Women have taken over Bergisch Gladbach, a German city once dominated by men.
Three Zanders Women Honoured with Memorial Plaque for their Century-Long Impact on Paper Manufacturer
Three women from Bergisch Gladbach, Julie Zanders, Maria Zanders, and Olga Zanders, have been recognised for their significant contributions to the paper manufacturer Zanders over two centuries. The Women's Council NRW e.V. presented them with a memorial plaque in a ceremony held at Villa Zanders on September 12.
Julie Zanders (1804 - 1869) led the company from 1831 to 1869, making it independent during a time when this was not common for women. Her successor, Olga Zanders (1872-1946), managed the company from 1915 to 1929, employing around 1500 people. She survived both World War I and the 1920s depression and established a marriage grant for Zanders employees' children. Maria Zanders (1839 - 1904) expanded and modernized the company through acquisitions and led it alone after her husband's early death from 1870.
Tatjana Countess von Spee, born Zanders, paid tribute to the extraordinary and exceptional merits of the three entrepreneurs for the paper factory and the social and cultural life of the region. Dr. Ina Dinter, director of the Kunstmuseum Villa Zanders, emphasized the lasting significance of Maria Zanders' work, stating that she created a place where art, music, and civic engagement came together, and that this heritage continues to shape the museum today.
The three Zanders women are now part of the Women's Places NRW project, which aims to honour outstanding historical women personalities throughout the state. The project 'FrauenOrte NRW' by the FrauenRat NRW e.V. will honour 57 women personalities from over ten centuries and all regions of North Rhine-Westphalia by the end of 2025.
Mayor Frank Stein paid tribute to the life's work of the three women, stating that their determined action secured many people's jobs and livelihoods for many years. Judith Klaßen, the equal opportunities officer of the city of Bergisch Gladbach, emphasized that the three women were pioneers who decided to take responsibility for leading the company Zanders at a time when this was not common.
The project 'FrauenOrte NRW' is funded by the Ministry for Children, Youth, Families, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and has Minister for Equality Josefine Paul as its patron. Dr. Ulrich Soenius, director of the Rhineland-Westphalian Economic Archive Foundation in Cologne, played a significant role in placing the project for Julie, Maria, and Olga Zanders under the umbrella of the FrauenRates NRW project.
The woman who led the company Zanders alone between 1870 and 1874 was Auguste Mathilde Meissner, a widow, who inherited the business around that period. The project aims to bring these Bergisch Gladbach entrepreneurs back into public consciousness and to emphasize the role of companies in history. Jihane Qotit Zerhouni, board member of Women's Council NRW e.V., explained that the goal of the project is to contribute to equality by correcting the skewed perception that women have not made significant contributions to history.
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