Elena Ghiba Birta (1801–1864) was a promoter of

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

n-language education in the

Austrian Empire The Austrian Empire (german: link=no, Kaiserthum Oesterreich, modern spelling , ) was a Central-Eastern European multinational great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the realms of the Habsburgs. During its existence, ...

Background

Elena Ghiba-Birta was born in Bichiş (Bekes), her mother being born in

Ineu Ineu (; Hungarian: ''Borosjenő''; Serbian: Јенопоље/''Jenopolje''; Turkish: ''Yanova'') is a town in Arad County, western Transylvania, Romania. It is situated at a distance of from the county capital, Arad, it occupies a surface ...

. At just 10 years old she became an orphan, going to live with her relatives in

Pâncota Pâncota ( Hungarian: ''Pankota'') is a town in Arad County, Crișana, Romania. The town is situated at a 37 km distance from the county capital ( Arad), in the central zone of the county, at the contact zone of the Arad Plateau and Zărand M ...

. When she got married, she moved to Arad. After only a few years she became a widow, but she kept the name Birta, from her marriage. In 1830, she started working for Emanoil Gogher, a job she kept for 33 years later. At his death, she inherited his wealth.

Death

Elena Ghiba Birta died in January 1864, at

Pesta Pest () is the eastern, mostly flat part of Budapest, Hungary, comprising about two-thirds of the city's territory. It is separated from Buda and Óbuda, the western parts of Budapest, by the Danube River. Among its most notable sights are the ...

, where she was being treated for an illness.

Legacy

Elena Ghiba Birta wrote her testament one year before her death, through which she made different donations. One of them was of 48,000 florins, for a foundation in her name. Out of that 12 scholarships were given annually, to students with less income, but deserving. Her name will always be remembered as a person whom helped students who were unable to pay for their studies. The National College "Elena Ghiba-Birta" which bears her name today, stands opposite her bust.

References

The Life of Elena Ghiba Birta
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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghiba, Elena 1801 births 1864 deaths People from Mureș County Romanian philanthropists Patrons of schools People from the Austrian Empire 19th-century philanthropists 19th-century women philanthropists