Alma Söderhjelm

Born in Vyborg on 10 May 1870, Alma Söderhjelm became one of the most notable historians of her generation. She was a Swedish-speaking Finn and is remembered as the first woman to hold a professorship in Finland, after earlier becoming one of the first women to teach at the university level there.

Her research focused strongly on French history, especially the French Revolution. She became widely known for work on Axel von Fersen and Marie Antoinette, and for editing and publishing historical correspondence that drew fresh attention to that world.

Söderhjelm was also a remarkably versatile writer. Alongside scholarly books, she wrote memoirs, fiction, essays, and journalism, building a reputation for making serious subjects vivid and readable for a broad audience.