Johan Henrik Schröder

1791-1857.

Archaeologist, numismatist, university librarian.

Already during his student years, Schröder was given the task of assisting in the inventory of Bishop Carl Nordin's large manuscript collection for Uppsala University Library. In 1815 Schröder was awarded a master's degree in philosophy at Uppsala University and a doctorate in literary history.

Schröder was also involved in the work on the editions of the older Swedish manuscripts Scriptores rerum Suecicarum medii aevi (three parts, 1818, 1828, 1871-1876). He was also interested in antiquities and art and made several trips through the country to record collections and archives and to describe ancient remains and documents.

Numismatics was a particular interest of Schröder's, and in 1820 he became head of Uppsala University's coin cabinet and later director of the university's museum of Nordic antiquities. Schröder's knowledge of the book trade led to him also being engaged in the cataloging and expansion of several private libraries.

In 1830, Johan Henrik Schröder became University Librarian in Uppsala and in August 1841 the book collections were transferred from the Gustavianum to the newly built Carolina Rediviva University Library. The library's staff, university and student nation caretakers, teachers and students participated in the cart transportation up Odinslund.

Schröder's contacts with private book collectors and his many acquisition trips in Europe helped to expand Uppsala University Library with a considerable amount of rarities.

 

Burial site: 0104-0247

Image description: Johan Henrik Schröder, oil painting from 1840 by Johan Gustaf Sandberg. Photo: UUBThe image is cropped]
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Axel W Persson

1888-1951.

Archaeologist.

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

Persson's studies and interest in the Greek language led him to become an associate professor of Greek language and literature in 1915, and of classics and ancient history in 1921. In Uppsala, Persson became professor of classics and ancient history in 1924.

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

Of particular note was the uncovered dome tomb at Dendra , with treasures from Mycenaean times, excavated in 1926. The discovery was described as the largest archaeological find after Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt. The tomb contained a king, a queen and a princess. In addition, precious grave goods such as gold swords and precious metal bowls were found. The finds from the dome tomb ended up in the National Museum of Athens. Persson's findings were published in scientific monographs such as The Royal tombs at Dendra near Midea (1931). This work is considered a classic.

Together with his wife, he made an important humanitarian contribution to Greece during the Second World War in the service of the Red Cross.

After the end of the Second World War, Persson carried out new excavations. In Labraynda, the aim was to find the origins of the Minoan culture. However, a temple site of classical and Roman times was found. Soon after, Persson died of a stroke.

Between 1924 and 1951, Axel W. Persson was professor of classical archaeology and, through his discoveries, his writing and his lectures, made classical archaeology known and appreciated in Sweden. Persson was awarded the Övralid Prize.

At the time of his death, Persson was considered one of the world's leading archaeologists. He is also the father of Viktor Persson, better known as Bok-Viktor.

 

Burial site: 0310-0273

Image description: Axel W. Persson, probably 1924, photo: Museum GustavianumThe image is cropped]
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Greta Arwidsson

1906-1998.

Archaeologist.

Greta Arwidsson was born in Uppsala in 1906, the daughter of Ivar and Anna, who were both academics.

In the 1930s, after studying at Uppsala University, Arwidsson participated with Professor Sune Lindqvist in the investigations of the boat burial field at Valsgärde, which is located 7 km north of Uppsala on the Fyrisån River and is a large burial field used during the Iron Age.

She was an associate professor at Uppsala University, and later became the county antiquarian on Gotland and a member of the Swedish Academy of Letters. Arwidsson carried out several important surveys on Gotland. Arwidsson also participated in investigations of Birka and thus contributed to Birka research, including as editor and author of research publications.

In 1956, Arwidsson was appointed professor of archaeology. She was also internationally recognized for her work in archaeology. In her name, "Greta Arwidsson's Friends" was founded, an association for women active in national and union life in Uppsala.

From Greta Arwidsson's book from 1942 about the finds in Valsgärde. The picture shows a helmet found in one of the graves. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

In 1944, Greta Arwidsson and Gunnar Ekholm from Uppsala University examined six graves on Högåsen in Gamla Uppsala. Greta Arwidsson stands by the camera. Photo: Nils Sundquist [assumed] / Upplandsmuseet.

Burial site: 0217-1257

Image description: Greta Arwidsson at the Museum of Nordic Antiquities, Gustavianum, Uppsala, unknown year. Gunnar Sundgren / Upplandsmuseet. [The image is cropped]
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Olof Verelius

1618-1682.

Ancient scholar, philologist.

After studying in Dorpat and Uppsala, Olof Verelius worked as a teacher in noble families and traveled to Holland, Switzerland, Italy and France.

In 1653, Verelius was appointed Master of the Academy in Uppsala and became a member of Olof Rudbeck's circle of scholars. At the latter's suggestion, Verelius was awarded the newly established professorship in "Antiquities of the Fatherland" in 1662, as the country's first archaeology professor.

The following year, Verelius carried out the first archaeological excavation in Sweden, which took place in a burial mound at Broby in Börje parish.

In the 1670s, he had a house built at the Kamphavet quarter, which was located on what is now Martin Luther King's plan, a building that was probably designed by his friend Olof Rudbeck.

Verelius was also a prominent linguist and published Icelandic sagas and a work on runes.

In the dispute with Schefferus about the location of the so-called pagan temple, Verelius claimed that it was located in Old Uppsala and not on the site of the cathedral as Schefferus claimed.

Olof Verelius was the first to acquire a Burial site at the Hospital and Poor Cemetery, which has existed since the middle of the 17th century, on the site now known as the Old Cemetery.

The cemetery was purchased by the hospital board on October 26, 1676 and is the oldest known in the original Poor Law Cemetery.

The first known burial took place on February 9, 1682, when Olof Verelius was buried in a tomb that is still preserved. Olof Rudbeck carried out the burial according to Verelius' wishes.

 

Burial site: 0112-0615

Image description: Olof Verelius, lithograph by Otto Henrik Wallgren. Photo: Wikimedia Commons. [The image is cropped]
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