Gustava Kielland
Encyclopedia
Susanne Sophie Catharina Gustava Kielland (née Blom, 6 March 1800 – 28 February 1889) was a Norwegian
author and missionary
pioneer.
She was born in Kongsberg
as a daughter of customs officer Gustavus Blom and his wife Karen Petronelle Stoltenberg. According to Norsk biografisk leksikon
her name was Susanne Sophie Catharina Gustava and not Susanne Sophie Caroline Gustava, as many believe. In May 1824 in Drammen
she married the minister Gabriel Kirsebom Kielland (1796-1854). Her husband was also a first cousin once removed of Gabriel Schanche Kielland
and second cousin of Jacob Kielland.
She spent most of her life in the parishes of Finnøy
and Lyngdal
, where her husband was stationed as vicar. She was influenced by the Moravian Church, but did not become involved in missionary
activity until 1840. Following a missionary lecture in Stavanger
, she regretted her "lukewarm" attitude to mission. Then, back in Lyngdal, she formed a Christian-social women's association consisting of herself, three farmer's wives and one farmer's daughter. With the foundation date 13 November 1840, this is considered the country's first women's association. Her association soon expanded, spreading to Austad
and Kvås
.
Today she is best known for her literary output. Several of the songs she wrote are still well known, in particular the Christmas carol
"O, Jul med din Glæde", and the children's song "Liden Ekorn". Late in her life, she dictated her memoirs Erindringer fra mitt liv (Reminiscence from my Life), printed in manuscript form for her family in 1882. In 1899 an edited version was released for a wider audience. The book was one of the first autobiographies
written by a woman in Norway.
She had four sons and four daughters. She suffered from blindness between age 73 and 78, but regained eyesight after an operation. She died in February 1889 in Skien
, at the time living with one of her daughters and her son-in-law Andreas Hauge
. She was also the paternal grandmother of engineer Nils Vogt Kielland and writer Eugenia Marie Kielland.
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...
author and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
pioneer.
She was born in Kongsberg
Kongsberg
is a town and municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is located at the southern end of the traditional region of Numedal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Kongsberg....
as a daughter of customs officer Gustavus Blom and his wife Karen Petronelle Stoltenberg. According to Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
her name was Susanne Sophie Catharina Gustava and not Susanne Sophie Caroline Gustava, as many believe. In May 1824 in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
she married the minister Gabriel Kirsebom Kielland (1796-1854). Her husband was also a first cousin once removed of Gabriel Schanche Kielland
Gabriel Schanche Kielland
Gabriel Schanche Kielland was a Norwegian businessman and ship owner. He managed the Stavanger company Jacob Kielland & Søn from 1790, and became one of the most wealthy and prominent persons in the city. He let construct the large country house Ledaal around 1800, which has later become a royal...
and second cousin of Jacob Kielland.
She spent most of her life in the parishes of Finnøy
Finnøy
Finnøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is an island community located in Boknafjorden, 13 nautical miles north of Stavanger.The parish of Finnø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and Lyngdal
Lyngdal
is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Lyngdal was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Austad and Kvås were separated from Lyngdal on 1 January 1909 but they were again merged with Lyngdal on 1 January 1964, together with the area of Spangereid west of Lenesfjorden.It is a...
, where her husband was stationed as vicar. She was influenced by the Moravian Church, but did not become involved in missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
activity until 1840. Following a missionary lecture in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, she regretted her "lukewarm" attitude to mission. Then, back in Lyngdal, she formed a Christian-social women's association consisting of herself, three farmer's wives and one farmer's daughter. With the foundation date 13 November 1840, this is considered the country's first women's association. Her association soon expanded, spreading to Austad
Austad
Austad is a village and a former municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. The village of Austad is located in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Lyngdal, between the town of Lyngdal and Korshamn.-Name:...
and Kvås
Kvås
Kvås is a village and a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the Lyngdalen valley in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Lyngdal. The village of Kvås is located along the river Lygna...
.
Today she is best known for her literary output. Several of the songs she wrote are still well known, in particular the Christmas carol
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
"O, Jul med din Glæde", and the children's song "Liden Ekorn". Late in her life, she dictated her memoirs Erindringer fra mitt liv (Reminiscence from my Life), printed in manuscript form for her family in 1882. In 1899 an edited version was released for a wider audience. The book was one of the first autobiographies
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
written by a woman in Norway.
She had four sons and four daughters. She suffered from blindness between age 73 and 78, but regained eyesight after an operation. She died in February 1889 in Skien
Skien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
, at the time living with one of her daughters and her son-in-law Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge
Andreas Hauge was a Norwegian priest, psalm writer and politician.He was born in Aker as a son of Hans Nielsen Hauge and Andrea Andersdatter Nyhus . He lost his mother at only a week of age; his father then married again, but he died when Andreas Hauge was 9. He took the examen artium in 1834,...
. She was also the paternal grandmother of engineer Nils Vogt Kielland and writer Eugenia Marie Kielland.
External links
The start of Erindringer fra mitt liv.- "O, Jul med din Glæde" in English translation - "O Christmas, you season of childlike delight".
- Family genealogy