Elisa (“Lisa”) Mathilde Walser
* 4. Mai 1875, † 7. January 1944
Teacher
Trained as a primary school teacher (1897-1900), then taught in Täuffelen on Lake Biel (1900-1903), Biel (1903/1904), Livorno (1905-1909), Bern (1910/1911) and finally, until her retirement, at the Bellelay Institutional School in the Bernese Jura (1912-1940). There she introduces Robert Walser to the laundry woman Frieda Mermet. As the eldest daughter, takes over her mother's care and responsibility for the household and younger siblings after her mother falls ill. Maintains an close relationship with Robert Walser, who lives with her temporarily on several occasions (spring 1902 and spring 1913). Arranges for his admission to the Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Waldau in 1929 and subsequently corresponds with relatives, doctors and acquaintances (Carl Seelig, Hermann Hesse, etc.) to arrange Robert Walser's accommodation, upkeep and guardianship. After retiring in spring 1940, lives first in Bern, then in Leubringen near Biel.
Literary traces in Geschwister Tanner (Hedwig Tanner) (1907); Jakob von Gunten (Lisa Benjamenta) (1909); “Felix”-Szenen (written 1925).
From: Robert Walser-Handbuch, ed. by Lucas Marco Gisi, 2015, p. 17