Cläre Mjøen
German-Norwegian translator and women's rights activitst (1874–1963)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cläre Grevérus Mjøen (née Berndt, 5 June 1874 – 18 April 1963) was a German and Norwegian translator, women's rights activist and eugenicist.
5 June 1874
Cläre Grevérus Mjøen | |
|---|---|
Cläre Mjøen in 1907 | |
| Born | Cläre Grevérus Berndt 5 June 1874 Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Died | 18 April 1963 (aged 88) Vestre Aker, Oslo, Østlandet, Norway |
Burial place | Østre Fredrikstad Cemetery, Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway |
| Occupations | translator and women's rights activist |
| Organization | Norwegian National Women's Council |
| Children | 6 |
Early life
Mjøen was born in Magdeburg, then part of the Kingdom of Prussia, in 1874.[1] Her father Rudolph Berndt was the director of the German insurance company Magdeburger Feuerversicherungs-Gesellschaft and her mother was Emilie Grevérus.[2] She was educated in languages, art history, singing and piano at a school for girls in Switzerland.[3]
Marriage
Mjøen married pharmacist and “race biologist” Jon Alfred Mjøen in Magdeburg in 1896.[1][4] She moved to Christiania, Norway in 1898 and the couple had six children together, five of whom became actors.[3] The Mjøen family were close friends with first Nobel Laureate in Literature, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.[5]
Career
Mjøen translated literature from Norwegian to German.[6] Her translations included Knut Hamsun's travel writing and short stories, along with works by Andreas Aubert, Bjørnson, Georg Brandes, Nordahl Grieg, Barbra Ring,[7] Gunnar Larsen, Wilhelm Keilhau, Kristian Schjelderup and Herman Wildenvey.[2]
Activism
Mjøen was also active in the women's rights movement and was the general secretary of the Norwegian National Women's Council for 12 years.[7][8] She supported the recognition of illegitimate children's rights, feeling that this improved the position of single mothers and their children.[7]
Mjøen also wrote some articles on "race biology."[9]
Death
Mjøen died in 1963 in Vestre Aker, Oslo, Norway.[2]