Why did Sofya’s degree come from Gottingen?

The Gottingen Five

  • The term "Universitätsmamsellen" refers to a distinctive group of daughters of professors from the University of Göttingen during the 18th and 19th centuries. Despite prevailing societal norms of their time, these women actively engaged in scholarly and literary pursuits. The term itself is a German compound combining 'university' and 'Mamsell,' the latter being a term used for 'Miss'. This group represents a significant facet of intellectual history, as they were pioneering female figures in academia during a period when such involvement by women was largely unconventional.

  • Engelhard was noted for her poetry, correspondence with major intellectuals of her day, and her translations of French works into German.

  • Caroline Schelling (previously Caroline Böhmer, Caroline Michaelis, Caroline Schlegel, and Caroline Schlegel-Schelling): An intellectual and writer who was a central figure in German Romanticism.

  • A writer and intellectual. She contributed to different journals and corresponded with prominent intellectuals of her time.

  • A writer, translator, and a friend of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. She is known for her works in literature and translation.

  • Dorothea Schlözer (later von Rodde-Schlözer): A highly educated woman who was unofficially allowed to audit lectures at the University of Göttingen. She passed a doctoral examination in philosophy, she is considered the first women to obtain a doctor’s degree from Gottingen.

Dorothea Schlözer, later known as von Rodde-Schlözer, is celebrated as the first woman to earn a doctoral degree from the University of Göttingen in Germany. In 1787, she passed a rigorous oral examination in philosophy, achieving an equivalent distinction to a doctoral degree. This significant milestone was an extraordinary feat, given the societal norms and restrictions for women in academia during the 18th century. Her intellectual pursuits and accomplishments set a precedent for future women in the academic world, symbolizing a pivotal step towards gender equality in higher education.