Fernanda Nissen
Encyclopedia
Petra Gregorine Fernanda Nissen (née Thomesen; 15 August 1862 – 3 April 1920) was a Norwegian journalist, literary critic, theatre critic, politician and feminist pioneer.
, as the daughter of ship owner and consul Thomes Thomesen
and Bertha Marthine Olea Debes. She was a niece of Ole Thomesen
.
She was married to newspaper editor and politician Lars Holst
from 1882 to 1895, and to physician Oscar Egede Nissen
from 1895 to 1911. Through her sister Sophie, she was sister-in-law of painter and illustrator Erik Werenskiold
, and an aunt of Werner
and Dagfin Werenskiold
.
in the 1880s, and literary critic and theatre critic for the newspaper Social-Demokraten
from 1892 to 1918. She was chairwoman for Fyrstikkarbeidernes fagforening from its establishment in 1889. She edited the magazine Kvinden from 1909. She was employed as a public film censor from 1913, as one of the two first film censor in Norway. She belonged to a network of female writers and critics, including Nini Roll Anker
, Hulda Garborg
and Sigrid Undset
. In the 1880s she was politically active for the Liberal Party. She represented the Labour Party
in Kristiania
city council from 1910. As an Oslo politician she chaired the Park committee, and she worked for improving conditions for poor people, especially women and children. She was also preoccupied with education, and the Oslo domestic school was established on her initiative.
She died in Barmen
, Germany in 1920. A street in the borough Sagene
in Oslo was named after her in 1923, and a memorial was put up in the Torshov
Park in Oslo in 1931.
Early and personal life
Fernanda Thomesen was born in SannidalSannidal
Sannidal is a former municipality which is now located in the municipality of Kragerø in Telemark county, Norway.-History:Sannidal is situated at the end of the Kil fjord. For this reason it was one of the earliest settlements in the area, being an important link between the sea and the land...
, as the daughter of ship owner and consul Thomes Thomesen
Thomes Thomesen
Thomes Thomesen was a Norwegian merchant and politician.He was a merchant, ship-owner and shipbuilder in the town of Kragerø. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from the city in 1862,and served one term....
and Bertha Marthine Olea Debes. She was a niece of Ole Thomesen
Ole Thomesen
Ole Thomesen was a Norwegian jurist and politician for the Liberal Party. A member of the Norwegian Parliament for five terms, he became known as a radical and liberal politician...
.
She was married to newspaper editor and politician Lars Holst
Lars Holst
Lars Kristian Holst was a Norwegian journalist, newspaper editor and politician. He was editor-in-chief of Dagbladet from 1883 to 1898 and chairman of the Liberal Party of Norway from 1900 to 1903.-Personal life:...
from 1882 to 1895, and to physician Oscar Egede Nissen
Oscar Nissen
Elias Gottlieb Oscar Egede Nissen was a Norwegian physician, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party from 1889 to his death, and was both party leader, party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten for a period...
from 1895 to 1911. Through her sister Sophie, she was sister-in-law of painter and illustrator Erik Werenskiold
Erik Werenskiold
Erik Theodor Werenskiold was a Norwegian painter and illustrator. He is especially known for his drawings for the...
, and an aunt of Werner
Werner Werenskiold
Werner Werenskiold was a Norwegian geologist and geographer.He was the son of Erik Werenskiold, and the brother of Dagfin Werenskiold. Werenskiold made field studies in Telemark and Gudbrandsdalen in his younger days, and later focused on studies at Svalbard and of glaciers in Jotunheimen...
and Dagfin Werenskiold
Dagfin Werenskiold
Dagfin Werenskiold was a Norwegian sculptor and painter.Dagfin Werenskiold was born in Bærum in Akershus Colunty, Norway. He was the son of Norwegian painter and illustrator, Erik Werenskiold. He was the brother of Norwegian geologist Werner Werenskiold. He first learned drawing from his father...
.
Career
Nissen worked several years as a teacher, and later journalist. She was journalist for DagbladetDagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
in the 1880s, and literary critic and theatre critic for the newspaper Social-Demokraten
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
from 1892 to 1918. She was chairwoman for Fyrstikkarbeidernes fagforening from its establishment in 1889. She edited the magazine Kvinden from 1909. She was employed as a public film censor from 1913, as one of the two first film censor in Norway. She belonged to a network of female writers and critics, including Nini Roll Anker
Nini Roll Anker
Nini Roll Anker was a Norwegian novelist and playwright. She was born in Molde, as the daughter of stipendiary magistrate and later member of parliament and minister Ferdinand Nicolai Roll. She was married twice, first to land owner Peter Martin Anker, and later to engineer Johan August Anker...
, Hulda Garborg
Hulda Garborg
Hulda Garborg was a Norwegian writer, novelist, playwright, poet, folk dancer, and theatre instructor...
and Sigrid Undset
Sigrid Undset
Sigrid Undset was a Norwegian novelist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1928.-Biography:Undset was born in Kalundborg, Denmark, but her family moved to Norway when she was two years old. In 1924, she converted to Catholicism and became a lay Dominican...
. In the 1880s she was politically active for the Liberal Party. She represented the Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
city council from 1910. As an Oslo politician she chaired the Park committee, and she worked for improving conditions for poor people, especially women and children. She was also preoccupied with education, and the Oslo domestic school was established on her initiative.
She died in Barmen
Barmen
Barmen is a former industrial metropolis of the region of Bergisches Land, Germany, which in 1929 with four other towns was merged with the city of Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia. Barmen was the birth-place of Friedrich Engels and together with the neighbouring town of Elberfeld founded the...
, Germany in 1920. A street in the borough Sagene
Sagene
Sagene is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. The area became part of the city of Oslo in 1859.The name Sagene itself is the plural of the Norwegian word for "saw", reflecting all the old industrial mechanical saws powered by the river Akerselvain this area in the 19th and early 20th...
in Oslo was named after her in 1923, and a memorial was put up in the Torshov
Torshov
Torshov is an area in the borough Sagene in Oslo, Norway.Vogts gate serves as the neighborhood's main street. In the street there are trams between the city centre and Kjelsås. Along Vogts gate are several coffee shops, restaurants and cafes....
Park in Oslo in 1931.