Thekla Knös

1815–1880.

Poet, photographer.

After the father Gustav, who was vicar of Västeråker and Dalby, died in 1828, the mother Alida and her daughter Thekla moved to Uppsala. They settled in the house at the northern end of Östra Ågatan, which is now part of the Fjellstedtska school's premises.

Thekla Knös and her mother came to be known in Uppsala as "the little Knösarna" and participated diligently in the city's social and literary life. Thekla Knös gave language lessons and "The little Knösarna" also held a literary salon in the home with the participation of Geijer, Atterbom, Järta, Törneros and Wennerberg. Knös also made translations, which was an income for several 1900-century women from the upper middle class.

At Atterbom's invitation, Knös competed in the academy with the poem Cycle Ragnar Lodbrok and won the Swedish Academy's grand prize 1851. Several of her works were also tinted.

She also published photographs of the past Uppsala, the bookThe year, with the subheading Drawings from Childhood, as well as fairytale books and other books for children.

After her mother's death in 1855, Knös suffered deep sadness and what kept her up was her religiosity and friends. She was a resident of various friends and relatives and was also taken care of by Malla Silfverstolpe for a period. Her mental health deteriorated however, and Thekla Knös died after 16 years of stay at Växjö Hospital.

The following example of Knös' poetry is taken from the poem "Desire in the auditorium" from Poems, vol. 1-2, 1852–1853.

Ah, the glorious Hall now became.
Alas, it was hastily replaced
To the quiet, shady valley.
Where happy hours have fled!
O! Would be soft the diva
My dear, mossy stone!
And the carpet-floral plan,
and the lamp-the glow of the evening sun!

Ah, would be the whispering Tern
A slim and shimmering birch;
Be bowing Lord-how willingly!-
A spruce that whispered dark!
The music-the chirping of birds
And the Buzz- the flood's song!-
But – in the saloon I sit,
And the time is long for me.

 

Burial site: 0112-0591

Image description: Thekla Knös, unknown year. Photo: Swedish Biographical dictionary / National Archives. [The image is cropped]
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Hans Järta

1774–1847.

Official, politician, author.

Hans Järta (originally Baron Hans Hierta) became a student in Uppsala at the age of 13, an official in the Cabinet of foreign correspondence as an 18-year-old and secretary at the Justice department four years later.

As eighteen, Järta socialized with the men in the conspiracy against king Gustavus III. Järta was present in 1792 when the shot against Gustavus III was fired. Afterward, Järta gave partial misleading information about the shooting but whether or not he was involved in the murder plan itself, there is only circumstantial evidence. He was never accused of involvement in the assassination.

Järta recalled both nobility and his member of parliament at the Riksdag in 1800 in protest against king Gustav IV Adolf and the monarchical autocracy and took the name Järta (the family name was Hierta).

Järta was one of the men behind the coup d'état of 1809 and belonged, after the king's abdication, on of the leaders at the Riksdag the same year. He was secretary of the Constitutional Committee in the drafting of 1809 years of government.

Järta was also governor of Kopparbergs County 1812 – 1822, member of the Swedish Academy 1819 and moved to Uppsala 1825 where he served as a writer. In Uppsala, Järta held a literary salon, which competed with the Malla Silfverstolpes salon.

Later, Järta became head of the Swedish National Archives from 1837–1844.

The high gravestone that adorns the burial ground refers to his son with the same name, which as a young student died in 1825.

 

Burial site: 0112-0588

Image description: Hans Järta. Photo: From Emil Hildebrand,  Sveriges historia intill tjugonde seklet, vol 9 (1910) / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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Carl Hård

1768–1840.

Major-general.

Carl Hård was born at Jällsta Gård in Viikki Parish and was at 20 years of age lieutenant at Upplands Regement. He participated in the Finnish War in 1788–1790 and distinguished himself in the first Battle of Swedish strait 1789. The following year, Hård participated in the Battle of Fredrikshamn, a battle where King Gustavus III took command.

As major Hård participated in the Siege of Stralsund 1807, of Lier's sconce 1808 in Norway and in the defense of Sävar and Ratan 1809. At the Battle of Leipzig 1813 he acted as Lieutenant Colonel and was then appointed colonel of the Army. He then participated in the march to Brussels and in the campaign to Norway.

Carl Hård became Major-general in 1822 and resignated in 1835. In addition to his military career, he was an a rt collector. In his last years in life he lived in Uppsala near Fyrisån (later Ofvandalska Gården). In Uppsala he spent time in the academic circles around Geijer and Atterbom.

Hård's art collection, consisting of about a hundred oil paintings, was later donated to Uppsala University. The donation laid the foundations for Uppsala University's art museum.

 

Burial site: 0103-0177

Image description: Portrait of Carl Hård painted by J.G. Sandberg. Photo: National Archives / Swedish Biographical Dictionary. [The image is cropped]
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Ann Margret Holmgren

1850–1940.

