Betzy Kjelsberg

Betzy Alexandra KjelsbergCite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/programmer/tv_arkiv/kvardagsliv/eit_nytt_kvinneliv/523599.html|title=Betzy Alexandra Kjelsberg|accessdate=2007-11-23|publisher=nrk.no|year=2000|author=Store Norske Leksikon|language=Norwegian] (November 1, 1866 – 1950), born "Betzy Aleksandra Børresen",Cite web|url=http://www.norgeslexi.com/paxlex/alfabetet/k/k06.html|title=NorgesLexi - Norsk politisk dokumentasjon på Internett!|accessdate=2007-11-23|publisher=NorgesLexi|language=Norwegian] was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party, being the first female board member of the party, Norway's first female factory inspector from 1910–1936, and a member of the feminist movement. Kjelsberg was born in Svelvik, Vestfold. Her father was Norwegian, while her mother was from Scotland. After her father died, the family moved to Drammen, where Betzy's mother married a merchant from the town. However, he had to close his shop, forcing them to move to Christiania (today Oslo). While living there, she started her examen artium, as one of the first women in Norway to do so, but she never actually finished it due to the poor economy of her stepfather. Instead, she fell in love with Oluf Fredrik Kjelsberg, a jurist, with whom she had six children.Cite web|url=http://kvinnesak.no/info_Betzy%20Kjelsberg%20(1866-1950).nml|title=Betzy Kjelsberg (1866-1950)|accessdate=2007-11-23|publisher=Norsk Kvinnesaksforening|author=Gunhild Ramm Reistad|language=Norwegian] Kjelsberg is the great-grandmother of Siv Jensen, the leader of the Norwegian Progress Party.cite book | title=Siv: portrett av en formann| last=Aurdal| first=Martine| date=2006| publisher=Kagge forlag]

In 1883, she founded the discussion group "Skuld". Kjelsberg created the organizations "Kvinnelig Handelsstands forening" (1894), "Drammen Kvinnesaksforening" (1896), with its own housewife school, Drammens Sanitetsforening (1899), and "Drammen Kvinneråd" (1903). She was a co-founder of the Norwegian women's rights association, "Norsk Kvinnesaksforening" (1884), "Kvindestemmeretsforeningen" (1885), which worked for giving women the right to vote, and was a member, and, at a point, the leader of the Norwegian National Women's Council, "Norske Kvinners Nasjonalråd" (1904). From 1926–1938, she was the vice-president of the International Council of Women.

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Persondata
NAME = Kjelsberg, Betzy
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Feminist and politician
DATE OF BIRTH = birth date|1866|11|1|mf=y
PLACE OF BIRTH = Svelvik, Norway
DATE OF DEATH = 1950
PLACE OF DEATH =