Alma Dahlerup

Baroness Alma Dahlerup née Bech-Brøndom (1874–1969) was a Danish-American philanthropist who supported Danish seamen in World War II through radio broadcasts and speaking assignments.

As president of the Danish-American Women's Association, she is remembered in particular for proposing and raising funding for the statue of Hans Christian Andersen in New York's Central Park in memory of the 150th anniversary of his birth.

When she had completed her school education, she served as a housemaid for a clergyman in the north of Jutland where, in addition to housekeeping, she learnt skills normally reserved for men, including painting, white-washing, varnishing and chopping wood.

[1] For the Board of Education, she made radio broadcasts about Hans Christian Andersen and provided support for Danish seamen during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II.

[4] In her role as founder (1929) and honorary president of the Danish-American Women's Association, she suggested a statue of Andersen should be placed in New York's Central Park in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of his birthday.