Augspurg, Anita (1857–1943)

Major leader of the German women's movement. Name variations: Augsburg. Pronunciation: OWGS-purk. Born Anita Johanna Theodora Sophie Augspurg, Sept 22, 1857, in Verden an der Aller, Germany; died Dec 20, 1943, in Zurich, Switzerland; dau. of Augustine (Langenbeck) Augspurg (from a ministerial and medical family) and Wilhelm Augspurg (lawyer); attended private schools and universities of Berlin and Zurich; granted law degree from University of Zurich; never married; no children; lived with Lida Heymann.

A major leader of the German women's movement during early 20th century, combined feminism with pacifism, insisting that Europe would be spared future wars only when women had the right to vote; 1st wanted to become a teacher; studied drama at University of Berlin and acted at theaters in Meiningen, Riga, and Altenburg, Germany (1881–85); studied jurisprudence at University of Zurich (1893–97); edited Journal for Female Suffrage (1907–12); with Lida Heymann, was among 13 co-founders of the German Union for Women's Suffrage (1902), participated in the German Women's Suffrage League (1907), worked in International Women's Suffrage Alliance (1904–09), attended a women's meeting at The Hague which established the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (1915), edited the journal Woman in the State (1918–33) and moved to Zurich (1933); opened highly successful photographic studio in Munich (1900).

See also Women in World History.