Johanne Grieg Cederblad

1901–1979.

Author, speaker.

Johanne Grieg Cederblad was born in Bergen, Norway.

In 1933 she settled in Uppsala and was very involved in popular education. She also worked with elderly care and patients in psychiatric hospitals. Grieg Cederblad was also a children's book author and lecturer.

Grieg Cederblad was also a translator of Swedish fiction to Norwegian from the time she came to Sweden until the end of the 1940s. She employed by her brother Harald (founder, major shareholder and CEO of Gyldendal Norsk Forlag). She also wrote articles in Alle Kvinners Blad.

Johanne Grieg Cederblad and Bothild Fredriksson examine the garments collected by the Swedish Norway help (during WWII). The picture is published in UNT 1940. Photo: Paul Sandberg / Upplandsmuseet.

A memorial festival for the Nordahl Grieg in Stockholm in 1944. In the photo, from the left: Grammar school lecturer Carl Cederblad, Uppsala, Mrs Johanne Grieg Cederblad, Minister Bull, Sigurd Hoel and theatre director Hans Jacob Nielsen. Photo: National Archives of Norway.

During the war years and during the German occupation of Norway, Grieg Cederblad was very active in the Norway help. In 1946, she was awarded King Haakon VII's Cross of freedom for her work.

 

Burial site: 0110-0498A

Image description: Johanne Grieg Cederblad, 1958. Photo: From private collection. [The image is cropped]
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Axel W Persson

1888–1951.

Archaeologist.

Axel W. Persson was born in Kvidinge and was early interested in archaeology.

Persson's studies and interest in the Greek language led to his becoming an associate professor in Greek language and literature 1915, in Classical Antiquity and ancient history 1921. In Uppsala Persson became professor of Classical antiquities and ancient history in 1924.

Persson was the leader of successful excavations in Greece (Asine 1922–1930, Change and Midea 1926–1927, 1937 and 1939 and in Berbati 1936–1937) and Turkey (Milas 1938 and Labraynda 1948–1950).

Special attention was the unplundered dome tomb in Dendra With treasures from Mycensk time that was excavated 1926. The discovery was designated as the largest archaeological find after the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt. In the grave rested a king, a queen and a princess. In addition, precious grave gifts were found such as gold swords and bowls of precious metals. The findings from the dome tomb ended up at the National Museum of Athens. Persson's results were published in scientific monographs such as the Royal tombs at Dendra Near Midea (1931). That work is considered a classic.

Together with his wife, during World War II he made an important humanitarian effort for Greece in the service of the Red Cross.

After the end of World War II, Persson made new excavations. In Labraynda, the goal was to find the origins of the Minoan culture. However, a temple site was found for classical and Roman times. Shortly afterwards, Persson died of a stroke.

From 1924 to 1951 Axel W. Persson was professor of classical archaeology and made his findings, his writing and his lectures the classical archaeology known and appreciated in Sweden. Persson was awarded the Övralidpriset.

Persson was regarded at his death as one of the world's leading archaeologists. He is also the father of Viktor Persson, better known as the book-Viktor.

 

Burial site: 0310-0273

Image description: Axel W. Persson, probably 1924. Photo: Museum Gustavianum. [The image is cropped]
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