A Place of Women's History for Gertrud and Johanna Wiegandt at TU Dresdenresden
Diversity Management promotes the visibility of (historical) women scientists at TU Dresden. We have recently established the first “Place of Women’s History” (Frauenort) at our university. This honors the former students and sisters Johanna and Gertrud Wiegandt.
With their “frauenorte sachsen” (Place of Women’s History in Saxony) project, the State Women’s Council of Saxony (Landesfrauenrat Sachsen) seeks to increase the visibility of the moving and multifaceted history of women in Saxony and promote role models. Thanks to this project, regional history is being observed throughout Saxony from the viewpoint of key women figures in history for the first time. Plaques bearing short biographies to commemorate the extraordinary achievements of these women have been placed at the places they lived and/or worked.
The inauguration of the Place of Women’s History will be held together with the Landesfrauenrat Sachsen on May 2, 2023, at 4:30 pm in front of the Trefftz Building. It was opened by the Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger. She emphasized how important it is to continue making role models like the Wiegandt sisters visible in the future. After all, despite increasing numbers, women are still underrepresented in STEM degree programs and at advanced career levels.
Ceremonial unveiling of the information board at the new place of women's history (from left): Dr. Jessica Bock, Vice Chairwoman of the State Women's Council of Saxony; Vivian Weidner from TUD Diversity Management; Dr. Andrea Blumtritt from SMJusDEG and TUD Rector Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger).
First Place of Women's History at TU Dresden at the Trefftz Building in honor of Johanna and Gertrud Wiegandt
The inauguration was followed by the an accompanying traveling exhibition organized by the State Women's Council in the foyer of the Schönfeld Lecture Hall in the Barkhausen Building. The exhibition shows the moving and multifaceted history of women in Saxony, and honors women who were responsible for outstanding achievements in politics, social matters, business, science, the arts and sports. The welcome address by the Vice-Rector University Culture was followed by an insightful expert contribution from Prof. Susanne Schötz on the history of women at TU Dresden and a contribution from poetry slam performer Sira Busch.
© Crispin-Iven Mokry
© Crispin-Iven Mokry
© Crispin-Iven Mokry
Who were Johanna and Gertrud Wiegandt?
The Wiegandt sisters are scarcely known among the general public, yet both women were pioneers in our university’s history. Johanna and Gertrud Wiegandt distinguished themselves in a field which had long been the exclusive domain of men.
Johanna Wiegandt (1893-1967)
Johanna Wiegandt was born in Dresden on April 18, 1893. She began studying Mathematics and Physics in the 1914 summer semester at TUD, which was called Technische Hochschule Dresden (THD) at this time. She completed the 1917/18 winter semester in Göttingen and the 1918 summer semester in Heidelberg, after which she returned to THD. In 1919, she was awarded her teaching qualification. On December 2, 1919, she received her doctorate “with distinction,” making her the first woman to receive the title of “Dr. rer. Techn.” at THD. Johanna Wiegandt started teaching in April 1921 and was promoted to the position of “Studienrätin” in 1926. She continued to teach at schools in Dresden until her retirement in 1956, at which time she took up a freelance position as a lecturer for higher mathematics in THD’s distance learning program from 1956 to 1967. Johanna Wiegandt died on September 29, 1967, as a result of an accident.
Gertrud Wiegandt (1898-1983)
Gertrud Wiegandt was born in Dresden on April 23, 1898. She graduated from secondary school in 1918 and went on to study Mathematics and Physics for one semester in Heidelberg and one semester in Leipzig. She finished her studies in 1922 at Technische Hochschule Dresden with an examination to become a secondary school teacher. However, in 1923, an assistant position at the Chair of Mathematics with Prof. Gerhard Kowalewski became vacant and she was offered the job. As a result, she postponed the probationary year to complete her teacher training studies and began working at THD on November 1, 1923. She was the first woman to be selected for an assistant position at a Chair of Mathematics at THD and worked there until 1938. She received her doctorate in 1924. After her fixed-term contract was renewed multiple times, she ended her work at THD in 1938. Gertrud Wiegandt then switched to teaching for two years. From January 1940, she was employed as an industrial physicist at the Dresden-based company Koch und Sterzel. After the war, she worked as a math teacher. On December 28, 1983, she died in Dresden, and was laid to rest at St. Pauli Cemetery.
© PicturePeople
Coordinator Diversity Management
NameVivian Weidner M.A.
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