Reidar Kjellberg
Encyclopedia
Anders Reidar Kjellberg was a Norwegian art historian
and museum director.
in Østfold
county, Norway
. Kjellberg took his final exams in 1924 and began studying theology. However, he soon found out that he was more interested in the history of science, art history and literary history. In 1934 he took an Masters degree in art history.
In 1934, he was hired as an assistant keeper at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum), a large open air museum located on Bygdøy
in the Frogner
borough of Oslo
. He was promoted to deputy director in 1940. He became Director of the museum in 1947 as a replacement for the founding director, Hans Aall (1867- 1946). He remained museum director until he retired in 1974.
In 1951, the Sami collection in the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Oslo
was transferred to thr Norsk Folkemuseum. Kjellberg chaired the Broadcasting Council
(Kringkastingsrådet), the advisory board to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1951 to 1958 and the Association of Museums of Art and Cultural History (Norske Kunst- og Kulturhistoriske Museer) from 1957 to 1966.
In 1957, Kjellberg was elected a member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy
and in 1962 of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
, where during the period 1964-1968 he was also a member of the Board. Reidar Kjellberg received the 1973 Oslo City Culture Award
.
and museum director.
Biography
Anders Reidar Kjellberg was born in FredrikstadFredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
in Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
county, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Kjellberg took his final exams in 1924 and began studying theology. However, he soon found out that he was more interested in the history of science, art history and literary history. In 1934 he took an Masters degree in art history.
In 1934, he was hired as an assistant keeper at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History (Norsk Folkemuseum), a large open air museum located on Bygdøy
Bygdøy
Bygdøy or Bygdø is a peninsula on the western side of Oslo, Norway. Administratively, Bygdøy belongs to the borough of Frogner.Bygdøy has several museums, like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl; the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History ; the...
in the Frogner
Frogner
Frogner is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. In addition to traditional Frogner, the borough incorporates Bygdøy, Uranienborg and Majorstuen....
borough of Oslo
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...
. He was promoted to deputy director in 1940. He became Director of the museum in 1947 as a replacement for the founding director, Hans Aall (1867- 1946). He remained museum director until he retired in 1974.
In 1951, the Sami collection in the Ethnographic Museum of 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...
was transferred to thr Norsk Folkemuseum. Kjellberg chaired 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...
(Kringkastingsrådet), the advisory board to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation from 1951 to 1958 and the Association of Museums of Art and Cultural History (Norske Kunst- og Kulturhistoriske Museer) from 1957 to 1966.
In 1957, Kjellberg was elected a member of the Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy
Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy
The Royal Gustavus Adolphus Academy in Uppsala is one of 18 Swedish royal academies and dedicated to the study of Swedish folklore. The name is often expanded to Kungl...
and in 1962 of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
, where during the period 1964-1968 he was also a member of the Board. Reidar Kjellberg received the 1973 Oslo City Culture Award
Oslo City Culture Award
The Oslo City Culture Award is awarded to a person, group or cultural activities for making a long time contribution or having an outstanding achievement in arts, science or other cultural work in the city or the country's cultural life. A bronze medal is awarded with the prize. The prize also...
.
Selected works
- Håndverkeren og kjøpmannen, i Norsk kulturhistorie, bd. 2 (1938)
- Blant laugsbrødre, ibid., bd. 3(1939)
- Et halvt århundre. Norsk Folkemuseum 1894–1944 (1945)
- Hugo Lous Mohr's takmalerier i Oslo domkirke (1952)
- Til Sparre Olsen på 50-årsdagen (1953)
- Thorbjørn Lie-Jørgensen (1961)
- Den store stasjon og andre kåserier (1965)
Other sources
- Hegard, Tonte Hans Aall - mannen, visjonen og verket (Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo: 1994)
- Norsk Folkemuseum Pa Nordmanns vis: Norsk folkemuseum gjennom 100 ar (Aschehoug, Oslo: 1993)