Elisabeth Vreede

Elisabeth Vreede (1879-1943) was a collaborator of Rudolf Steiner. In 1923, it belonged to the first management committee (Vorstand) of the universal anthroposophic Société, and was responsible for the Section Mathematics and Astronomy for the Free University for Science of the Spirit.

Biography

Elisabeth Vreede was born in $the Hague on July 16th, 1879. After studies of mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and Sanskrit at the university of Leyde, she teaches mathematics in a college. Theosophist since 1902, it meets Rudolf Steiner for the first time in 1903 in London, then in 1904 in Amsterdam where he makes a conference which will be decisive for her: “Mathematical and Occultism”. Since 1904, it takes an active part in becoming spiritual impulse given by Rudolf Steiner, and will devote the remainder of its anthroposophic life to the movement. In 1914 when the construction of Goethéanum starts, it is fixed at Dornach. She collaborates with her hands in the sculptures of first Goethéanum and directs during long years the files which she contributed to organize. In 1923, it is named responsible for the Section of mathematics and astronomy at the Free University of Science of the Spirit in Goethéanum. Between 1927 and 1930, it wrote its letters on astronomy with a small circle of members of the anthroposophic Company, which were gathered in a work called “ the Sky of the Gods ”. Like Ita Wegman, it was excluded the universal anthroposophic Company in 1935. (cf Ita Wegman)
Elisabeth Vreede lived with Dornach until her death which has occurred on August 31st, 1943.

Testimony of Andre Biély:

Among the representatives of new Vorstand set up on the indications of Steiner, I remember Frau Vreede which constantly accompanied Steiner in its voyages by city downtown, and which then lived constantly in Dornach. Small, thin, pale, distracted, of one intelligence “to the power three”, mathematician and astronomer, it had never drawn my attention: I regarded it as a woman educated, not stupid, but “overwhelming”.

Sources:

Georges Adams, (Foreword of), in “the ED,

Andre Biély, Memories on Rudolf Steiner, Editions Old of Man, Lausanne 1996

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