Jens Arup Seip
Encyclopedia
Jens Lauritz Arup Seip was a Norwegian historian. A professor at the University of Oslo
from 1952 to 1975, he specialized in political history
and the history of ideas
. He was married to fellow historian Anne-Lise Seip
.
, near Molde
. He was a descendent of military officer and politician Andreas Martin Seip
(1790–1850). Andreas' grandson Jens Laurits Arup Seip, brother of politician Karl Seip
, was the father of academic Didrik Arup Seip
and politician Hans Kristian Seip
, the latter being the father of Jens Arup Seip. Jens Arup Seip was also a first cousin of the forester and state secretary Hans Kristian Seip
, and a second cousin of politician Helge Seip
and physician Martin Fredrik Seip
, who were grandnephews of Jens' grandfather Jens Laurits.
Jens Arup Seip was married to teacher and painter Rachel Lehre Seip (1931–1960) and had three children, Hans Christian, Morten and Knut
, then to historian Anne-Lise Seip
, whom he met while she was a student at the University of Oslo
. The couple lived at Høvik
in Bærum, and had two children, Ingebjørg and Åsmund, both of whom are academics. He died in September 1992 in Bærum
.
, and became known for the journal article Problemer og metode i norsk middelalderforskning in 1940. He then worked for the National Archival Services of Norway
from 1941. The same year his uncle Didrik Arup Seip was removed by the Nazi occupants
from his position as rector. Jens Arup Seip completed his thesis Sættargjerden i Tunsberg og kirkens jurisdiksjon in 1942, but did not receive the dr.philos. degree until 1945. He worked as a lecturer in history from 1946, and was also a consultant at the Norwegian Nobel Institute
from 1946 to 1958. From 1955 to 1966 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
.
In 1952 he was promoted to the position of professor. In addition, he drifted from his former specialty in medieval history to political history
and the history of ideas
. Among his most important publications were Fra embedsmannsstat til ettpartistat (1963) and Utsikt over Norges historie in two volumes (1974 and 1981). He retired from the position as professor in 1975, incidentally the same year that his wife was appointed to the Institute of History. Many of his terms have entered the Norwegian historio-political lexicon.
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...
from 1952 to 1975, he specialized in political history
Political history
Political history is the narrative and analysis of political events, ideas, movements, and leaders. It is distinct from, but related to, other fields of history such as Diplomatic history, social history, economic history, and military history, as well as constitutional history and public...
and the history of ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
. He was married to fellow historian Anne-Lise Seip
Anne-Lise Seip
Anne-Lise Seip is a Norwegian historian and former politician for the Socialist People's Party. A professor emerita at the University of Oslo, she specialized in social history and the history of the welfare state. She was married to the famous historian Jens Arup Seip.-Career:She grew up in...
.
Personal life
Jens Arup Seip was born in BolsøyBolsøy
Bolsøy is a former municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Bolsøy encompassed the area around the Fannefjord including most of the present-day municipality of Molde, excluding the city of Molde...
, near Molde
Molde
is a city and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Romsdal region. The municipality is located on the Romsdal Peninsula, surrounding the Fannefjord and Moldefjord...
. He was a descendent of military officer and politician Andreas Martin Seip
Andreas Martin Seip
Andreas Martin Seip was a Norwegian military officer and politician.He was the son of dr.med. Christian Caspar "Jesper" Seip , who had migrated to Norway from Copenhagen. Both Andreas Martin Seip and his brother Jesper Gotlieb Seip had a military career, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel...
(1790–1850). Andreas' grandson Jens Laurits Arup Seip, brother of politician Karl Seip
Karl Seip
Karl Seip was a Norwegian priest and educator, who also served as the Minister of Education and Church Affairs from 1908 to 1909.-Personal life:...
, was the father of academic 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...
and politician Hans Kristian Seip
Hans Kristian Seip
Hans Kristian Seip was a Norwegian road engineer and politician for the Liberal Party. He spent most of his professional career in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. As a politician he was Mayor of Bergen and County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane, and served two terms in the Norwegian...
, the latter being the father of Jens Arup Seip. Jens Arup Seip was also a first cousin of the forester and state secretary Hans Kristian Seip
Hans Kristian Seip (forester)
Hans Kristian Seip is a Norwegian forester.He was born in Molde. He was a professor at the Norwegian College of Agriculture from 1955 to 1966, State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture from 1966 to 1967 and director in the same ministry from 1967 to 1983. He is a member of the Royal...
