Introduction
The project “Women Doctors in Tuzla during Austro-Hungarian Administration” is a collaborative initiative of the Archives of Tuzla Canton and the University of Tuzla. It was developed as part of the 2025 thematic focus of the DARIAH-BiH consortium, which highlights the contributions of women across all areas of human endeavor. With valuable support from Professor Tomasz Jacek Liz of the University of Bydgoszcz (Poland), the project consists of three core activities: a roundtable discussion, a curated exhibition, and this digital presentation.
This digital presentation explores an overlooked aspect of local history—the pioneering work of women doctors who served in Tuzla during the Austro-Hungarian period.
In an era marked by a shortage of physicians, particularly women, these doctors not only treated patients but played a vital role in educating women about health. For many Muslim women, who were reluctant to consult male doctors due to cultural and religious customs, the arrival of female physicians offered both care and dignity. These doctors became trusted figures—healers, confidants, and advocates.
Coming from different parts of Central Europe—Anna Bayerová from Bohemia, and Teodora Krajewska and Jadwiga Olszewska from Poland—these women left their homes and familiar lives to serve communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Driven by a strong sense of ethics and humanitarian values, their work made a significant and lasting impact. Through digital storytelling, this project highlights their contributions and strengthens their presence in local historical awareness, building on previous research and expanding public understanding.
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About the Project
The project “Women Doctors in Tuzla during Austro-Hungarian Administration” is a professional and academic initiative developed through the joint efforts of the Archives of Tuzla Canton and the University of Tuzla. It was carried out by academic staff from the Department of History and the Department of Journalism at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Tuzla, with support from the Office for Science and Research.
This initiative was realized as part of the thematic framework set by the DARIAH-BiH consortium for the year 2025, which encourages the exploration of women’s contributions across all fields of human endeavor. The project aimed to rediscover and present the life stories of pioneering women doctors who practiced in Tuzla during the Austro-Hungarian period, using digital storytelling and archival reseearch and records.
In addition to this digital presentation, the project included a roundtable discussion and an exhibition under the same title.
Project Contributors
- Professor Tomasz Jacek Liz, PhD, University of Bydgoszcz,
- Full professor Izet Šabotić, PhD, Department of History, University of Tuzla
- Omer Zulić, MA Archives of Tuzla Canton
- Hatidža Fetahagić, Archives of Tuzla Canton
- Associate professor Mirza Mahmutović, PhD, Department of Journalism, University of Tuzla
- Full professor Nermin Sarajlić, PhD, vice-rector for Science and research, University of Tuzla
- MSc Alma Tanović Hulusić – Senior Officer, University of Tuzla
- Adnan Tinjić, Archives of Tuzla Canton
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to:
- Professor Tomasz Jacek Liz, University of Bydgoszcz (Poland), for his valuable support and guidance
- The Rector of the University of Tuzla, Nermina Hadžigrahić for institutional support
- The Dean of the Faculty of Humanites and Social Sciences, University of Tuzla, Nihada Delibegović Džanić for institutional support
- The staff of the Historical Archives in Tuzla and other archival institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland
- The DARIAH-BiH consortium for thematic support
Their contributions made it possible to preserve and share these important stories.