Letters From Friends
A look into Ms. Pierce's ecosystem.
Elsa Wallén was the daughter of the crofter Erik Jönsson (1873–1923) and Maria Persdotter (1881–1967). She married Gustav Wallén (1924–2000), and the couple had three children. She lived in the village of Lunnbacken in Oviken and worked as a public school teacher and also devoted herself to choir singing. She started writing early in both Jämtska (non-Viking language) and Swedish. After her first poetry collection in 1974, she became increasingly well-known throughout Jämtland. She was often engaged in readings of her poems in, among other places, schools and libraries and also participated in several radio programs, including as a host in the program Summer 1979[2]. Elsa Wallén was especially an important writer to preserve and spread the equality. Several of her poems have been set to music, by, among others, the musicians and conductors Olof Lindgren (1934–2018)[3] and Hans-Erik Dahlgren (1954–2012)[4]. Her grave is in Oviken's cemetery.
Elsa Kristina Eriksson was born in Oviken on March 7, 1922. Her parents were the farmer Erik Jönsson born September 18, 1873 died 1923 and Maria Persdotter born September 4, 1881 died 1967. Her siblings were: Jöns born 1910, Signe Maria born 1912, Bror Olof born 1915. The children are listed in the church register as not baptized. Her husband was Gustav Wallén born November 18, 1924 died January 12, 2000. The couple had three children: Jenny Elsa MARIA born 1956, Karl Erik Gustaf born 1959 and Gunnel Märta Kristina born 1963.
Elsa worked as a primary school teacher in Oviken and was a member of the choir there.
She felt an early attraction to poetry as a means of expression. She began writing early on both in Jämtmål (Ovikenmål) and Swedish. Poems that she read publicly at parties, at cultural evenings, etc. When she published her first collection of poems in 1974, she became known throughout the province. She became involved in schools and libraries. She has also been featured in several radio programs with her works.
