The Taavet (David) and Sofia Bergmann Foundation was established in Tartu at the beginning of the 20th century. Its original aim was to support young people of both sexes in their studies and to promote Estonian literature, although the latter objective quickly declined in importance. The foundation’s charter was officially approved in 1904, and it was administered by a board based in Tartu. The Bergmann Foundation played an important role in supporting the educational aspirations of young people. Among the applicants for the loans were a number of Estonian artists, writers, politicians, scientists, and public figures.
The aim of this article is to use the Bergmann Foundation archival collection to determine what types of education were supported by its loans. Although the foundation also provided financial assistance for studying at secondary and vocational schools, the author is particularly interested in how it supported women’s higher education and what this reveals about attitudes towards women’s higher education among Tartu’s literate society. The focus is on the period before 1918, when women’s opportunities for education were more limited than during the period of the Republic of Estonia (1918–1940).
Based on meeting minutes, annual reports, and individual loan files, it appears that the Bergmann Foundation provided support loans to female school pupils, vocational school students, university students, and auditors. This suggests that women’s (higher) education was something that Estonian society was prepared to support at the beginning of the 20th century, even within the context of limited resources. Education was seen as important, and educated women were regarded as having meaningful roles in the family and society.
Assessing the foundation’s overall impact on women’s higher education is challenging. Due to incomplete sources, it is difficult to determine the exact number of women supported, especially in the early period. Considering the various sources and datasets already available (1915 list of Estonian students, 1922 census, database created by Sirje Kivimäe and Sirje Tamul titled “Estonian Women’s Higher Education 1858–1918”) in comparison to 18 names listed in the section discussing higher education in this article would lead us to conclude that the role played by the Bergmann Foundation was relatively small. However, for those women who applied for and received loans, it was undoubtedly of great importance. The applications often mention the death of a parent or parents, a large family, or other dependents as reasons for financial hardship. Lack of finances prevented some women who received loans from later repaying them on time. Based on available sources, we can say that most women who applied for assistance from the Bergmann Foundation before 1918 received at least partial assistance. It is difficult to say how decisive these loans were in enabling them to obtain a degree.
Many of the women introduced in the article, for example, Ida Kruus, Salme Ungerson, Juuli Suits, Alma Koskel, Elise Kevend, Mea Krims, Emma Lasberg, and Frida Na(a)ris, worked in their chosen professions (many as doctors and teachers) and were active in society for a long time. Their applications for financial aid characterise the opportunities and challenges faced by women in the early 20th century in pursuing higher education, but also, more broadly, the activities of women in Estonian society before World War II.