Dorothea Schjoldager

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Dorothea Margrethe Schjoldager (1853–1938) was a Norwegian teacher, social worker, and a prominent supporter of women’s rights. She was born in Tromsø and moved with her family to Vardø in 1862, becoming the eldest of six after both parents died young. She worked as a teacher in Vardø, Steinkjer, and from 1875 in Kristiania (now Oslo), teaching at Møllergata skole from 1876 to 1923. She also helped people in need, including alcoholics, prostitutes, prisoners, and children in public care. Schjoldager was active in the Norwegian Association for Women’s Rights and the Norwegian National Women’s Council, and she served on the Kristiania guardians’ council from 1900 to 1927. In 1901 she helped establish the first homes for unmarried mothers in Kristiania. She spoke in public debates about women’s roles, supporting female priests in the Church of Norway and women working as police and prison staff. She never married and was the sister-in-law of author Hans Aanrud. Dorothea Schjoldager died in Oslo on 30 September 1938.