Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger was a Norwegian
archaeologist.
as a son of professor of geology Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (1851–1940) and Antonie Scheel Siewers (1854–1933). He was a grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
.
In September 1909 he married Inger Ursin (1882–1941). He had the sons Waldemar Christofer Brøgger
(1911–1991) and Niels Christian Brøgger
(1914–1966), and through the former, the grandson Jan Brøgger
.
his secondary education in 1903, but his higher education was sporadic. Without a formal examination, he wrote the paper Øxer av Nøstvettypen, which was released in 1905 by the Norwegian Geological Survey
. He participated in the archaeological studies of Svarthola
outside Stavanger, and wrote a report from the first kitchen left-over heap from early Stone Age
found in Norway, published in the annals of Stavanger Museum for 1907. Already in 1909 he took the dr.philos. degree with the thesis Den arktiske stenalder i Norge. From 1909 to 1913 he worked as a curator at Stavanger Museum
. He wrote a book on the city's medieval history, and also became involved in Stavanger Aftenblad
and founded the local branch of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. He also contributed to Dagbladet
and Tidens Tegn
.
He was hired at Universitetets Oldsaksamling at the Royal Frederick University
in 1913, and became leader of Universitetets Oldsaksamling as well as professor in 1915. He also contributed via the Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture
, and was a driving force in establishing the Viking Ship Museum. From 1918 to 1934 he chaired Norske Museers Landsforbund, a forerunner of Norges Museumsforbund. He edited the journals Oldtiden, St. Hallvard and Acta Archaeologica, and was also a co-editor for volumes seven through ten of the biographical dictionary
Norsk biografisk leksikon
. He contributed to the encyclopedia Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon
, where he wrote the chapter of the prehistory of Norway. Among his most important works is the study Ertog og øre from 1921, where he combined archeological findings with law texts from the Gulating
and Frostating
. He had a wish of becoming rector of the university, but this did not happen. His father had been rector from 1907 to 1911.
Brøgger was involved in politics as well—again like his father—and was the chairman of the Liberal Left Party from 1930 to 1931. Representing the constituency of Oslo, he served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway during the term 1928–1930, and he met in sessions in the Standing Committee on Finance
in May 1928 and April 1930.
Brøgger was a member of the Committee for Cultural War Preparedness , established in 1938 under supervision of the Director for Cultural Heritage
, Harry Fett
. Shortly after the outburst of the Second World War in 1939, Brøgger initiated a rescue operation to save the most important items from Oldsaksamlingen, which were secretly evacuated and placed in a bank safe at Fagernes
.
Brøgger was also a board member of the National Theatre
. In 1941, during World War II
and the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, the National Theatre board at one point did not abide to the directions from the Nazi government. Several board members were arrested, including Brøgger, who was first suppleant to the board. Unlike the ordinary board members Harald Grieg
, Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
and Francis Bull
, he was not sent to Grini concentration camp, but was imprisoned at Åkebergveien between 28 Juni and his release on 2 July. However, Brøgger was arrested for a second time, in September 1941, together with academics Otto Lous Mohr
and Didrik Arup Seip
. He spent time in Møllergata 19
from 11 to 30 September, and then sat at Grini until 22 October 1942. Both his sons spent time at Grini as well. Brøgger experienced a declining health during his time in a concentration camp. He returned as a professor, but retired in 1949. His last publication of importance came in 1950: Vikingeskipene. Deres forgjengere og etterfølgere, written together with Haakon Shetelig
.
Brøgger was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
from 1914 and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
from 1927. He was a co-founder of the Norwegian Archaeological Society
, and served as secretary-general until his death. He was declared an honorary member of Norske Museers Landsforbund. By the state, he was decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1932. He died in August 1951. A street in Stavanger, Anton Brøggers gate, is named after him.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
archaeologist.
Personal life
He was born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
as a son of professor of geology Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (1851–1940) and Antonie Scheel Siewers (1854–1933). He was a grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (printer)
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger was a Norwegian book printer.-Personal life:Brøgger was born to Niels Christian Brøgger and Frideriche Bader in Kristiansand, Aust-Agder. His only brother was Christian Fredrik Brøgger...
.
In September 1909 he married Inger Ursin (1882–1941). He had the sons Waldemar Christofer Brøgger
Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (writer)
Waldemar Christofer Brøgger was a Norwegian novelist, journalist, translator and editor.-Personal life:He was born in Stavanger as a son of Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Inger Ursin...