Author, figure in the women's rights movement.

Ann Margret Holmgren was one of the leaders in the women's rights movement for suffrage and peace. In the early 1900s, she was increasingly involved in women's issues through Ellen Kay and Lydia Wahlström.

Holmgren participated in 1902 in the formation of the Association for the woman's political suffrage and traveled around the country, agitated and gave lectures in the suffrage issue until the universal suffrage was decided in the Parliament in 1919.

Holmgren was Vice-chairman of the Swedish Women's Peace Association and one of the founders of the Swedish Men's Association 1921.

She published brochures related to the vocal rights work and also gave life-time drawings in the books Pioneers (1928 – 1930) and memories and Times Pictures (1926).

 

Burial site: 0125-1141

Image description: Ann Margret Holmgren, unknown year. Photo: Unknown photographer / Stockholm City Museum. [The image is cropped]
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Jan Fridegård

1897–1968.

Author.

Johan Fridegård, known as Jan Fridegård, grew up in a state home outside Enköping and debuted in 1931 with the poetry collection the Black lute. Prior to his debut, he worked in several different professions but was in periods unemployed and without income.

Fridegård wrote articles for the revolutionary magazine Brand and his first novel, One night in July, came out in 1933. The liberation motif is portrayed in the autobiographical novel series I Lars Hård (1935), Thanks for the stairway to heaven (1936) and Mercy (1936).

During World War II, Fridegård began to talk about the rebellious thrall Holme in the Land of Wood Gods (1940), The Dawn People (1944) and Smoke of sacrifice (1949).

Fridegård moved several times in his life and lived in the latter part of his life on the Bredmansgatan 7A in Uppsala.

At the Övergran church in Håbo, a museum has been dedicated to Jan Fridegård.

 

Burial site: 0105-0304

Image description: Jan Fridegård in his home, Uppsala 1948. Photo: Paul Sandberg / Upplandsmuseet. [The image is cropped]
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Ebba Boström

1844–1902.

Philanthropist, founder of the Samaritan home.

Ebba Boström was born at Östanå castle in Roslagen. She was early interested in helping the sick and engaged in philanthropic activities. From 1878 to 1881, Boström was staying in England to study Christian aid efforts and undertook healthcare training. In London and Manchester, she was associated with the Evangelical Revival movement.

In 1882 she moved to Uppsala, took over Uppsala Vice Commander Association's rescue Home for girls, bought at her own expense new premises and expanded the business with the training of prospective employees.

Boström also had to build an orphanage for "defenceless" (poor, extradited) girls.

A new hospital on Dragarbrunns street 74 was completed in 1893 and was named the Samaritan home. There she began the training of the deaconesses, and a house was purchased to the students home.

In 1899, Boström handed over the entire property to the foundation Samaritan home.

Ebba Boström's uncle is the philosopher Christopher Jacob Boström who is also buried in the Old Cemetery.

 

Burial site: 0126-1165

Image description : Ebba Boström, unknown year. Photo: Swedish Biographical dictionary / National Archives. [The image is cropped]
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Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom

1790–1855.

Author, literary historian, philosopher.

Already at the age of 17, Atterbom became one of the leaders in the company Musis Amici (later Aurora Federation) who wanted to reform the Swedish literature in a romantic spirit.

The literary revolution that Atterbom wanted to lead began in 1810 with the critical and satirical journal Polyfem. Together with V.F. Palmblad, he started the journal Phosforus, which claimed the poetry as a spiritual power with the ability to transform life.

With the friends Geijer, Palmblad and Törneros, Atterbom had a lovely and soulful family company, and in Malla Silfverstolpes salons, Atterbom and other romantics for decades were intimately at ease.

Atterbom became professor of theoretical philosophy 1828, professor of aesthetics and modern literature 1835 and was also a member of the Swedish Academy from 1839.

Among his works are Bird Blue (1814), Happiness Island (1824–1827) and the Collected Poems (1837 – 1838). In Swedish seers and Poets (1841–1845) he portrayed Swedenborg, Ehrensvärd and Thorild. It also depicts Stiernhielm, Dahlin, Kellgren and Bellman.

 

Burial site: 0152-0060

Image description: Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom, painting by Johan Gustaf Sandberg 1831. Photo: Nationalmuseum / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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Malla Silfverstolpe

1782–1861.

Author.

Magdalena (Malla) Silfverstolpe became an orphan early in her life and grew up with the mother's relatives on the family estate Edsberg. She and her husband David Silfverstolpe moved to Uppsala in 1812 and quickly found themselves in the stimulating academic and weathered environment.

