Frithiof Holmgren

1831-1897.

Doctors.

Frithiof Holmgren established Sweden's first physiological laboratory in 1862 and became the country's first professor of physiology at the age of 33. He was also one of the most prominent teachers of his time at Uppsala University.

He became a world-famous scientist with the discovery of the retinal blood flow in the eye.

The studies of color blindness made Holmgren internationally known and in 1874 he described his method of using differently colored "sequined dolls", the so-called wool yarn test, to detect color blindness.

The method was of great practical importance for people in signal service, such as railway staff and seamen. A train accident in Lagerlunda in 1875 was suspected to have been caused by the inability of a dead engineer to distinguish between red and green. No one had considered that color vision could be important for railway personnel.

The equipment used by Holmgren to discover the retinal current, the electrical response of the retina to light. The equipment consists of a mirror galvanometer and a light catcher with a clockwork that drives the mirror. Photo: Museum of Medical History in Uppsala.

Sefirgarns dolls for carrying out the test of color vision developed by Holmgren, which became compulsory for all those to be employed in rail and maritime traffic. Photo: Museum of Medical History in Uppsala.

A more macabre study undertaken by Holmgren focused on whether beheading was a painless method of execution. Holmgren therefore attended four beheadings to examine the method from a physiological point of view. According to Holmgren, the case studies showed that beheading as a method met the requirements of painlessness. When the study was completed, he was also present at the execution of the so-called Alfta murderer in Gävle in 1893.

Holmgren also participated in the debates in Verdandi, and his radical stance was reflected in his dictation to the minutes of the consistory:

"I hold freedom of thought to be one of man's most precious privileges, and the university in which the principle of freedom of thought is not paramount does not, in my opinion, fulfill its task. To educate the young people studied to become thinking men should, in my opinion, be one of the main tasks of the university".

Frithiof Holmgren also emphasized the importance of physical education and founded the Studenternas Sharpshooting Association, the Studenternas Gymnastics Association and was chairman of the folk dance association Philochoros and promoter of the Uppsala Swimming Society. 

 

Burial site: 0125-1141

Image description: Frithiof Holmgren, year unknown. Photo: Unknown photographer / UUBThe image is cropped]
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Sixtus Janson

1883-1957.

Manufacturer, sports leader.

Sixtus Janson helped to form the Thor sports association and several other local associations in Uppsala, such as the Uppsala Canoe Society and the Uppsala Sailing Society. Janson was also involved in the formation of the Upplands idrottsförbund in 1912 and was its chairman for five years.

Together with Albin Lindqvist and J. E. Friberg, he took over the Uppsala office book factory at Drottninggatan 6 in 1906. In 1917, the business was moved to Svintorget, today's Kungsängstorg, where Janson lived with his family.

At the national level, he was elected to the boards of several specialized federations within the Swedish Sports Confederation, such as the Cycling Federation, the Athletics Federation, the Ice Sailing Federation and the Swedish Ski Federation, where he was chairman from 1922 to 1948. Sixtus Janson was also a member of the Swedish Olympic Committee and leader of the Swedish ski team during five Olympic Winter Games, from Chamonix 1924 to St. Moritz 1948.

Sixtus Janson led an active life beyond his work at the factory and his sport. His passion was sailing and he was also a keen photographer.

IF Thor's athletes in 1906 lined up at their sports ground south of Uppsala Castle. Sixtus Janson third from left. Photo: Folkrörelsearkivet för Uppsala län.

Upsala office book factory, probably 1950s, Kungsängstorg in Uppsala. The Janson family had an apartment at the top of the factory. The building was demolished around 1970. Photo: Folkrörelsearkivet för Uppsala län.

Burial site: 0108-0417

Image description: Sixtus Janson in the Royal Swedish Sailing Society's cap 1907. Photo: Östling, Uppsala / Folkrörelsearkivet för Uppsala län. [The image is cropped]
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