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258:. In 1890, she transferred to Lindner Girls' High School in Berlin. She began to pursue music studies at a music conservatory from 1897 to 1899. After receiving her teaching credentials in one year rather than the usual two, she worked as a teacher in England, in 1902. Continuing to delve into her passion for learning, Bresslau took courses in medieval, modern, and art history at her father's university, the University of Strasbourg. In pursuit of music, she took voice and piano lessons.
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orphanage. Her aid in the poor relief system, "Armenpflegesystem," mirrored in modern social welfare, saw the illegitimate mortality rate fall. Setting precedence as a female medical missionary in the early 20th century, she established lasting effects of nursing and education in Lambaréné. She co-founded the
Schweitzer Hospital, documented much of Albert's autobiography, and "supported the work with lectures and fund-raising" essential to its upkeep and vivacity.
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documented letters. The turning point for their relationship occurred when they married on 18 June 1912 in
Gunsbach. At this point in their lives, they both decided to marry and go to Africa to fulfill their desire to care for others in need. She quit her job at the orphanage and studied higher level nursing to advance her knowledge before leaving. On
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taught to "pay it forward." Including and prior to this job, all of her endeavors were based on her own emotions and goals without Albert's influence. In one of his letters, he notes "it is you who have won, happy to have found a task that will fill your life, and you’ve done it ahead of me", addressing her social work in
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Helene was aware that her husband would receive much of the acclaim for their missionary endeavors, so she set out to make her work known. In
October 1946, she began to review her documents and collect them so that she would be understood as a "full partner" in their missionary work. In addition, she
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Helene had prior interest in nursing and the medical field before Albert became involved in medicine. Therefore, she played a vital role in his work, acting as a possible influence. In the first nine months, Helene and Albert had about 2,000 patients to examine, some travelling many days and hundreds
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She changed her direction of study when she became a municipal inspector for orphans in 1905. She maintained the position from 1905 to 1909. This endeavor attributes largely to part of her own goal to improve the social sphere. However, her home's "Jewish atmosphere" widely influenced her as she was
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In 1929, after receiving treatment for pneumonia, Helene returned to Lambaréné to see Albert's progression with the new hospital. Shortly after arriving, however, she developed a bad fever and was forced to depart the hospital and her husband to return to Europe for treatment. After recovering, she
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This journey to make medical improvements in Africa allowed Helene to develop herself. Patti
Marxsen writes that Helene's "capacity for hard work in a challenging environment can be read as proof that her independence earned in Strasbourg was now unshakeable. For the now thirty-four-year-old Helene
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Her not returning to Lambaréné was a sacrifice made "by her husband, not for him." She wrote about not returning, describing it as a "practical matter", but she "never agreed to a separation of three and a half years" from her husband. Despite her poor health, she still took care of her daughter,
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Helene became Albert's confidant but did not give up her own life for his. In fact, they spent a great deal of time away from each other and maintained a nontraditional relationship (together but not exclusive). They felt secure remaining undefined as a couple, relying on their friendship through
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at a wedding. Shortly thereafter, they developed a relationship that included separation, independence, and non-exclusive behaviors. This allowed both to develop their lives while enjoying each other's companionship, conversation, and virtues. The one thing that united the pair was their shared
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Helene contributed greatly to the work done in Lambaréné. A role model as an independent, educated woman with a deep intellectual curiosity, she was "One of the first female students at the
University of Strasbourg" and "One of the first female employees in the community administration" at the
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Helene and Albert shared one main common goal: to help improve medicine and the greater good in Lambaréné, Gabon. At the very beginning of their journey, Helene wrote in her diary that "we are truly in love with Africa." In spring 1913, Helene and Albert set off to establish a hospital
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used her writing skills and began to edit her husband's autobiography. Her
English skills also opened the door for "public speaking and networking in the United States." On 1 December 1930 a German newspaper printed one of her speeches. In it, she described her husband's concept, the
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of kilometers to reach the hospital. In her time in Africa, Helene worked as nurse and helped with the hospital. She played an essential part in sanitation efforts, especially by preparing medical equipment for surgery. She was also an anaesthetist for surgical operations.
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When World War I broke out in summer of 1914, the French military put Helene and Albert, who were
Germans in a French colony, under supervision at Lambaréné, where they continued their work. In 1917, exhausted by over four years' work and by tropical
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Medical issues forced Helene to leave Africa many times, and sometimes Albert kept her from returning at times. When Albert decided to return to Africa in 1924, he took on an Oxford undergraduate,
425:, Germany." As a motherhood advocate, she gladly took care of her daughter and continued to develop her own personal skills. Helene still remained engaged in helping the mission hospital.
