The Danish National Archives has recently made the police’s register of so-called “public prostitutes” from the period 1833-1869 available on their digital platform Arkivalieronline. This material provides insight into the authorities’ surveillance and control of prostituted women in 19th-century Denmark.
In the 19th century, there was a growing fear of the spread of STDs. This led to prostitution, which had been illegal since the Danish Act of 1665, being subject to stricter control by the authorities.
The police first introduced an unofficial control system in 1815. Prostitutes were registered in a secret protocol and had to undergo regular medical examinations to check for STDs.
Later, from 1874 to 1906, so-called “regulated prostitution” was introduced in Copenhagen. The police supervised the prostitutes, who were subjected to forced examinations and had to stay in special brothels approved by the authorities.
The newly available registers contain detailed information about the women’s movements, health and personal circumstances. The police archives also contain a photo album with pictures of these women, probably provided by them in connection with a wish to be deleted from the protocol and end their activities as public prostitutes.
The digitization of these records is a result of the efforts of volunteers who have photographed the material at Rigsarkivet. The information is now freely available to everyone via Arkivalieronline, giving researchers, historians and the general public a unique opportunity to explore an important part of Denmark’s history.
The register is not searchable, but posted as photographs of the original document.
Here you will find the register of 19th century “prositute” women in Copenhagen
Here you will find a digitized photo album of “public fruentimmers”
