Hella Wuolijoki was the first Estonian woman to graduate with a master’s degree from the Imperial Alexander University in 1908. Wuolijoki was a politically active leftwinger who was imprisoned during the Finnish Continuation War of 1941-1944. Hella Wuolijoki was a woman of many parts: an author, a member of the Finnish Parliament and the director-general of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), to mention a few of her roles. Her grandson, the politician Erkki Tuomioja received the Tieto-Finlandia book prize in 2006 for his book on Wuolijoki, Häivähdys punaista (Eng. A Delicate Shade of Pink).
Hella Maria Wuolijoki (née Ella Maria Murrik)
Born 22 July, 1886 Helme, Estonia. Died 2 February, 1954, Helsinki
Master of Arts (folklore studies, history and Russian language) 1908, the Imperial Alexander University
Occupations: reporter, businesswoman, Finnish parliamentarian, director-general of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, and author.
Photo: Museovirasto
Author: Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta
Translated by: Aija-Leena Bernoulli, Merikki Lappi, Elizabeth Oakes, Johanna Spoof
Hella Wuolijoki moved in pursuit of her university studies from Estonia to Helsinki in 1904. Four years later she received her master’s degree, the first Estonian woman to do so. She abandoned her postgraduate studies in folklore to concentrate on providing for her family as a businesswoman.
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Hella W film was premiered in movie theaters 28.1.2011. The film is based on Outi Nyytäjä's orginal writing, and it is directed by Juha Wuolijoki. It is produced by Snapper Films and distributed by Sandrew Metronome Distribution Finland.
A trailer to the film Hella W. (YouTube)…
Video clip from the archives of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (in Finnish).
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Video clip from the archives of the Finnish Broadcasting Company. (In Finnish).
Read moreAdditional online information about Hella Wuolijoki (mainly in Finnish)
