Woschkeruscha Family, Leobersdorf, Austria, 1901 L-R Therese, Alöisia (Louise), Hans (later John Miller) Johann |
I first introduced my maternal grandmother last year at this post for Women’s history month, 2012: Dressmaker Extraordinaire. There you’ll find cool details which I will summarize here. Alöisia Woschkeruscha, was known casually as Luise in Austria (Louise, later in America).
Louise was born on May 4, 1896, in Wiener-Neudorf, Austria. Her family later moved to the small town of Leobersdorf, about twelve miles south of Vienna, where she grew up. Before her brother, Hans/John was born in 1892, Louise had a younger sister. Both girls, I believe under the age of five, contracted smallpox. As they burned with fever, dimpled pustules covering their little bodies, their father, Johann, ran through the night to fetch a doctor, but it was too late for Louise’s younger sister. She died of the disease.
Louise's Arbeitsbuch, pg 1 |
But it’s the “noticeable marks,” entry that makes me cringe. It's filled in with "pox scars!" I'm horrified by the casual cruelty of this basic document––the shame Louise must have felt every time she presented her work history/ identification.
Elise Vogel's Dressmaking students, Vienna sometime between 1906-1909; Louise, 4th from right, standing; Frau Vogel, seated |
Louise Woschkeruscha, age 20-23 Detail from dressmaking school photo |
The Lehrbrief, below, translates to "apprentice certificate," but it actually is like a diploma and recommendation, declaring that Louise has finished her apprenticeship. The translation was tricky because so many words are from another era, so I originally thought it was the start of her apprenticeship. My friends in Germany helped me get it straight. You can see the beautiful details of this document, including a naked couple in a hot tub (!)(upper right) at Dressmaker Extraordinaire, where you'll also find photos of her crocheting and embroidery samplers, which Louise created at about age eleven).
Alöisia Woschkeruscha's Lehrbrief-like a diploma 7/1/1909 |
4 comments:
I went back and reviewed that previous post. What a talent. You are so fortunate to have such wonderful documentation from your family, especially when you know that the documents originated in Austria. I'm sure the pox marks left internal as well as external scars on Louise. I can't imagine what her parents felt with the loss of their younger daughter.
You have such interesting stories! Like you, my heart aches as I wonder about the scars. How did she handle them? How did others treat her?
I love the picture of the naked ones in a hot tub! Hilarious.
Linda
Working as a career counselor, I found this article quite fascinating! It was also good to see that these working women were proud of their profession and supported one another in their field.
Anyone, particularly teens who suffered with acne can relate to Louisa's feelings. That coupled with the loss of her sister must have been very hard to bear for her and for her family. My former employer lost both her brothers and her father was or became an alcholic...no wonder.
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