Wilhelm Munthe
Encyclopedia
Abraham Wilhelm Støren Munthe (20 October 1883 – 18 December 1965) was a Norwegian librarian. He worked at the University Library of Oslo
from 1903 to 1953.
as the son of baker Olaf Andreas Jens Wilhelm Munthe and Helene Andrea Støren. He married Jenny Hempel
in 1917.
at Kristiania katedralskole in 1902. He worked for the University Library of Kristiania
from 1903, first as "volontær". He received the cand.philol. degree in 1911. He studied middle age palaeography
and diplomatics
at the University of Berlin from 1913 to 1914, and Old Norse
handwriting
s at the libraries of Uppsala
, Stockholm
and Copenhagen
from 1915 to 1916. From 1920 he was leader of the handwriting collection at the University Library of Oslo, and from 1922 he was appointed leader of the library, a position he held until he retired in 1953. Among Munthe's works are De norske bibliotekers historie from 1927, American librarianship from a European angle from 1939, Litterære falsknerier from 1942, and the essay Norwegian libraries during the war from 1947. He co-edited the journal Nordisk tidskrift för bok- och biblioteksväsen
for many years, and served as president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
(IFLA) from 1947 to 1951.
Munthe chaired the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1940 to 1946, and the Norwegian Genealogical Society
from 1952 to 1957, and was honorary doctor at the University of Toronto
and University of Uppsala.
University Library of Oslo
The University Library of Oslo is a library connected to the University of Oslo.Like the University, it was established in 1811 with Georg Sverdrup as the first head librarian. It originally doubled as the Norwegian national library, and was located at the old University of Oslo campus.In 1913 the...
from 1903 to 1953.
Personal life
Munthe was born in KristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
as the son of baker Olaf Andreas Jens Wilhelm Munthe and Helene Andrea Støren. He married Jenny Hempel
Jenny Hempel
Jenny Hempel was a Danish plant physiology pioneer. In 1916, she was the first Danish woman to receive a doctoral degree in a botanical discipline – and until 1956 the only...
in 1917.
Career
Munthe finished his examen artiumExamen 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...
at Kristiania katedralskole in 1902. He worked for the University Library of Kristiania
University Library of Oslo
The University Library of Oslo is a library connected to the University of Oslo.Like the University, it was established in 1811 with Georg Sverdrup as the first head librarian. It originally doubled as the Norwegian national library, and was located at the old University of Oslo campus.In 1913 the...
from 1903, first as "volontær". He received the cand.philol. degree in 1911. He studied middle age palaeography
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
and diplomatics
Diplomatics
Diplomatics , or Diplomatic , is the study that revolves around documentation. It is a study that focuses on the analysis of document creation, its inner constitutions and form, the means of transmitting information, and the relationship documented facts have with their creator...
at the University of Berlin from 1913 to 1914, and Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
handwriting
Handwriting
Handwriting is a person's particular & individual style of writing with pen or pencil, which contrasts with "Hand" which is an impersonal and formalised writing style in several historical varieties...
s at the libraries of Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
, Stockholm
Stockholm
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...
and Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
from 1915 to 1916. From 1920 he was leader of the handwriting collection at the University Library of Oslo, and from 1922 he was appointed leader of the library, a position he held until he retired in 1953. Among Munthe's works are De norske bibliotekers historie from 1927, American librarianship from a European angle from 1939, Litterære falsknerier from 1942, and the essay Norwegian libraries during the war from 1947. He co-edited the journal Nordisk tidskrift för bok- och biblioteksväsen
Nordisk tidskrift för bok- och biblioteksväsen
Nordisk tidskrift för bok- och biblioteksväsen was a Swedish bibliographical periodical. It was established in 1914 by Almqvist & Wiksell with Isak Collijn as its Editor-in-Chief. He was succeeded by Tönnes Kleberg in 1949, who was succeeded by Gert Hornwall in 1975. In 1990, Almqvist & Wiksell...
for many years, and served as president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions is the leading international association of library organisations. It is the global voice of the library and information profession, and its annual conference provides a venue for librarians to learn from one another...
(IFLA) from 1947 to 1951.
Munthe chaired the Norwegian Trekking Association from 1940 to 1946, and the Norwegian Genealogical Society
Norwegian Genealogical Society
Norwegian Genealogical Society is a genealogical society in Oslo, Norway.It was founded on 22 October 1926 as the first exclusively Norwegian genealogical society. Among the founders were Stian Herlofsen Finne-Grønn, Christoffer Morgenstierne Munthe and Sigurd Segelcke Meidell...
from 1952 to 1957, and was honorary doctor at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and University of Uppsala.
Honours
Munthe was appointed to the following orders:- Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1953)
-
Commander of the Order of the Polar StarOrder of the Polar StarThe Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
(Sweden) - Commander of the Order of the DannebrogOrder of the DannebrogThe Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
(Denmark) - Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland