Name Louise Westergaard | Role Theatrical producer | |
Died May 6, 2005, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States Spouse Stephen O'Neil (m. 1989–2005) Children Kermit Westergaard, Elizabeth Westergaard, Cathrine Westergaard, Emile Westergaard Nominations Tony Award for Best Musical, Tony Award for Best Play, Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical Similar People KT Sullivan, Rupert Holmes, Mark Nadler, George Gershwin | ||
Louise Westergaard (1826–1880) was a Danish reform pedagogue and pioneer on women's education.
Her parents were surgeon Jens Anton Westergaard (1791-1829) and Johanne Wilhelmine Louise Bentzen (1799-1856). Working as a governess, she graduated as a seminar teacher from the Højere Dannelsesanstalt for Damer of Annestine Beyer in 1851. From 1858 to 1880, she managed a progressive girl school in Copenhagen, regarded as one of the foremost educational institutions for women in Denmark aside from that of her contemporary Natalie Zahle.
She was also active as a writer and translator. In 1853, she had a Thesis of her own printed and published in the press, which was also awarded by the University of Copenhagen, likely the first for a woman in Denmark, though this was not written as a part of any formal university study, which was at that time not yet allowed.