Anna Whitlock

Anna Whitlock (13June 185216June 1930) was a Swedish reform pedagogue, journalist, suffragette and feminist. She was co-founder and twice chairperson of the National Association for Women's Suffrage. Early life Anna Whitlock was the daughter of the merchant Gustaf Whitlock and Sophie Forsgrén, and the sister of the feminist and author (1848–1936). When her father, a moderately well off businessman, was ruined, the family was supported by her mother, who was many years younger than her father, and who educated herself as a photographer and worked as a translator to support the family. It is said that Whitlock was given her interest in women's issues from her mother. After an inheritance, Sophie Whitlock engaged in building, had apartment buildings set up for female professionals, and she also worked as a secretary for the women's organization Fredrika Bremer Association. Whitlock studied at the Rossander Course. She worked as a teacher at the Adolf Fredriks folkskola in Stockholm in 1869–1870 and as a governess in Finland in 1870–1872 before enlisting as a student at the Högre lärarinneseminariet in Stockholm, from which she graduated in 1875. Between 1876 and 1878, she studied language and pedagogy in Switzerland, Italy, and France. During her study in France, she was the correspondent of Aftonbladet in Paris. Educational reformer In 1878, she founded a school in Stockholm with Ellen Key, known later as the Stockholms nya samskola (New Co-educational School of Stockholm) and later as Whitlockska samskolan (Whitlock Co-educational School), and served as its principal from its foundation to 1918. This was a pioneer institution. The school was made co-educational in 1893, which was very progressive. Normally only primary schools for children were co-educational in Sweden at the time. It soon became one of the first schools over primary educational level to be co-educational in Sweden. She also introduced innovations such as student councils, parent days, free choice of subject, voluntary education in religion, and vacation colonies for school children. Because of the strict religious tolerance of her school, it became popular among non-Lutherans such as Jews. Her school was successful, was granted government support, and the right to issue professional degrees.