Maikki (Maria) Friberg is known best for her activities in the Finnish Women's Association and in Unioni the League of Finnish Feminists, and as the editor of Naisten ääni ('Women's Voice'). She played an active role in popular education and the temperance, further-education and peace movements.
Background
Maikki Friberg was born January 5, 1861. Her father Karl Arvid Friberg, head of county constabulary, died very early. After his death her mother Fanny Adelaide Boijer moved to Tampere, where Maikki spent her childhood. She was admitted to a private Swedish-language course for women teachers in Helsinki. Maikki spoke both Finnish and Swedish and learned German, French and English.
Education
She was granted a temporary permit allowing her to study Ethics and Art History. At many lectures, she was the first female member of the audience. In her memoirs, she stressed the importance of a wide range of knowledge as the basis for the advancement of Finnish culture. After finishing her doctorate, Friberg improved her French in Paris and attended lectures on economics in Brussels. Between 1889 and 1906, using money of her own and grants awarded by the Finnish government and the City of Helsinki, Maikki Friberg made numerous trips to the Continent to familiarise herself with the latest teaching practices in the fields of geography and further education for girls.
Career
She was one of a large number of teachers hungry for knowledge who travelled a lot around Europe in order to become acquainted with teaching methods in different countries. In 1893, Friberg visited Copenhagen, Berlin, Dresden, Bremen, Hamburg and The Hague to acquaint herself with the teaching of Geography, the Natural Sciences and 'Observation' in particular. Four years later, she took part in classes at a vocational school in Paris and became familiar with post-elementary-school further-education classes.