Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster

Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster is a guild–like organisation in Zürich, Switzerland, not yet associated with the Zünfte of Zürich as of 2015.

Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf as guest of the Fraumünster association in 2012
Historical clothing of the women of the society
Flag of the society
Spectaculum at the Münsterhof square in May 2014
Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster
Full nameGesellschaft zu Fraumünster
Founded1989 (1989)
Key peopleRegula Zweifel, Hohe Fraumünster-Frau[1]
CountrySwitzerland
WebsiteOfficial website (in German)

History of Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster

In medieval times, in Zürich all female and male Bürger were members of the guilds, but beginning in the 19th century women were no more tolerated within the guilds then more as decoration of their men being still members of the guilds of Zürich. The history of the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünsters dates back to the late 9th century when the abbess of the Fraumünster Abbey (853 A.D.) in fact reigned the city of Zürich as Fürstäbtissin (imperial abbess) nominated by the king of the Holy Roman Empire, among them Katharina von Zimmern.[2] Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster, being the society of the former noble women of the Fraumünster Abbey, was established in 1989. Now, the honorable women of the society cultivate the virtuous habits of the former abbey by p.e. honoring the work of engaged women in the modern society. Beginning fifteen years ago, the society started to organize every three years the so-called Mittelalter Spectaculum, a medieval funfair, at the Münsterhof square.

Sechseläuten and the guilds of Zürich

Since 2010 the guilds of Zürich allow to the women of the society to practice Sechseläuten, as guests of the Constaffel society, for historical reasons as until 1524 AD the abbesses of the Fraumünster abbey were members of the Constaffel.[3]

As of November 2014, expressly agreed by the guilds of Zürich, the Fraumünster society – still as guest, not as an official member –[3] may practice Sechseläuten provisorily until 2022, as also confirmed by the association (Zentralkomitee der Zünfte) of the Zürich guilds. Mrs Regula Zweifel, representative of the Fraumünster society, told in an interview on 6 November 2014, ″... after 25 years, the tug of war is finally over. The fact that we now have guest status at Sechseläutenplatz, is great. But it is only a first step ...″ The association of guild members will, on occasion of an official ceremony, sign an agreement between the Fraumünster society and the so-called Zunftmeister's (literally: masters of the guilds) in December 2014: as long as the agreement applies, the Fraumünster society may participate namely the Sechseläuten procession and Böögg burning, but neither do any steps to join the assembly of the Zürich guilds nor participate other activities related to Sechseläuten.[3][4][5]

Activities

The association organizes monthly meetings, and its members are involved in numerous cultural projects, among them the honor book for women, a silent memorial to all women who do extraordinary things in everyday life and shape society actively. Every three years the "Mittelalter Spectaculum" at the Münsterhof plaza is organized. Each year, the society honors posthumously female personalities with a plaque at their site of action in Zürich, and publishes a New Year's sheet.

Notable women awarded by the association

The Fraumünster society posthumously honors women who have provided outstanding professional services or social innovations in Zürich. The honoring take place on the morning of the Sechseläuten festival and are public. Whenever possible, a plaque is attached to a former residence or place of activity of the honored women.[6][7]