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began lecture tours in the United States in 1937 to promote the
Schweitzer Hospital.; supplies from this fundraising, including medicines and surgical instruments arrived in May 1942.
433:. She turned her medical challenges into positives, explaining that through her suffering she developed a compassionate view of their work that only she could personally attest.
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Helene
Bresslau Schweitzer died on 1 June 1957 and her remains are located in Lambaréné. When Albert died, he was buried next to her. Their graves lie on the banks of the
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Bresslau
Schweitzer...a life in Africa offered a chance to integrate multiple aspects of modern identity, perhaps even more so than would have been possible in Europe."
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in 1929, almost keeping her from returning to Lambaréné. Despite her already weak lungs, she completed the trip, though she had to return early due to illness again.
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Reuters. "Albert Schweitzer, 90, Dies at His Hospital" (September 6, 1965): n. pag. The New York Times Learning Network. New York Times. Web. December 5, 2015.
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after exhibiting symptoms of "pain, fever, and coughing up blood." In addition, the heat of Africa caused many respiratory issues. In 1915, she contracted
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Monfried, Walter (February 10, 1947). "Admirers Call Dr. Schweitzer "Greatest Man in the World"". Milwaukee, Wisconsin. pp. 1, 3.
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Helene experienced tremendous health issues throughout her life, mostly in relation to her lungs. She first encountered
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276:. Even so, exploring another field other than nursing left her "eager to fill in the gaps" of her nursing knowledge.
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and eventually became chancellor. As a result of the move, Helene adopted French, becoming fluent rather quickly.
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On 1 October 1909 Helene "enrolled as a student in the nursing school of the Protestant Deaconess' Society in
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in the city hospital" to further her knowledge in the profession, thus beginning her nursing career.
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with her. Albert, a medical missionary, did not mention her role in his efforts. According to writer
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713:. Johns Hopkins Paperbacks Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.
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University of Strasbourg, where Schweitzer took courses in medieval, modern, and art history
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579:"Founder Considered Patients: Schweitzer's Successors Fear Government Takeover"
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before she turned ten. She was officially diagnosed in the spring of 1922 with
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One area of study that interested Bresslau was nursing. She joined the
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First Edition. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2015.
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The Schweitzer house and Museum at Königsfeld in the Black Forest
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154:(25 January 1879 – 1 June 1957) was a German medical missionary,
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585:. No. 100. Sarasota, Florida. September 7, 1965. p. 18
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You can help by providing page numbers for existing citations.
272:. On 1 April 1905 she took a break from nursing and went into
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resulting in two weeks of therapeutic bed rest. She also had
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German missionary, linguist, and social worker (1879-1957)
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The Albert Schweitzer-Helene Bresslau Letters 1902–1912.
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Schweitzer's house at Gunsbach, now a museum and archive
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The catchment area of the Ogooé occupies most of Gabon.
728:AISL – International Albert-Schweitzer-Association
693:Schweitzer-Miller, Rhena, and Gustav Woytt, eds.
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757:(1st ed.). HarperCollins. pp. 151–56.
697:First Edition. Syracuse University Press, 2003.
812:. No. 247. Spokane, Washington. p. 4
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194:on 25 January 1879 in Berlin. Her family was
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662:"Schweitzer Combined Many Careers in Africa"
793:(1st ed.). HarperCollins. p. 176.
190:Helene Bresslau Schweitzer was born to the
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638:Helene Schweitzer: A Life of Her Own.
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226:ideology: to take care of others.
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366:and then from March 1918 in
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564:Schweitzer-Miller, Rhena. "
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506:This article cites its
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672:December 6,
589:December 6,
319:Port Gentil
274:social work
232:Good Friday
69:1 June 1957
841:Categories
489:References
349:Challenges
336:is marked.
323:Cape Lopez
282:Strasbourg
263:Protestant
186:Early life
140:Missionary
51:1879-01-25
459:pneumonia
455:phlebitis
334:Lambaréné
289:Frankfurt
266:Deaconess
200:Christian
101:Lambaréné
84:Education
525:May 2019
423:TĂĽbingen
364:Garaison
360:Bordeaux
168:feminist
164:linguist
132:Medicine
508:sources
356:anaemia
270:Stettin
136:Nursing
480:Legacy
412:(1984)
410:Weimar
208:Alsace
128:Fields
111:Spouse
156:nurse
105:Gabon
818:2015
776:2015
740:2015
674:2015
591:2015
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66:Died
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