Halldóra Bjarnadóttir

Halldóra Bjarnadóttir (1873–1981) was an Icelandic educator, politician and author who promoted the domestic textile industry and textile handicrafts. She received her country's chivalric award, the Order of the Falcon. She lived to 108 becoming the oldest woman in Iceland at that time.

Biography Halldóra Bjarnadóttir was born on 14 October 1873 into the farming family of Björg Jónsdóttir and Bjargar Jónasson in Vatnsdalur, Iceland. Her mother's foster brother and close cousin was the author and folklore collector Jón Árnason. When Halldóra was ten years old, her parents divorced. Her father emigrated to the United States and Halldóra and her mother moved to Reykjavík. At that time, there was no school for teachers in Iceland so, in 1896, she went to Oslo, Norway to train as a teacher with financial support from her father and a friend. The Christian faith played a central role in the lessons. An estimated 500 girls and women also attended her needlework courses during this time. She was the first educator in Iceland to hold teacher-parent meetings. until publication ceased.

She donated her collection of handicraft accessories and weaving and knitting patterns to the Heimilisiðnaðarsafnið textile museum in Blönduós, where her pieces are on display in the Halldórustofa room. She gave other memorabilia and costumes to the Farmers' Association. Her legacy also included numerous books and her original writings.