Clas Theodor Odhner
Encyclopedia
Clas Jonas Theodor Odhner (June 17, 1836, in Alingsås, Sweden – June 11, 1904, in Stockholm, Sweden) was a Swedish
historian, and director of the Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet).
The son of a clergyman, Odhner's mother was a sister of Nils Ericson
and John Ericsson
. Odhner went to school in Skara
and matriculated at Uppsala University
in 1851, completing the degree of filosofie magister and becoming a docent
of History in 1860. He taught at Lund University
from 1865, as professor of history from 1870 until 1887, when he was appointed riksarkivarie, director of the National Archives, a position where he remained until 1901. Odhner was a member of the Second Chamber of the Riksdag
1894-1897. He was elected Member of the Swedish Academy
in 1885, and was member of several other learned societies.
Odhner was a productive writer, and the schoolbooks he authored were influential. He was the main mover in the introduction of the new organisation of the archives for government agencies with a number of provincial archives (landsarkiv), to some extent subordinate to the National Archives.
He was father of the zoologist and explorer Teodor Odhner. The engineer Willgodt Odhner
was the son of his first cousin.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
historian, and director of the Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet).
The son of a clergyman, Odhner's mother was a sister of Nils Ericson
Nils Ericson
Friherre Nils Ericson was a Swedish mechanical engineer...
and John Ericsson
John Ericsson
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother Nils Ericson. He was born at Långbanshyttan in Värmland, Sweden, but primarily came to be active in England and the United States...
. Odhner went to school in Skara
Skara
Skara is a locality and the seat of Skara Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan , is situated in Skara...
and matriculated at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1851, completing the degree of filosofie magister and becoming a docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
of History in 1860. He taught at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
from 1865, as professor of history from 1870 until 1887, when he was appointed riksarkivarie, director of the National Archives, a position where he remained until 1901. Odhner was a member of the Second Chamber of the Riksdag
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
1894-1897. He was elected Member of the Swedish Academy
Swedish Academy
The Swedish Academy , founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden.-History:The Swedish Academy was founded in 1786 by King Gustav III. Modelled after the Académie française, it has 18 members. The motto of the Academy is "Talent and Taste"...
in 1885, and was member of several other learned societies.
Odhner was a productive writer, and the schoolbooks he authored were influential. He was the main mover in the introduction of the new organisation of the archives for government agencies with a number of provincial archives (landsarkiv), to some extent subordinate to the National Archives.
He was father of the zoologist and explorer Teodor Odhner. The engineer Willgodt Odhner
Wilgott Theophil Odhner
Willgodt Theophil Odhner was a Swedish engineer and entrepreneur, working in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the inventor of the Odhner Arithmometer, which by the 1940s was one of the most popular type of portable mechanical calculator in the world.According to a brochure distributed by Odhner's...
was the son of his first cousin.