped create Kvinfo. She also started the journal Forum for kvindeforskning. This was the first journal in Denmark to focus on gender research.

Thanks to her hard work, the government funded women's research lectureships in 1986. They also funded Kvinfo as an independent research library. Nynne Koch retired in 1987, knowing Kvinfo was secure.

In 1999, she published her memoirs, Ved nærmere eftertanke. Nynne Koch passed away in Copenhagen on 15 May 2001. She is buried in Vestre Cemetery.

Honours and Awards

Nynne Koch received several awards for her important work.

• In 1980, she won the Georg Brandes prize for her contributions to Danish literature.
• In 1981, she received the Women's Prize from the magazine Alt for Damerne.
• In 1986, Roskilde University gave her an honorary doctorate. This recognized her significant work in gender studies.