Horticulturist, important figure in the women's movement in Austria, wife of Emil Hertzka.

Career Summary

Jella Hertzka trained at the horticultural school in Bad Godesberg (Rhineland), and in 1913 founded the first two-year horticultural school for young women in the 19th district (Döbling) of Vienna, and directed it until 1938, in which year she emigrated. In 1903, she co-founded the New Viennese Women's Club (Neuer Wiener Frauenklub: Vienna I, Tuchlauben 11), of which she was President 1909–33. She served the National Council of Women Austria (Bund Oesterreichischer Frauenvereine) on the commissions for agriculture and for horticulture and small animal breeding, and was President of the Austrian branch of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (Internationale Frauenliga für Frieden und Freiheit) from 1921 to its disbanding in 1938. After the war, she was active in the repatriation of prisoners of war.

Jella Hertzka and Schenker

Jella Hertzka was the wife of Emil Hertzka (married 1897), Director of Universal Edition Vienna 1907–32, with whom Heinrich Schenker had almost daily dealings throughout that time. At her husband's death in 1932, she became a member of the Board of Trustees of the publishing house, involving herself in the encouragement of young musical talent; and after her return in 1946, she was engaged in the re-establishment of the company, from 1947 was its public administrator.

There is no known correspondence between Schenker and Jella Hertzka. He mentions her once in a letter of July 9, 1923 (OJ 6/7, [5]), at which time he felt great animosity toward Emil Hertzka.

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