Axel Drolsum
Encyclopedia
Axel Charlot Drolsum was a Norwegian librarian, who headed the University Library of Oslo
from 1876 to 1922.
He was born in Christiania
as a son of military officer and businessman Truels Nicolaisen Drolsum (c.1821–1892) and his wife Christine E. Knudsen (1821–1909). In May 1872 he married Therese Wurschmidt (1845–1924).
His eyesight prevented him from becoming a military officer like he wanted to, and after his examen artium
in 1864 he also ruled out law studies. He instead studied Old Norse
, and after four years of working with source text
s he was hired by Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
at the University Library of Oslo
. Together with Daae he edited the six-volume work on global history, Illustrert Verdenshistorie released between 1876 and 1880. He was promoted to chief librarian in 1876, and remained so until 1922. He worked to improve the library, and between 1911 and 1913 the building which is today the National Library of Norway was raised. He also worked for reinstating the legal deposit
, greatly improving the library's collections; the endeavor was successful as the Parliament of Norway passed the act Lov om Afgivelse af Tryksager til Bibliotheket in 1882.
He was a member of the pro-military association Norges Forsvarsforening, and chaired the executive committee of its Kristiania branch from 1889 to 1915. He was a popular speaker and wrote articles in the press. Collections of his agitative works were published as For Norges Sag. Ti Aars Arbeide. Afhandlinger og Foredrag 1885–1895 in 1896 and For Norges Sag. Ny Samling. Tyve Aars Arbeide. Afhandlinger og Foredrag 1895–1916 in 1917. He was also a co-founder of Selskabet Havedyrkningens Venner
, and he was a freemason from 1889.
For his work he was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1897, Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
in 1903 and received the HM The King's Medal of Merit
in gold in 1911. He died in September 1927 in Oslo.
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 1876 to 1922.
He was born in Christiania
Oslo
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 a son of military officer and businessman Truels Nicolaisen Drolsum (c.1821–1892) and his wife Christine E. Knudsen (1821–1909). In May 1872 he married Therese Wurschmidt (1845–1924).
His eyesight prevented him from becoming a military officer like he wanted to, and after his examen artium
Examen 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...
in 1864 he also ruled out law studies. He instead studied 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....
, and after four years of working with source text
Source text
A source text is a text from which information or ideas are derived. In translation, a source text is the original text that is to be translated into another language.-Description:...
s he was hired by Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae
Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae was a Norwegian historian. He was born in Aremark.Daae was assigned as a professor at the University of Kristiania for more than thirty years, from 1876 to 1910. He published a large number of scientific works, and was also a frequent contributor to newspapers. In 1899 he...
at the University Library of Oslo
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...
. Together with Daae he edited the six-volume work on global history, Illustrert Verdenshistorie released between 1876 and 1880. He was promoted to chief librarian in 1876, and remained so until 1922. He worked to improve the library, and between 1911 and 1913 the building which is today the National Library of Norway was raised. He also worked for reinstating the legal deposit
Legal deposit
Legal deposit is a legal requirement that a person or group submit copies of their publications to a repository, usually a library. The requirement is mostly limited to books and periodicals. The number of copies varies and can range from one to 19 . Typically, the national library is one of the...
, greatly improving the library's collections; the endeavor was successful as the Parliament of Norway passed the act Lov om Afgivelse af Tryksager til Bibliotheket in 1882.
He was a member of the pro-military association Norges Forsvarsforening, and chaired the executive committee of its Kristiania branch from 1889 to 1915. He was a popular speaker and wrote articles in the press. Collections of his agitative works were published as For Norges Sag. Ti Aars Arbeide. Afhandlinger og Foredrag 1885–1895 in 1896 and For Norges Sag. Ny Samling. Tyve Aars Arbeide. Afhandlinger og Foredrag 1895–1916 in 1917. He was also a co-founder of Selskabet Havedyrkningens Venner
Norwegian Horticulture Society
The Norwegian Horticulture Society is an interest organisation in Norway.It was established as Selskabet Havedyrkningens Venner in 1884. Its purpose is to promote gardening interests. It issues the magazine Norsk Hagetidend. Chairman of the board is Ole Petter Vik, and the organizational...
, and he was a freemason from 1889.
For his work he was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1897, Commander of the Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The 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....
in 1903 and received the HM The King's Medal of Merit
HM The King's Medal of Merit
The King's Medal of Merit is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold and silver. The medal in gold is rewarded for extraordinary achievements of importance to the...
in gold in 1911. He died in September 1927 in Oslo.