Doemming, Anna von

Dentist, women's rights activist

Born: 26.11.1843 in Königsberg in der Neumark

died: 05.05.1922 in Oberusel

As the first-born of seven siblings, Doemming took responsibility for her life at an early age. After the death of her father in 1858, the family lived in Berlin. Here, Doemming was able to attend the Luisenstiftung free of charge and prepare for the teacher's examination as a boarding school student. There were hardly any higher education opportunities for girls and women at this time. If women did not want to content themselves with the social tasks assigned to them and aspired to a qualified education, graduating from a teacher training college opened up the opportunity to gain admission to university after further examinations in Switzerland or America.

Influenced by the essay "Frauen als Zahnärzte" (Women as Dentists) published in "Frauen-Anwalt" - perhaps also triggered by a meeting with Henriette Hirschfeld, the first female German dentist practicing in Berlin - Doemming decided to become a dentist. In 1879, she left Germany to study at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in America. The theoretical and practical training at the college lasted two years. The curriculum included lessons in operative, conservative and mechanical dentistry and the teaching of scientific principles, as well as chemistry, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology. Practical exercises included the treatment of patients and the preparation of technical laboratory work. On February 26, 1881, Doemming graduated with the professional title "Doctor of Dental Surgery".

When she returned to Germany, she decided to settle in the "flourishing spa town of Wiesbaden" as the first female dentist in Wiesbaden (14th in Germany), where she practiced until 1909 and earned very well. Her name was also closely associated with the committed fight for women's rights. With enthusiasm and expertise, she worked for the first German girls' grammar school in Karlsruhe, the nationwide association for women's education and women's studies, the Federation of German Women's Associations and initiated a wide range of women's political activities in Wiesbaden, such as the founding of the Ladies' Club.

Around 1909, Doemming moved to Niedernhausen with her friend Clothilde Hertzog to a villa built by Friedrich von Thiersch. She returned to Wiesbaden in 1914 and lived as a pensioner at Frankfurter Straße 31. Doemming was buried in Oberursel.