, and a second cousin of politician Helge Seip
Helge Seip
Helge Seip was a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party and later the Liberal People's Party.He was born in Surnadal. At a young age he became involved in the Young Liberals, the youth wing of the Liberal Party. In the local chapter of Oslo he was a member of the board from 1937 to 1939, and...
and physician Martin Fredrik Seip
Martin Fredrik Seip
Martin Fredrik Seip was a Norwegian physician.He was the brother of politician Helge Seip. He took the dr.med. degree in 1953. He was appointed chief pediatrician at Rikshospitalet in 1968, and became a professor of medicine the same year. He chaired the Norwegian Medical Association from 1966 to...
, who were grandnephews of Jens' grandfather Jens Laurits.
Jens Arup Seip was married to teacher and painter Rachel Lehre Seip (1931–1960) and had three children, Hans Christian, Morten and Knut
Knut Seip
Knut Lehre Seip is professor in environmental management at Oslo and Akershus University college, Norway. Seip obtained his masters in physics at the University of Oslo, UiO, in 1969...
, then to historian Anne-Lise Seip
Anne-Lise Seip
Anne-Lise Seip is a Norwegian historian and former politician for the Socialist People's Party. A professor emerita at the University of Oslo, she specialized in social history and the history of the welfare state. She was married to the famous historian Jens Arup Seip.-Career:She grew up in...
, whom he met while she was a student at the University of Oslo
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...
. The couple lived at Høvik
Høvik
Høvik is a suburban centre in the municipality of Bærum, Akershus, Norway. Mainly a residential area, its population is 4,311.Høvik has a church, a small shopping area and a railway station served by Drammensbanen. Flytoget does not stop at Høvik. Nearby is the Henie-Onstad Art Centre...
in Bærum, and had two children, Ingebjørg and Åsmund, both of whom are academics. He died in September 1992 in Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
.
Career
He graduated as cand.philol. in 1931. He worked as a research fellow at the University of Oslo from 1936, under the tutorship of Edvard BullEdvard Bull, Jr.
Edvard Bull , Edvard Bull d.y. or Edvard Bull, Jr., was a Norwegian historian.He was born in Kristiania as the son of professor and politician Edvard Bull, Sr.. He was active member of the Workers' Youth League...
, and became known for the journal article Problemer og metode i norsk middelalderforskning in 1940. He then worked for the National Archival Services of Norway
National Archival Services of Norway
The National Archival Services of Norway is a Norwegian government agency that is responsible for keeping state archives, conducts control of public archiving and works to preserve private archives. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs and consists of the National...
from 1941. The same year his uncle Didrik Arup Seip was removed by the Nazi occupants
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...
from his position as rector. Jens Arup Seip completed his thesis Sættargjerden i Tunsberg og kirkens jurisdiksjon in 1942, but did not receive the dr.philos. degree until 1945. He worked as a lecturer in history from 1946, and was also a consultant at the Norwegian Nobel Institute
Norwegian Nobel Institute
The Norwegian Nobel Institute was established in 1904 in Kristiania , Norway.The principal duty of the Nobel Institute is to assist the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the task of selecting the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and to organize the annual Nobel event in Oslo.The institute is situated...
from 1946 to 1958. From 1955 to 1966 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
Norwegian Historical Association
The Norwegian Historical Association is a Norwegian historical organization.It was founded in 1869 by Michael Birkeland and Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae. Its purpose was to publish the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift, which it commenced in 1871...
.
In 1952 he was promoted to the position of professor. In addition, he drifted from his former specialty in medieval history to political history
Political history
Political history is the narrative and analysis of political events, ideas, movements, and leaders. It is distinct from, but related to, other fields of history such as Diplomatic history, social history, economic history, and military history, as well as constitutional history and public...
and the history of ideas
History of ideas
The history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
. Among his most important publications were Fra embedsmannsstat til ettpartistat (1963) and Utsikt over Norges historie in two volumes (1974 and 1981). He retired from the position as professor in 1975, incidentally the same year that his wife was appointed to the Institute of History. Many of his terms have entered the Norwegian historio-political lexicon.