Elias Fries

1794–1878.

Botanist, mycologist.

Elias Fries came from Femsjö in Småland and was the son of the Parson Thore Fries and Sara Elisabeth Wernelin. He became one of leading figures of mycology, who produced writings that still play a scientific role.

Originally, Fries studied at Lund University and he became associate professor of botany at the age of 20.

He later moved to Uppsala University and was in 1851 Professor of practical economics and botany. He was also the prefect of the Botanical Garden and the museum there.

Fries was especially focused on the study of fungi, but his research touched on all the fields of botany. His most influential work was Systema Mycologicum, which was Fries's systematic work regarding fungi. Other mycological works were Elenchusfungorum and Hymenomycetes Europaei.

Fries propagated to use fungi as food, by the work of plates Sweden's edible and poisonous mushrooms. The interest in mycology was transferred to several of the children. For example, the son and daughter, Elias Petrus and Susanna (Sanna) Christina, draw several plates with mushrooms which several are preserved in Uppsala.

Fries also published the popular scientific papers Botanical Flyers (1-3, 1843 – 1864).

In addition to rector of the university, Elias Fries was a member of the Swedish Academy.

Title sheet from Elias Fries "Sweden's edible and poisonous mushrooms", Norstedt & Sons, Stockholm, 1860. Photo: Bukowskis Auktioner AB.

Spread by Elias Fries "Sweden's edible and poisonous mushrooms", Norstedt & Sons, Stockholm, 1860. Photo: Bukowskis Auktioner AB.

Burial site: 0103-0185

Image description: Elias Fries, Uppsala 1860's. Photo: UUB. [The image is cropped]
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Anita Nathorst

1894–1941.

Theologian, writer.

Anita Nathorst was active in the Christian student and high school movement and friends with Karin Boye who called her her "spiritual mother". Boye had love for her, but it was an unrequited love.

Nathorst studied in Uppsala and became the first female B.A.. Lic. In Church history. In 1926 her poetry collection was published.

Nathorst suffered from breast cancer early and was treated by doctor Iwan Bratt in Alingsås. They began a love affair in the mid-1930s. However, the love affair ended and Nathorst got an apartment in Skåne. Until it was free, it was a difficult time for her in Bratt's home and Karin Boye then served as a support for her.

Anita Nathorst died at Malmö Nursing home in the summer of 1941, just a few months after Karin Boye.

The following poem, written by Karin Boye, is called "How can I say..." which is in the posthumously published collection The Seven Deadly Sins and other left over poems. The collection was published in 1941 and the poem is directed at Anita.

How can I tell if your voice is beautiful.
I know only that it pierces me
And make me tremble like a leaf
And tearing me apart and blows me up.
What do I know about your skin and your limbs.
It just shakes me that they are yours,
So that for me there is no sleep or rest,
Until they are mine.


Burial site: 0101-0051

Image description: Anita Nathorst, unknown year. Photo: Unknown photographer / From private collection. [The image is cropped]
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Elsa Eschelsson

1861–1911.

Lawyer, Sweden's first female Juris Doctor.

Elsa Eschelsson was born in a wealthy home in Norrköping in 1861. After the mother died, the five-year-old Elsa moved with her father to Stockholm.

Eschelsson was home schooled and learned, among other things, Latin, entirely on her own. In 1882 she graduated with high grades.

The studies continued in Uppsala and later Eschelsson became the first female doctor and associate professor of law. However, she had to fight hard to get posts, not least as a acting professor because that service could not yet be granted to a woman.

She participated in the creation of the formed Women's Association (1904) which seemed to women's right to hold higher government services.

The academic strife took a toll on her powers and after a supposed overdose of sleeping pills, Elsa Eschelsson died on March 10, 1911.

The funeral in Uppsala Cathedral was held by Professor Einar Billing who spoke of "the iniquity of this World".

 

Burial site: 0137-1550

Image description: Elsa Eschelsson, 1883. Photo: Heinrich Osti / UUB. [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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