Anna Sinebrychoff

Anna Sinebrychoff (1830–1904) was the respected matriarch of the wealthy and distinguished Sinebrychoff brewing family. She lived during a period when women were beginning to enjoy new freedoms to pursue independent endeavours beyond their traditional roles as mothers and caregivers. After the death of her husband, Paul Sinebrychoff, Anna assumed leadership of the family and excelled in managing the brewery, leaving her children a considerable fortune. Renowned for her extensive charitable work, she played a decisive role in addressing many of the social challenges of her time, from combating poverty and promoting education to supporting national cultural initiatives. As adherents of the Orthodox faith, the Sinebrychoffs also made generous donations to the church. By the late nineteenth century, the family were compelled to define their stance on their Russian heritage and the temperance and labour movements. This volume brings together seven academic articles accompanied by a rich complement of illustrations, offering new perspectives on Anna Sinebrychoff’s life and legacy against the backdrop of Helsinki’s history during the era of the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland.