Thora Daugaard facts for kids

Theodora (Thora) Frederikke Marie Daugaard (born October 22, 1874 – died June 28, 1951) was a Danish woman who worked for women's rights and peace. She was also an editor and translator. In 1915, she went to an important meeting called the International Women's Conference in The Hague, along with Clara Tybjerg. After this, she started and led the Danske Kvinders Fredskæde, which means the Danish Women's Peace Chain. This group later became the Danish part of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Thora Daugaard is also remembered for helping Jewish people and their children in Denmark when it was occupied by Nazis during World War Two.

Early Life and Work

Theodora Frederikke Marie Daugaard was born on October 22, 1874, in Store Arden, near Hobro, in Denmark. Her father, Peder Johannes Jensen, ran a hotel.

In 1903, Thora became a translator. She then started working for the Danish Women's Society. She helped edit their magazine, Kvinden og Samfundet, and managed their new office. She worked with other important women like Esther Carstensen and Gyrithe Lemche. She was part of the group that worked for women's right to vote. She was their international secretary until 1915, when women in Denmark finally got the right to vote.

Working for Peace

After women gained the right to vote, Thora focused on the peace movement. She went to the 1915 International Women's Conference in The Hague. There, she famously said, "We want war no longer. We no longer want it explained that we women are protected by war."

The next year, she started the Danish Women's Peace Chain. From 1920 to 1941, she was the president of this group. Under her leadership, the number of members grew to 15,000 people.

International Congress of Women in 1915. People from different countries came together to talk about peace.

Helping Women and Editing Magazines

In 1918, Thora used her experiences from traveling to start a project. She helped build a home for single women who worked for themselves. This building, called Clara Raphaels Hus, opened in 1920 in Østerbro, Copenhagen. It had almost 150 apartments, a restaurant, and a laundry. Thora Daugaard even moved into one of the apartments herself.

The next year, she became the editor of a new weekly magazine called Tidens Kvinder. This magazine was published until 1923. She also edited the magazine for the Kvindernes Internationale Liga for Fred og Frihed, which was the new name for the Danish Women's Peace Chain. From 1930 to 1932, she edited another magazine called Vore Damer.

International Work and Helping Refugees

Thora Daugaard was invited by Jane Addams, an American social worker, to visit the United States. Jane Addams was the president of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Thora gave talks across the U.S. from 1927 to 1929.

In 1934, Thora represented the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom at the League of Nations. This was an organization that worked for world peace. She became the League's international treasurer from 1938 to 1946.

From 1938 to 1939, Thora worked with Mélanie Oppenhejm and Kirsten Gloerfelt-Tarp. They helped save Jewish children from countries controlled by the Nazis. They successfully helped 320 children come to Denmark. During World War Two, when the Nazis occupied Denmark, most of these children were then sent to Sweden for safety. Because she helped Jewish people, Thora herself had to escape to Sweden in 1943.

Thora Daugaard passed away on June 28, 1951, in Holstebro. She was buried at Mariager Abbey.