(1911–1991) and Niels Christian Brøgger
Niels Christian Brøgger
Niels Christian Ursin Brøgger was a Norwegian essayist, novelist, journalist and critic.He was born in Kristiania as a son of Anton Wilhelm Brøgger and Inger Ursin . He was a great-grandson of the book printer Anton Wilhelm Brøgger, a grandson of geologist Waldemar Christofer Brøgger and a...
(1914–1966), and through the former, the grandson Jan Brøgger
Jan Brøgger
Jan Christian Brøgger was a Norwegian professor of social anthropology and a clinical psychologist. He was one of the most well-known Norwegian academics of his generation....
.
Career
Brøgger finishedExamen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1903, but his higher education was sporadic. Without a formal examination, he wrote the paper Øxer av Nøstvettypen, which was released in 1905 by the Norwegian Geological Survey
Norwegian Geological Survey
Norwegian Geological Survey , abbr:NGU is a Norwegian government agency responsible for geologic mapping and research. The agency is located in Trondheim with an office in Tromsø, with about 225 employees...
. He participated in the archaeological studies of Svarthola
Svarthola
Svarthola is a cave which is located in Viste, 10 km northwest of Stavanger, in Randaberg municipality, Rogaland county, Norway.-History:...
outside Stavanger, and wrote a report from the first kitchen left-over heap from early Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
found in Norway, published in the annals of Stavanger Museum for 1907. Already in 1909 he took the dr.philos. degree with the thesis Den arktiske stenalder i Norge. From 1909 to 1913 he worked as a curator at Stavanger Museum
Stavanger Museum
Stavanger Museum is a museum of natural and cultural history established in 1877, located in the Norwegian city Stavanger. The museum's collections consist of several departments: the department of zoology, the department for cultural history .Departments include the Stavanger Museum of Natural...
. He wrote a book on the city's medieval history, and also became involved in Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad
Stavanger Aftenblad or simply Aftenbladet is a daily newspaper in Stavanger, Norway. It was founded in 1893 by the priest Lars Oftedal, and was for a long period a publication for the Liberal Party. It had a circulation of 68,186 copies in 2005...
and founded the local branch of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Norwegian Monuments. He also contributed to Dagbladet
Dagbladet
Dagbladet is Norway's second largest tabloid newspaper, and the third largest newspaper overall with a circulation of 105,255 copies in 2009, 18,128 papers less than in 2008. The editor in chief is Lars Helle....
and Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn
Tidens Tegn is a former Norwegian newspaper, issued in Oslo from 1910 to 1941.-Editors:The founder and first editor-in-chief of Tidens Tegn was Ola Thommessen, who edited the newspaper until 1917. Thommessen had recently left the editor chair of Verdens Gang in protest, bringing much of Verdens...
.
He was hired at Universitetets Oldsaksamling at the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1913, and became leader of Universitetets Oldsaksamling as well as professor in 1915. He also contributed via the Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture
Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture
The Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture is a humanities research institute based in Oslo, Norway.It was established in 1922 by Fredrik Stang. An independent institute, its task is to sponsor research mainly in the fields of comparative linguistics, folklore, religion, ethnology,...
, and was a driving force in establishing the Viking Ship Museum. From 1918 to 1934 he chaired Norske Museers Landsforbund, a forerunner of Norges Museumsforbund. He edited the journals Oldtiden, St. Hallvard and Acta Archaeologica, and was also a co-editor for volumes seven through ten of the biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionaries – a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information – have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country...
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon
Norsk biografisk leksikon is the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia.The first edition was issued between 1921 and 1983, including 19 volumes and 5,100 articles...
. He contributed to the encyclopedia Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon
Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon
Salmonsens Konversationsleksikon is a Danish encyclopedia that has been published in several editions.The first edition, Salmonsens Store Illustrerede Konversationsleksikon was published in nineteen volumes 1893-1911 by Brødrene Salmonsens Forlag, and named after the publisher Isaac Salmonsen...
, where he wrote the chapter of the prehistory of Norway. Among his most important works is the study Ertog og øre from 1921, where he combined archeological findings with law texts from the Gulating
Gulating
Gulaþing is both the name of one of the first Norwegian legislative assemblies or Þing and one of the present day law courts of western Norway.-History:...
and Frostating
Frostating
Frostating was the site of an early Norwegian court. Frostating had its seat at Tinghaugen in Frosta municipality in the county of Nord-Trøndelag.-Tinghaugen:...
