Research into the life of Anna Wijnandts-Louis :: Centre for Gender and Diversity

Research into the life of Anna Wijnandts-Louis

Catharina Eijs (e-mail)
Maastricht University
Centre for Gender and Diversity

In April 2006 the Stichting Elisabeth Strouven gave to the Centre for Gender and Diversity a starting allowance for research into the life of Anna Cornelia Wijnandts-Louis (1882-1957), the first female municipal councilor of Maastricht. Right after the introduction of universal suffrage she was chosen in 1920 in the Council of Maastricht as representative of the former labor party SDAP. With the interruption of the Second World War, she fulfilled this task until 1949. But even in Maastricht the memory of this pioneer in the area of women and politics is almost entirely lost.

Catharine Eijs, author of “Het vrouwelijke gezicht van Maastricht”, developed together with Mineke Bosch a project proposal to have the person of Anna Wijnandts-Louis and her influence on the social and political life in Maastricht known again. For the Centre for Gender and Diversity this is an important subject. Historical studies about women en women’s movements are mainly focused on the west and – to a lesser extent – the north of the country. This research will besides the life of Anna Wijnandts-Louis also study the developments in the area of gender and politics as they existed back then in Maastricht.
At the same time it is a way of tightening the bond with the city of Maastricht.

With the help of the acquired allowance Catharina Eijs will start her source investigation at the Centre. Meanwhile fundraising is taking place to finance the continuation of the research. The Stichting Historische Reeks Maastricht has already agreed that in principle they wish to edit a biography about Anna Wijnandts-Louis.