After the death of her husband in 1819, Silfverstolpe began "keeping a salon" on Friday evenings for the higher society of the times where people from the cultural and scientific circles participated. The salon was held in the home at the main square, where among other romantics Geijer and Atterbom gathered.

It offered the opportunity to listen to literature read aloud and music. It was debated, songs were sung and letters read. Both Malla Silfverstolpe and Thekla Knös, who also held salon, have described these meetings in their respective diaries.

Malla Silfverstolpe had an ability to gather and invite talents and in the home several celebrities was received, such as Jenny Lind, H.C. Andersen and C.J.L. Almqvist. Malla Silfverstolpe participated in the feud around Almqvist's book and published a book as a response.

 

Burial site: 0104-0249

Image description: Malla Silfverstolpe 1850's. Photo: Unknown photographer / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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Erik Gustaf Geijer

1783–1847.

Historian, philosopher, author and composer.

Erik Gustaf Geijer, one of Uppsala's most important cultural personalities, was born at Ransäter in Värmland and came as a student to Uppsala in 1799. As a tutor he resided in 1809–1810 in England, where he attentively observed social and cultural life.

Geijer's understanding of the intellectuals' criticism increased during a trip to Germany in 1825 and against the fantasies of romance he began to take a more realistic stance. This he expressed in memories (1834).

Geijer recognized the importance of the middle class in society and the legitimacy of its requirements for freedom, and as a result of the changed social analysis, a political reorientation was removed from conservatism. This "waste" he announced in 1838.

Geijer's ability to see and formulate essential contexts in his contemporaries made him a strong voice in formation of opinion. His most important works include Svea Rikes Hävder (1825), which portrays Sweden's oldest history and the history of the Swedish folkets historia (1832–1836).

Geijer was a full-gloss lecturer, in-depth scientist and one of the leaders in the literary circles in Uppsala in the 1830s. He was also the center of Music life, and composed songs, piano sonatas, string quartets and other instrumental music.

Erik Gustaf Geijer was professor of history in 1817–1847 and became a member of the Swedish Academy in 1824. He lived on Svartbäcksgatan 17 and then moved to the Övre Slottsgatan 2. In 1846 Geijer moved to Stockholm.

The following is taken from the poem "Night sky" from the Collected Writings, vol. 1-13 1849–1855.

Alone I proceed forth on my path,
Longer and longer stretches the path;
Ah, in the distance, my goal is hidden.
The day itself lowers. Space becomes nocturnal.
Soon only the eternal stars I see.

But I do not complain the fleeing day,
Not me the night terrifies;
For of the love that goes through the world,
Fell also a streak into my soul.

 

Burial site: 0104-0248

Image description: Erik Gustaf Geijer, lithography from the 1840's. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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Gustaf Fröding

1860–1911.

Poet, writer.

Gustaf Fröding was born at Alsters Manor in Värmland and was through his family deeply anchored in the life of the mill and manor. He came to Uppsala in 1880 and lived on Övre Slottsgatan 13 and completed one single exam. Fröding joined the radical circles of the association Verdandi and wrote parodic poems and comrades songs.

He returned to Karlstad where he, after writing notices in various newspapers, was employed at the Karlstad newspaper. An inheritance in 1888 resulted in financial independence and Fröding left his employment.

Between 1889 and 1890 Fröding resided on a treatment establishment in Görlitz due to mental illness. There he experienced his first major creative period, when the main part of his debut poetry collection Gitarr och Dragharmonika was completed and made him the most important poet in Sweden.

The following examples of fröding poetry, called "in the Youth", are taken from guitar and Dragharmonika, 2nd ed. From 1893:

It sparkles so sparkly and beautifully in the river,
It chirps so funny in the pine.
Here I lie lazy, like a spoiled son
In the lap of my mother nature.
It sings and smells and shines and smiles
From Earth and heaven and all I see.

It is as if the wind has a message for me
If happy days, which are approaching,
My blood is in concern, I think I'm in love
— In Whom? — Ah in all that breathes.
I wanted everything in the heaven and the Earth
Was close to my heart in the shape of a girl.

In 1894  Nya dikter was published and in 1896 Stänk och flikar. However his health deteriorated and Fröding was hospitalized at Ulleråkers Hospital in 1896–1905.

Gustaf Fröding Died on the 8 February 1911 and was buried at the old cemetery in Uppsala the 12 of February. After the burial in Klara Church in Stockholm, the coffin was taken with special trains to Uppsala. Archbishop Nathan Söderblom said in his speech the following words at the coffin:

"Three small books came out – and a whole language has sorrow".

Many of Uppsalas people met up when train arrived in Uppsala. Then the coffin was taken, wrapped in the light of torches in the winter twilight, to the cemetery. Erik Axel Karlfeldt spoke at the grave.

 

Burial site: 0157-0504

Image description: Gustaf Fröding, 1896. Photo: Heinrich Osti / Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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