Per Karstensen
Encyclopedia
Per Magnus Karstensen was a Norwegian educator and politician for the Labour Party
.
. He attended primary school in Ytteren, then a folk high school from 1931 to 1932. He studied at Nesna Techer's College
, took the examen artium
in 1943 and graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1951. He worked as a school teacher in Bodin
and Nord-Rana
from 1940 to 1944, then in Mo i Rana
from 1944. He was promoted to school inspector in 1961, and served as school director of Nordland
from 1971 to 1973.
He became involved in politics, and was deputy mayor of Nord-Rana municipality during the terms 1945–1947 and 1959–1963, mayor of Nord-Rana from 1963 to 1964 and of its successor municipality Rana
from 1964 to 1965. From 1963 to 1967 he was a member of Nordland county council
. He chaired his local party chapter from 1951 to 1952, and the regional chapter from 1955 to 1958. From 1960 to 1963 he was a member of the Schei Committee
. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Nordland
in 1965
, and was re-elected on three occasions in 1969
, 1973
and 1977
. He chaired the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs
from 1969 to 1973 and was Vice President of the Odelsting from 1977 to 1981.
He was a member of the Hålogaland Court of Appeal
from 1946 to 1965. He was also a board member of Riksteatret
from 1965 to 1981, Biblioteksentralen
from 1969 to 1976, the bank Nordlandsbanken
from 1970 to 1978 and the newspaper Rana Blad
from 1983 to 1987. He was a member of the Norwegian UNESCO
Commission from 1973 to 1977 and the Broadcasting Council
from 1982 to 1986. He issued several books on local history.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
Career
He was born in MosjøenMosjøen
-History:Mosjøen was founded in the 17th century as local farmers met here to trade, and has been growing since then. Sawmills were built here in 1866 by a British company, and Mosjøen got township rights in 1875. It is the oldest town in the Helgeland region and the second oldest town in Nordland...
. He attended primary school in Ytteren, then a folk high school from 1931 to 1932. He studied at Nesna Techer's College
Nesna University College
Nesna University College is a høgskole, a Norwegian state institution of higher education, in the municipality of Nesna, Norway. It was established August 1, 1994, and has approximately 1200 students and 130 employees....
, took the 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 1943 and graduated with the cand.philol. degree in 1951. He worked as a school teacher in Bodin
Bodin
Bodin is a parish and former municipality in Nordland county, Norway.-History:Bodin was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Some smaller parts of the municipality were transferred to the town of Bodø January 1, 1901 and July 1, 1938...
and Nord-Rana
Nord-Rana
Nord-Rana is a former municipality in Nordland county, Norway. The administrative centre was Ytteren.It was created by a split from Mo i Rana on 1 January 1923. The new municipality had a population of 1,305....
from 1940 to 1944, then in Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana is a town in the municipality of Rana, Nordland, Norway, located just south of the Arctic Circle and in the region Helgeland. The town is called "Mo i Rana" to distinquish it from other places named Mo - most notably the town of Mosjøen, also in Helgeland - though locally the town is...
from 1944. He was promoted to school inspector in 1961, and served as school director of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
from 1971 to 1973.
He became involved in politics, and was deputy mayor of Nord-Rana municipality during the terms 1945–1947 and 1959–1963, mayor of Nord-Rana from 1963 to 1964 and of its successor municipality Rana
Rana, Norway
Rana is the second largest municipality in Nordland county – and the third largest in North Norway – by population. By area, Rana is largest in Norway south of Finnmark , taking in large areas of mountains and forested valleys. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region...
from 1964 to 1965. From 1963 to 1967 he was a member of Nordland county council
County council (Norway)
A County Council is the highest governing body of the county municipalities in Norway. The county council sets the scope of the county municipal activity. The council is led by a chairman or county mayor...
. He chaired his local party chapter from 1951 to 1952, and the regional chapter from 1955 to 1958. From 1960 to 1963 he was a member of the Schei Committee
Schei Committee
The Schei Committee was a committee named by the Government of Norway to look into the organization of municipalities in Norway post-World War II.It convened in 1946, and its formal name was...
. He was elected to the Parliament of Norway from Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
in 1965
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1965
-Results:...
, and was re-elected on three occasions in 1969
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1969
The 1969 election proved to be one of the closest ones in Norwegian history. The only leftist party to win seats, the Labour Party, got 74 seats, while the right-wing parties got 76 seats. When counting the results, people started worrying that the two sides would be evenly split with 75 seats...
, 1973
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1973
-Results:¹A coalition of the Socialist People's Party , the Communist Party of Norway , and anti-European Economic Community individuals from the Labour Party. The coalition evolved into the Socialist Left Party in 1975....
and 1977
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1977
-Results:...
. He chaired the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs
Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs
The Standing Committee on Education and Church Affairs is a standing committee of the Parliament of Norway. It is responsible for policies relating to education, research and church affairs. It corresponds to the Ministry of Education and Research and the church affairs section of the Ministry of...
from 1969 to 1973 and was Vice President of the Odelsting from 1977 to 1981.
He was a member of the Hålogaland Court of Appeal
Hålogaland Court of Appeal
Hålogaland Court of Appeal is the court of appeal located in Tromsø, Norway. It serves the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. In addition to Tromsø, the court may meet in Bodø and Mo i Rana. The court is administrated by the Norwegian National Courts Administration.From the Middle Ages,...
from 1946 to 1965. He was also a board member of Riksteatret
Riksteatret
Riksteatret is a Norwegian touring theatre. It was established by law in 1948. Its first performance was in Kirkenes in 1949, with Sigurd Christiansen's play En reise i natten. The theatre plays on about 200 different stages throughout the country. Its first theatre director was Fritz von der...
from 1965 to 1981, Biblioteksentralen
Biblioteksentralen
Biblioteksentralen AL is a library center for public libraries in Norway, with offices in Oslo. It is the leading supplier of products and services to these libraries. Libraries purchase books and equipment through Biblioteksentralen....
from 1969 to 1976, the bank Nordlandsbanken
Nordlandsbanken
Nordlandsbanken is a Norwegian bank serving the County of Nordland. Nordlandsbanken is a wholly owned subsidiary of DnB NOR who bought the bank in 2003. It has total assets of NOK 22 billion and headquarters in Bodø. The bank has 17 branches.-History:...
from 1970 to 1978 and the newspaper Rana Blad
Rana Blad
Rana Blad is a daily, regional newspaper published in Mo i Rana, Norway. With a circulation of 10,595, it covers Northern Helgeland. The newspaper is owned by A-Pressen....
from 1983 to 1987. He was a member of the Norwegian UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Commission from 1973 to 1977 and the Broadcasting Council
Broadcasting Council (Norway)
The Broadcasting Council is an advisory board to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation .The role of the Broadcasting Council is to discuss and comment on NRK's programming agenda for Norwegian radio and television, as well as to advise on administrative and financial matters...
from 1982 to 1986. He issued several books on local history.