author
Ellen Fries
1855–1900
A trailblazing Swedish historian, teacher, and feminist, she became the first woman in Sweden to earn a PhD. Her writing and organizing helped push women's education and public life forward at a time when both faced steep barriers.
1 Audiobook
Kuuluisia naisia 1 Maria Teresia - Johanna d'Arc
by Ellen Fries
About the author
Born in 1855, Ellen Fries was a Swedish historian, teacher, writer, and feminist who broke new ground in higher education. In 1883, after studying at Uppsala University, she became the first woman in Sweden to receive a PhD, a milestone that made her an important figure in Swedish academic history.
Fries did not limit herself to scholarship. She also worked as a teacher and wrote books and articles, including work on notable women and history. Her interests reached beyond the classroom, and she became active in efforts to expand opportunities for women.
She helped found and support women's organizations, linking ideas, education, and public engagement in a practical way. Although she died in 1900 at just 44, she is still remembered as a pioneer whose life connected learning, writing, and the early struggle for women's rights in Sweden.