Elena Pop-Hossu-Longin was an energetic militant for the emancipation of women in Transylvania and an important fundraiser in support of the Romanian army.

Following studies in Cluj and Budapest, she immersed herself in the national movement. During Romania’s War of Independence (1877), she decided to lead various activities in order to raise funds for the Romanian soldiers. Her efforts testify to the complexity of relations between Romanians on both sides of the Carpathians. Her merits were recognised in the Old Kingdom of Romania, where she was decorated with the order of the ‘Elizabeth Cross’ in 1879.

Her work in Transylvania was no less significant. Complementing the struggle of her more famous father, Gheorghe Pop de Băsești, one of the leaders of the national movement, she was involved in many activities on behalf of the Romanian cause. Obviously, her focus was on women and in 1886 she helped create the Reunion of Romanian Women of Hunedoara County. Her description of the historic days of December 1918 is coloured by a feminine perspective, which makes it unique:

‘In these great and holy moments, let us forget the past full of despair and suffering, let us forget the agitation of our souls, let us forget all the fury born for centuries and let us raise our hearts full of holy joy for the Romanian Nation, which today celebrates its revival to free and national life. From our despair, the wonder of our salvation has risen. We kneel to you, mighty assembly, and your holy flag, which is the symbol of the unification of all Romanians’.[1]

[1] Apud George Marcu and Rodica Ilinca, The Encyclopedia of Female Personalities from Romania Bucharest, Romania: Meronia Press, 2012), p. 238.