Hringurinn, a Women’s Society in Reykjavík, celebrates its 120th anniversary on January 24th. It is a non-profit charity organization established in 1904 with the aim to help those in financial needs whilst being hospitalized with an illness.

Its archival collection was donated to Kvennasögusafn (the Women’s History Archives) in the early 2000s following an impressive publication of the organization’s history, written by Björg Einarsdóttir. The collection is the highlight of the month at the National and University Library of Iceland.

Hringurinn has been instrumental in founding and building the Children’s Ward at Landspítali, the National Hospital of Iceland, and later the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (BUGL).
Throughout its years of service women of Hringurinn have collected and donated hundreds of millions of Icelandic Kronas to charity. Their work and ambition has been instrumental in founding the social welfare system we have in Iceland today.