Söderhjelm, Alma (1870 - 1949)

first woman professor, historian

Alma Söderhjelm became Finland's first woman professor when she was appointed to a special chair of General History at Åbo Akademi University in 1927. Söderhjelm's area of specialisation was French history, and her writings on the subject perhaps amount to as much as those of all other Finnish scholars put together. Starting in the 1920s, Söderhjelm pursued a second career - mainly in Sweden - as a writer, journalist and columnist.

Alma Söderhjelm became a student in 1889. At the University, her main subject was General History, and after graduating as a 'candidate' (M.A.) she was a teacher for a short time. With the encouragement of her elder brother Professor Werner Söderhjelm and her teacher Johan Richard Danielson (1853 - 1933), Alma Söderhjelm worked in Paris for three years in the 1890s, collecting material for a study on the French Revolution. The French director of her work, Professor Alphonse Aulard (1849 - 1928) was the key scholar of the Revolution at that time. Söderhjelm gained her doctorate in 1900 with a dissertation on the situation of the French press during the Revolution in 1794. A second volume of this work, dealing with the period up to 1799, appeared in the following year. The study was favourably received by French and other European journals in the field.

After the publication of this research, the University's consistory unanimously proposed the appointment of Söderhjelm as a lecturer in General History. The proposal was not, however, immediately approved, evidently because of the political activities of her father Woldemar and brother Werner. Nor did the emperor in St Petersburg wish to give permission for the appointment of a woman as a university teacher; it was feared that if women got into university posts in Finland, there would be similar demands in Russia as well.

Söderhjelm continued working in her area of specialisation, publishing a collection of essays that threw light on the cultural history of the Revolution, and a selection of Madame Roland's letters. When the political situation changed, the consistory again brought up the question of the lectureship in spring 1906. The emperor approved the proposal of the new acting chancellor, August Langhoff (1856 - 1929), and Alma Söderhjelm became Finland's first woman lecturer. In her teaching work, she concentrated on the recent history of France and Italy. In addition to the importance of lectures, she emphasised that of seminar work. She was also involved in political activities, smuggling illegal journals from Sweden to Finland and helping Jäger Corps volunteers (jääkärit) to reach Germany from Sweden. She also took on the task of writing histories of two Ostrobothnian towns, Pietarsaari and Raahe.

Alma Söderhjelm experienced her greatest setback at the University in 1913. Because of her sex, she did not receive permission to apply for a professorship that was falling vacant. According to the reasons stated for the decision, a woman could take care of a professor's other duties - teaching, research and administration - but could not be sworn in as a judge or exercise a judge's power, something that was required in connection with certain matters handled by the consistory. The case sparked off a change in attitudes which resulted in women's being given the opportunity to become professors. But this came too late for Alma Söderhjelm, as the post for which she had wanted to apply had already been filled.

The setback also gave added impetus to Söderhjelm's other career as a journalist and author. She received a university travel grant, spending most of her time in Sweden and collecting material for local histories and for a study on the links between Sweden and the French Revolution. She achieved a notable status in theatrical and artistic circles in Stockholm characterised by their somewhat bohemian lifestyle and their light and witty social activities. Her circle of acquaintances included not only poets and artists but also Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland (1884 - 1965). In the 1920s and 1930s, Alma Söderhjelm was among the best-known Finns in Sweden.

Söderhjelm resigned from her position at the University of Helsinki in 1927. She had decided to stay in Stockholm as a freelance writer. The situation changed, however, when Ellen Dahlström (1885 - 1929), the widow of a prominent industrialist in Turku (Swedish name: Åbo), announced that she was prepared to establish a professorship of General History for her at Åbo Akademi University. A university career that had long been in the background reached its peak, and Alma Söderhjelm finally became a professor.

During her years as a professor, Söderhjelm's academic work dealt with the French Revolution, taking the royal court and its immediate circle as a starting point. This research also brought her to the attention of scholars in France once more. After retiring, she moved to Stockholm, working selflessly for the cause of Finland during the war years.

Alma Söderhjelm's literary output is enormous: her academic works, essay collections, source publications and memoirs amount to 25 works in 34 volumes. In addition, there are plays, a collection of poems, a film script, five novels and eight collections of columns. Söderhjelm kept away from the academic community, spending long periods abroad and preferring the company of circles other than academic ones.

A scholar writing in Swedish about the French Revolution did not fit in with the sort of academics supported by the University of Helsinki in the 1920s. Preference was given to academic work concerning national matters. The professorship at Åbo Akademi University was thus a lucky break. Although the post did not meet her expectations, it was during her Turku years that many of Alma Söderhjelm's most important and - from the viewpoint of research - enduring works were written. Her life and output were inextricably entwined. The best evidence of this is her five-volume memoirs (1929 - 38), which reveal to us a colourful life and some precisely drawn portraits.

Marja Engman

Translated by Roderick Fletcher

Appendix

Alma Söderhjelm, born 10.5.1870 Viipuri, died 17.3.1949 Saltsjöbaden, Sweden. Parents: Werner Woldemar Söderhjelm, procurator, and Amanda Olivia (Liva) Clouberg.

© Biografiakeskus, Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, PL 259, 00171 HELSINKI