Marta von Meyenburg (1882-1972) came from a Schaffhausen patrician family, though she was born in Dresden where her father Viktor von Meyenburg worked as a sculptor. She grew up in Herrliberg and completed her education at the Swiss Nursing School in Zurich, an institution founded in 1901 on the initiative of Dr Anna Heer and the Swiss Women’s Charitable Association. Her brother Hanns von Meyenburg embarked on a career in medicine, became a professor of pathology, and later held the office of rector at the University of Zurich. 

Following her nursing training, von Meyenburg became active in poor relief efforts and worked from 1908 to 1910 as the first female assistant in the Zurich Guardianship Authority. She began running the courses providing instruction in ‘women’s charitable work for social tasks’ in 1910, as Mentona Moser’s successor. Together with Maria Fierz, she expanded the scope of instruction and co-founded the Zurich Social Women’s School (Soziale Frauenschule) in 1920, whose director she remained until 1934.

The Social Women’s School – which later became the School for Social Work and is now known as the Department of Social Work at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) – was primarily aimed at women from middle-class families; few occupations were open to them. This school played a key role in the professionalisation of ‘social work’ and in the emergence of a female field of work populated by qualified specialists. The school was financed through relatively high semester fees as well as subsidies from the canton’s education department. Similar schools already existed in Lucerne and Geneva (both since 1918), Fribourg (1919) and in other European cities since the turn of the 20^th century. In the 1930s, the Social Women’s School also provided women training in the social care of infants, for women to be assistants in parishes, and for those who would later work in care homes and institutions. Men only began attending the school in 1946. 

Marta von Meyenburg was also committed to women’s welfare and the vocational training of women in other ways. In 1914, she was involved in founding the Women’s Centre (Frauenzentrale) in Zurich, the umbrella organisation for women’s organisations, and served on its board until 1947. From 1934 to 1957, she was also a board member of the Swiss Nursing School, and performed civilian service during the Second World War. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Zurich in 1945 for her contribution to the ‘social education of the female sex’.

Marta von Meyenburg (1882-1972) came from a patrician family from Schaffhausen and was born in Dresden, where her father Viktor von Meyenburg worked as a sculptor. She grew up in Herrliberg and completed education at the Swiss Nursing School in Zurich, which was founded in 1901 on the initiative of physician Anna Heer and the Swiss Philanthropic Women’s Association. Her brother Hanns von Meyenburg embarked on a career in medicine, became a professor of pathology and later held the office of rector at the University of Zurich.

Following her training in nursing, von Meyenburg became active in poor relief and worked as the first female assistant to the Zurich Guardianship Office from 1908 to 1910. She began running the ‘Course on the Introduction to Women’s Charitable Work for Social Issues’ in 1910, as Mentona Moser’s successor. Together with Maria Fierz, she expanded the scope of training in social work and founded the Zurich Women’s Social School in 1920, where she served as director until 1934. 

The Women’s Social School – which later changed its name to the School for Social Work and is now known as the Department of Social Work at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) – was primarily aimed at women from middle-class families who only had access to limited fields of work. It played a key role in the professionalisation of welfare as ‘social work’ and in the emergence of a qualified, specifically female field of work. The school was financed by relatively high semester fees as well as subsidies from the cantonal education department. Similar schools already existed in Lucerne and Geneva (both since 1918), Fribourg (1919) and in other European cities since the turn of the 20th century. Infant welfare workers, parish municipality helpers and the personnel of homes and institutions were also taught at the Women’s Social School in the 1930s. The first men attended the school in 1946. 

Marta von Meyenburg was also committed to women’s welfare and the vocational training of women in other ways. In 1914, she was involved in founding the Women’s Central Office in Zurich, the umbrella organisation for women’s organisations, and served on its board until 1947. From 1934 to 1957, she was also a board member of the Swiss Nursing School and performed women’s civilian service during the Second World War. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1945 for her contribution to the ‘social education of the female sex’.