. He had a wish of becoming rector of the university, but this did not happen. His father had been rector from 1907 to 1911.
Brøgger was involved in politics as well—again like his father—and was the chairman of the Liberal Left Party from 1930 to 1931. Representing the constituency of Oslo, he served as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway during the term 1928–1930, and he met in sessions in the Standing Committee on Finance
Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for policies relating to economic policy, monetary and credit policy, the financial and credit system, financial administration, block grants to municipalities and...
in May 1928 and April 1930.
Brøgger was a member of the Committee for Cultural War Preparedness , established in 1938 under supervision of the Director for Cultural Heritage
Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage
The Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage is a government agency responsible for the management of cultural heritage in Norway. Subordinate the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, it manages the Cultural Heritage Act of June 9, 1978....
, Harry Fett
Harry Fett
Harry Fett was a Norwegian art historian and factory owner. He headed the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage from 1913 to 1946.-Personal life:...
. Shortly after the outburst of the Second World War in 1939, Brøgger initiated a rescue operation to save the most important items from Oldsaksamlingen, which were secretly evacuated and placed in a bank safe at Fagernes
Fagernes
is the largest settlement in the valley of Valdres, Norway, with a population of 1,801. Fagernes is the administrative centre of the municipality of Nord-Aurdal.See video from the Fagernes Town : *...
.
Brøgger was also a board member of the National Theatre
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
. In 1941, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, the National Theatre board at one point did not abide to the directions from the Nazi government. Several board members were arrested, including Brøgger, who was first suppleant to the board. Unlike the ordinary board members Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg
Harald Grieg was a Norwegian publisher.He was a relative of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. Harald's brother Nordahl Grieg was a writer and an active member of the Free Norwegian Forces during the German occupation of Norway...
, Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Sejersted Bødtker
Johannes Mathias Sejersted Bødtker CBE was a Norwegian banker, art collector and patron of the arts.-Early and personal life:...
and Francis Bull
Francis Bull
Francis Bull was a Norwegian literary historian, professor at the University of Oslo for more than thirty years, essayist and speaker, and magazine editor.-Early and personal life:...
, he was not sent to Grini concentration camp, but was imprisoned at Åkebergveien between 28 Juni and his release on 2 July. However, Brøgger was arrested for a second time, in September 1941, together with academics Otto Lous Mohr
Otto Lous Mohr
Otto Lous Mohr was a Norwegian medical doctor.He was a professor of anatomy at the University of Oslo from 1919 to 1952, and served as rector from 1946 to 1952....
and Didrik Arup Seip
Didrik Arup Seip
Didrik Arup Seip was Professor of North Germanic languages at the University of Oslo.He earned his doctorate in 1916 and was appointed professor the same year, retiring in 1954. Together with Herman Jæger, he edited and published the collected works of Henrik Wergeland in 23 volumes...
. He spent time in Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
from 11 to 30 September, and then sat at Grini until 22 October 1942. Both his sons spent time at Grini as well. Brøgger experienced a declining health during his time in a concentration camp. He returned as a professor, but retired in 1949. His last publication of importance came in 1950: Vikingeskipene. Deres forgjengere og etterfølgere, written together with Haakon Shetelig
Haakon Shetelig
Haakon Shetelig was a Norwegian archaeologist, historian and museum director. He was a pioneer in archaeology known for his study of art from the Viking Age in Norway...
.
Brøgger was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
from 1914 and the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters
The Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters is a learned society based in Trondheim, Norway.-History:DKNVS was founded in 1760 by bishop of Nidaros Johan Ernst Gunnerus, headmaster at the Trondheim Cathedral School Gerhard Schøning and Councillor of State Peter Frederik Suhm under the name...
from 1927. He was a co-founder of the Norwegian Archaeological Society
Norwegian Archaeological Society
The Norwegian Archaeological Society is a professional society for archaeologists.Formed in 1936, its first secretary-general was Anton Wilhelm Brøgger, who served until his death in 1951. The purpose of the society is to propagate results of Norwegian archaeological research...
, and served as secretary-general until his death. He was declared an honorary member of Norske Museers Landsforbund. By the state, he was decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1932. He died in August 1951. A street in Stavanger, Anton Brøggers gate, is named after him.