Nina Christesen

Nina Mikhailovna Christesen AM (née Maximoff) pioneered the study of Russian in Australia and founded the Department of Russian Language and Literature at the University of Melbourne in 1947.

Personal life and education

Christesen was born on 23 December 1911 in St Petersburg, Russia to Mikhail (Michael) Ivanovitch (6 Sep 1885–1967)[1][2] and Tatiana Siemenovna (c.1889–1979)[3] Maximoff.[4] In 1917 the Maximoff family moved to Harbin, Manchuria where she began her secondary education. In 1925 the family migrated to Brisbane.[5] Christesen gained admittance in 1926 to the Commercial High School in Brisbane where she passed the Junior Public Examination in 1930.[6][7] In February 1931 Christesen passed the Supplementary and Adult Matriculation Examination giving her admission to the University of Queensland from which she later graduated, receiving a Dip.Ed in 1938.[8] Christesen received her British Naturalization Certificate on 19 December 1933.[9]

She married Clem Christesen at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane on 23 January 1942.[10] Christesen died on 8 August 2001, predeceasing her husband by two years. Judith Armstrong wrote The Christesen Romance about their life together.[11]

Work

Following graduation from the University of Queensland, Christesen taught French at St Aidan's Church of England School for Girls, Coorinda from 1936-1944, a tutor at the Women's College and lecturer in Russian at the Institute of Modern Languages at the University of Queensland.[12][13][14]

Being appointed full-time lecturer in Russian at the University of Melbourne in 1946, Christesen established the Department of Russian Language and Literature the following year and remained at its head until her retirement in 1977.

Her papers are held in the University of Melbourne Archives, including correspondence with academics around the world.[15]

Awards and recognition

Christesen was awarded an Honorary Master of Arts degree by the University of Melbourne in April 1959.[16]

The book, Essays to Honour Nina Christesen, Founder of Russian Studies in Australia, edited by Judith Armstrong and Rae Slonek was published in 1979.[17]

In the 1987 Australia Day Honours Christesen was made a Member of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to education, particularly to the study of Slavic language and culture".[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Statutory Declaration - Michael Ivanovitch Maximoff". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "Death Certificate - Michael Maximoff". Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Death Certificate - Tatiana Maximoff". Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Christesen, Nina Mikhailovna". Trove Diaries, Letters, Archives, National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Maximoff, Michael Ivanovitch - Naturalisation [includes passport]". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "State High Schools - Entrance Examination Results". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. Daily Standard. 16 December 1926. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Queensland University, Certificates and Passes, Junior Public Examination". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. The Brisbane Courier. 14 January 1930. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "University Degrees - Diploma in Education". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. The Courier-Mail. 3 December 1938. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Maximoff, [Miss] Nina - Nationality: Russian - Naturalization certificate granted 19 December 1933". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Family Notices - Marriages". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. The Courier-Mail. 21 March 1942. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  11. ↑ Armstrong, Judith (1996). The Christesen Romance. Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0522847315.
  12. ↑ "St. Aidan's Kindergarten". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. The Courier. 10 December 1936. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "Gypsy Scene At Girls' Schools Fete". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. Sunday Mail. 12 June 1938. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "Round About with Penelope". Trove Newspapers, National Library of Australia. Sunday Mail. 27 January 1946. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  15. ↑ "Christesen, Nina (1911-)". Trove People, National Library of Australia. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "Christesen (nee Maximoff), Nina - Part 2". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  17. ↑ Armstrong & Slonek, Judith & Rae (1979). Essays to honour Nina Christesen, Founder of Russian Studies in Australia. Melbourne: Australia International Press & Publications. ISBN 0909103321.
  18. ↑ "Christesen, Nina Mikhailovna". Australian Honours Search Facility, Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
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