Elise Richter
Encyclopedia
Elise Richter was a philologist. Born in Vienna
to a middle-class Jewish
family, the daughter of Dr. Maximilian (died 1891) and Emelie Richter (d. 1889), sister of Helene Richter who wrote on and translated English literature
and drama
, she studied Philosophy
at the University of Vienna
and received a Doctorate
in 1901.
In 1905 she was the first woman to receive the Habilitation
for her work on Romance languages
. She became the first female Dozent
(or assistant professor) in 1907, and was appointed an "Extra-Ordinary Professor" in 1921, although she never received an Ordinary Professorship. From 1920 she chaired the Association of Austrian Academic Women (Verband der Akademikerinnen Österreichs).
After the Anschluss
, and the introduction of Nazi anti-semitic
policies in Austria, which excluded people of Jewish origin from public life, Richter was dismissed from her post. Along with her sister Helene, who lived with her, she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp on 9 October 1942. She died there on 23 June 1943.
The Elise Richter Program of the Austrian Science Fund
(FWF), which provides support for women studying towards a career as a professor, is named in her honour.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to a middle-class Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
family, the daughter of Dr. Maximilian (died 1891) and Emelie Richter (d. 1889), sister of Helene Richter who wrote on and translated English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and drama
English drama
Drama was introduced to England from Europe by the Romans, and auditoriums were constructed across the country for this purpose. By the medieval period, the mummers' plays had developed, a form of early street theatre associated with the Morris dance, concentrating on themes such as Saint George...
, she studied Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
and received a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1901.
In 1905 she was the first woman to receive the Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
for her work on Romance languages
Romance languages
The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...
. She became the first female Dozent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
(or assistant professor) in 1907, and was appointed an "Extra-Ordinary Professor" in 1921, although she never received an Ordinary Professorship. From 1920 she chaired the Association of Austrian Academic Women (Verband der Akademikerinnen Österreichs).
After the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, and the introduction of Nazi anti-semitic
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
policies in Austria, which excluded people of Jewish origin from public life, Richter was dismissed from her post. Along with her sister Helene, who lived with her, she was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp on 9 October 1942. She died there on 23 June 1943.
The Elise Richter Program of the Austrian Science Fund
Austrian Science Fund
The Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung is the most important Austrian funding organization for basic research. The FWF supports research in science, engineering, and the humanities through a large variety of grant programmes, prizes and by funding infrastructure...
(FWF), which provides support for women studying towards a career as a professor, is named in her honour.
External links
- Biography (Ariadne Project] of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek)
- Elise Richter Program at the University of Vienna