In its prize justifications the Academy of Science and Letters states that Irma Sulkunen has forged a long and distinguished career in the Universities of Helsinki and Tampere and is a profound and rigorous pioneer of Women’s and Gender History studies. Professor Sulkunen is also known as an author of notable biographies.
The prize in the amount of €15 000 is awarded every three years for distinguished scholarly work in the field of historical research.
Irma Sulkunen completed her doctorate in 1986 with her work “Raittiusliike kansalaisuskontona” (“The Temperance Movement as Civil Religion”), which offered a fresh perspective on how civil movements influenced Finnish nationalism and the formation of civil society. This study led Sulkunen to delve deeper into women’s historical roles, making her a pioneer in Women’s and Gender History research. Her research has included topics such as the early voting rights of Finnish women, suggesting these might stem from an agrarian gender system. In 1990, she was honoured with the State Award for Public Information for her research on Miina Sillanpää.
Sulkunen has strongly reformed the methodology of Finnish historical research and has had a significant role as a teacher and mentor.
Sulkunen is recognised for authoring historical biographies of figures such as Miina Sillanpää, Mandi Granfelt, and Liisa Eerikintytär. These works have encouraged many historians to employ biographical approaches as a method for analysing societal processes and developments.
Professor Sulkunen remains active in historical research. In early 2025, a biography of Elias Lönnrot was published, drawing on Sulkunen’s extensive experience in this field.
Sulkunen was invited to join the Academy of Science and Letters in 2006.
The Eino Jutikkala History Prize was published at the Night of Science of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters on Monday October 20, 2025 at the House of Nobility. The Prize for Humanities was awarded at the same event.