Mathilda Foy
Encyclopedia
Mathilda Foy (or Foj), (10 November 1813 - 1 November 1869), was a Swedish philanthropist
and writer, known for her charitable work. She is known as a pioneer of the Sunday school
, and as the co-founder of the charity
organisation "Fruntimmerssällskapet för fångars förbättring" (English: The Women Society for the Improvement of Prisoners) in 1854.
in Stockholm
, George Foy
and his Swedish wife Mathilda Augusta Skoge..
In 1851, Foy was, alongside among others Maria Cederschiöld (Deaconess), in the board of directors at the newly founded Deaconess
Institution, the first one in Sweden, founded that same year in Stockholm
In 1854, she co-founded the "Fruntimmersällskapet för fångars förbättring" together with Fredrika Bremer
, Maria Cederschiöld (Deaconess), Betty Ehrenborg and Emilia Elmblad. The purpose was to visit female prisoners to provide moral support and improve their character by studies of religion. They were met by resistance among the prisoners authorities, also the prison priest. Betty Ehrenborg took charge of the vagrants
, Maria Cederschiöld the thieves and Mathilda Foy the child murderers, while Bremer jumped in where she was needed until Ehrenborg retired, after which she took over the vagrants, among whom she felt very comfortable :
Foy wrote several times about the Emilie Petersen, known as "Mormor på Herrestad" (The Herrestad Grandmother), a woman famed for her charitable work institutions on her estate, whom she often visited.
In 1868, Mathilda Foy and Maria Cederschiöld founded a Deaconess institute in Jämtland
and Norway
.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and writer, known for her charitable work. She is known as a pioneer of the Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
, and as the co-founder of the charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
organisation "Fruntimmerssällskapet för fångars förbättring" (English: The Women Society for the Improvement of Prisoners) in 1854.
Biography
She was the daughter of the British Consul (representative)Consul (representative)
The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, George Foy
George Foy
George Michelsen Foy is a French-American novelist and magazine journalist, and professor of creative writing. He has published 12 novels, seven under his own name and five under the nom de plume G.F. Michelsen...
and his Swedish wife Mathilda Augusta Skoge..
In 1851, Foy was, alongside among others Maria Cederschiöld (Deaconess), in the board of directors at the newly founded Deaconess
Deaconess
Deaconess is a non-clerical order in some Christian denominations which sees to the care of women in the community. That word comes from a Greek word diakonos as well as deacon, which means a servant or helper and occurs frequently in the Christian New Testament of the Bible. Deaconesses trace...
Institution, the first one in Sweden, founded that same year in Stockholm
In 1854, she co-founded the "Fruntimmersällskapet för fångars förbättring" together with Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer
Fredrika Bremer was a Swedish writer and a feminist activist. She had a large influence on the social development in Sweden, especially in feminist issues.-Background:...
, Maria Cederschiöld (Deaconess), Betty Ehrenborg and Emilia Elmblad. The purpose was to visit female prisoners to provide moral support and improve their character by studies of religion. They were met by resistance among the prisoners authorities, also the prison priest. Betty Ehrenborg took charge of the vagrants
Vagrancy (people)
A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
, Maria Cederschiöld the thieves and Mathilda Foy the child murderers, while Bremer jumped in where she was needed until Ehrenborg retired, after which she took over the vagrants, among whom she felt very comfortable :
.
Had it not been for the way I was brought up and my social position, I may have had belonged with them. I do not believe I would have murdered my children or any other person, nor would I have stolen, it seemed to me to be so vulgar. But to run along the streets and scream and argue, drink myself intoxicated, use foul language and insult the police; that would have been more in my taste. I would have found that amusing!
Foy wrote several times about the Emilie Petersen, known as "Mormor på Herrestad" (The Herrestad Grandmother), a woman famed for her charitable work institutions on her estate, whom she often visited.
In 1868, Mathilda Foy and Maria Cederschiöld founded a Deaconess institute in Jämtland
Jämtland
Jämtland or Jamtland is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden in northern Europe. It borders to Härjedalen and Medelpad in the south, Ångermanland in the east, Lapland in the north and Trøndelag and Norway in the west...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Works
- 1858-60 redaktör för Christelig månadsskrift för barn, kantorn P. Palmquist förlag (död 1887); diverse bidrag under pseudonym 'Tante Ester'
- 1858 Mormor på Herrestad, 32 s, Utgifven af P. Palmqvist. Sthm
- 1858 Missionsbönerna på Herrestad, 32 s, Utgifven af P. Palmqvist. Sthm
- 1860 Din tid är Herrans! Ett bref från Götheborg af M. F., Utgifven af P. Palmqvist. Sthm, P. P. Elde & c,. [Projekt Runeberg]
- 1865 Alpernas Israel, eller Valdenserna förr och nu / af M.F. [efter Alexis Muston, L’Israel des Alpes, Paris 1852]
- 1866 Fru Lawsons hem, af M. F. Utgifwen af P. Palmqvist, Sthm, A. Holmberg & s.,
- 1866 Ingen krona för mig! Bearbetning från franskan af M.F., P. Palmqvist. Sthm, A.Holmberg & c.