Ida Falbe-Hansen

Ida Mariette Helene Falbe-Hansen born Hansen (19 February 1849 – 23 September 1922) was a Danish educator, philologist and women's activist. A pioneer in the teaching of Swedish, she published textbooks and promoted Swedish literature in Denmark. She was also active on the board of the Danish Women's Society and chaired the Danish Women's Council.

Biography

Born in Odense on 19 February 1849, Ida Mariette Helene Falbe-Hansen was the daughter of Johan Jørgen Hansen (1802–76) and Mariette Caroline Emilie Ernestine Basse (1817–83). In 1877, she attended N. Zahle's School in Copenhagen where, after completing a teacher training course, she was employed by the school as a teacher (1878–84). After a brief spell teaching at Vældegaard Kvindeskole in Gentofte, she travelled to London where she studied at the British Museum. In 1889 she returned to Zahle's school where she taught Swedish and Danish until 1899. In 1890, she became the first woman to graduate in Nordic philology from Copenhagen University.