Name EN-WP wiki born died honor remarks location
Bullinger, AnnaAnna Bullinger-Adlischwyler1500 (around)15642017Former nun of the Oetenbach Nunnery who married Heinrich Bullinger after the Reformation in Zürich[8]Zwingliplatz 4 (Carolinum Zürich)
Escher, MathildeMathilde Escher180818752015Founded the Mathilde-Escher foundation in ZürichSt. Annagasse 11
Fierz, MariaMaria Fierz187819562016Funding of the internal cohesion of the urban population[9]
Lieberherr, EmilieEmilie Lieberherr192420112014First women member of the Council of States (Switzerland) and first women city councillor in Zürichin progress
Gutknecht, RosaRosa Gutknecht188519592013Theologician and assistant pastor at the Grossmünster churchZwingliplatz 1
Feller, ElisabethElisabeth Feller191019732012Independent entrepreneur, feminist and patron of the artsStockerstrasse 9
Birch-Pfeiffer, CharlotteCharlotte Birch-Pfeiffer180018682011First women theatre director (1837–1843) in SwitzerlandSchauspielhaus, Heimplatz
Heim-Vögtlin, MarieMarie Heim-Vögtlin184519162010First female Swiss physician, a writer and a co-founder of the first Swiss gynaecological hospital.Hottingerstrasse 25
Wetzikon, Elisabeth vonElisabeth von Wetzikon123512982009Abbess of the Fraumünster nunnery, supporter of the Codex Manesse
Welti-Escher, LydiaLydia Welti-Escher185818912008Patron of the arts and founder of the Gottfried Keller Stiftung.[10][11][12]Kunsthaus Zürich, Lydia-Welti-Escher-Hof
Zumsteg, HuldaHulda Zumsteg189019842007Prominent hostess of the Kronenhalle restaurant in Zürichnot allowed to apply
Schaufelberger, BarbaraBarbara Schaufelberger164517182006First women book printer and publisher in SwitzerlandStorchengasse 19
Marić-Einstein, MilevaMileva Marić-Einstein187519482005Serbian physicist, Albert Einstein's fellow student at the Zurich Polytechnic, and later his first wife.Huttenstrasse 62
Kempin-Spyri, EmilieEmilie Kempin-Spyri185319012004First woman in Switzerland to graduate with a law degree and to be accepted as an academic lecturer.[13]University of Zürich, Rämistrasse 74
Wyss, LaureLaure Wyss191320022003Swiss writer and journalist, correspondent and activistWinkelwiese 6
Burghalden, Hedwig abHedwig ab Burghalden????2002Maybe fictitious, deviously defeated Austrian troops in 1292 AD.Fountain at Lindenhof hill
Heinzelmann, GertrudGertrud Heinzelmann191419992001Lawyer and initiator of the women's movement for voting rightsMünzplatz 3
Zimmern, Kathaina vonKatharina von Zimmern147815472000Last abbess of the Fraumünster AbbeyNeumarkt 13, Fraumünster cloister
Reinhart-Zwingli, AnnaAnna Reinhart148415381999Wife of Huldrych ZwingliSchifflände 30
Waser, AnnaAnna Waser167817141998Swiss engraver and miniature painterMünstergasse 19
Guyer, LuxLux Guyer189419551997First woman architect with her own office in Switzerland and project manager of SAFFA 1928.[14]Bahnhofstr. 71

References
  1. "Regula Zweifel, Hohe Fraumünster-Frau". Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  2. "Geschichte". Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  3. Tina Huber (2014-11-06). "Manche Witze sind unter der Gürtellinie". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). Retrieved 2014-11-06.
  4. "Frauenzunft wird Sechseläuten-Dauergast" (in German). Zürcher Oberländer. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  5. "Medienmitteilung (press release)" (PDF) (in German). Zentralkomitee der Zünfte Zürichs. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  6. "Frauenehrungen" (in German). Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  7. "Frauenehrungen der Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster" (PDF) (in German). Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-07. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  8. Katrin Oller (2017-04-22). "Die "inniggeliebte Hausfrau" und Zürcher Pionierin" (in German). Limmattaler Zeitung via Schweiz am Wochenende. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  9. "Zürcher Frauenzunft ehrt Maria Fierz" (in German). Limmattaler Zeitung via sda. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
  10. "Ehrung der Kunstmäzenin Lydia Welti-Escher (press release)" (PDF) (in German). Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster. 2008-03-27. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  11. Stadtrat von Zürich (2008-08-20). "Strassenbenennungskommission; Benennung von "Lydia-Welti-Escher-Hof" (press release)" (in German). Stadt Zürich. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  12. "Der Lydia-Welti-Escher-Hof" (in German). Gang dur Alt-Züri. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
  13. Marita Fuchs: Ehrentafel für die erste Dozentin der Universität Zürich
  14. Yvonne Voegeli (2011). "Saffa" (in German). HDS. Retrieved 2014-11-30.
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