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The Echo of the Quatercentenary of Uppsala University in 1877: Nordic universities as examples in Europe?

2009; Routledge; Volume: 35; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/03468750903132834

1502-7716

Pieter Dhondt,

European Cultural and National Identity

Abstract Not only did renowned universities such as those of Paris, Berlin or Vienna function as models in Europe, but also the smaller Nordic universities were regularly referred to as examples being worthy of imitation. The esteem in which Swedish universities were held especially received an important boost when representatives from all of the European universities visited Uppsala in 1877, on the occasion of the quatercentenary of this institution. How and to what extent did Nordic universities function as examples in the reform of the higher education system in countries such as Belgium, France, Scotland or Russia? Although the sources do not permit to answer this question definitely, the article still aims to modify and complete the idea of an exclusive predominance of the German university model in Europe at the end of the 19th century. Keywords: University jubileesUniversity of Uppsalaeducational models Acknowledgements This article came about with the assistance of more than 30 colleagues, librarians and archivists from all over Europe. Unfortunately, I cannot thank them all by name, but still I would like to mention two of them in particular: Robert D. Anderson for the many useful suggestions and Julie Disson for the translation of the Russian sources. Notes 1 Schwarz, 'Berichterstattung über die vierte Säcularfeier der Universität Upsala', 573. 2 Beneden, 'Célébration du 400e anniversaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 399. 3 Müller, 'Vom Universitätsjubileum zur Universitätsgeschichte', 32–3. 4 Anderson, 'Ceremony in Context', 121–45. 5 E.g. Loomans, 'Le huitième centenaire de l'Université de Bologne', 126–31. 6 Kirkpatrick, The Octocentenary Festival of the University of Bologna, 92. 7 This article, focussing on the echo of the quatercentenary of Uppsala University in Europe, is the first in a series of two. The other article, on the reception of the celebration within the Nordic countries, will be published in 2010 in a separate volume, Dhondt and Kirwan, eds., 19th-Century University Jubilees as the Driving Forces of Increasing Nordic Cooperation. 8 Letter from John Earle to Robert Schultz (Copenhagen, 29 August 1877), Uppsala universitetsarkivet, Akademiska fester och jubileer FVa4 (1877). To reflect the atmosphere of the celebration, many citations have been used, when possible in English. I took care of the translation of the other sources myself. 9 The Bal Mabille is a dance establishment founded by the brothers Mabille in 1844 in Paris, located in an inner yard behind the Champs-Elysées. Especially the use of gas lighting was unique and renewing, which made it possible to open the ball only in the evening and not already in the afternoon. In a short time it became one of the most popular dance locations in Paris. 10 Fredericq, 'Een reisje in 't noorden', 271 and 5–6. 11 Graux, 'Trois lettres sur la mission en Danemark et en Suède', 339. 12 Meyer, 'Reise über Kopenhagen und Stockholm nach Upsala', 96–7. 13 Henning Hamilton (politician, writer and army officer) was chancellor of Uppsala University from 1872 to 1881. 14 'The University of Upsala', 11 September 1877. 15 Hjelt, Otto E. A. Hjelt hans liv och gärning, 225–6. 16 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 122. 17 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 121. 18 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 45. 19 Buchan, 'Report of the Deputation to Upsala', 522–3. 20 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 50 and 121. 21 [Buchan], 'Sweden occupies…', 2. Presumably by Buchan, who wrote a shortened version of his report in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (Buchan, 'Report of the deputation to Upsala'). 22 [Anderson], 'The University Tercentenary', 4. 23 Cf. Davie, The Democratic Intellect, and Anderson, Education and Opportunity in Victorian Scotland. 24 [Buchan], 'Sweden occupies…', 3. 25 Thordén, 'The University of Upsala', 481. Thordén was a minister in a village in South-Sweden. As member of the Swedish academy he has published several books and articles on higher education in Scotland, Germany, Finland and Sweden. 26 The general restrictive Russian policy in this regard also had its repercussions in Finland, so that only in 1902 women were freely admitted to study at the university. However, in fields such as arts, sciences and medicine female students were enrolled on a rather regular basis already from the 1870s, among other reasons to meet the persistent lack of physicians. 27 Cf. Tikhonov, 'Migrations des étudiants et féminisation de quelques universités européennes', 43–54. The reality was often much more complex than the advocates of the admission of women to the university suggested. In many countries the most prestigious universities remained still closed to women for a very long time. 28 De Laveleye, L'instruction supérieure pour les femmes, 16. 29 Between 1841 and 1853, Grot had been teaching Russian and Russian literature at the University of Helsinki. Afterwards he returned to St Petersburg where he held some high offices in the administration, but he maintained his interest in the Nordic countries. 30 'The University of Upsala', 8 September 1877. 31 Frängsmyr, Jubelfesternas tidevarv, 22. 32 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 184–5. 33 The Swedish Royal Order of the Seraphim is an order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden in 1748. After the reorganization of the order in 1975, it is only awarded to foreign heads of state and members of the royal family. 34 [Buchan], 'Sweden occupies …', 3. Nowadays, 1666 is considered the date of foundation of the University of Lund, but the bicentenary was celebrated in 1868, 200 years after the first endowment of the university. Weibull, Lunds universitets historia, 1–14. Cf. Tersmeden, Fredrik. '1868: A Low Point in Scandinavian Cooperation. The 200th Anniversary of the University of Lund in the Period of the German Unification Wars', to be published in Dhondt and Kirwan, eds., 19th-Century University Jubilees. 35 Grot, Vospominanija o cetyrechsotletnem jubilee Upsal'skago universiteta, 11–13. 36 Cf. Heinemann, ed. Universitetshuset i Uppsala. The same took place at the 'national' University of Edinburgh in 1884, where the new medical school, built on the occasion of the tercentenary, was financed by contributions from the whole country. Anderson, 'Ceremony in Context', 125–7. 37 Heschl, 'Das Jubelfest in Upsala', 953. 38 Cf. Paticchia, VIII centenario dell'Università di Bologna, 1886–1888. 39 Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777) was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, naturalist and poet. 40 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 45–7, 51 and 122–3. 41 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 168–9. 42 Grot, Vospominanija o cetyrechsotletnem jubilee Upsal'skago universiteta, 60–1. 43 Topelius, 'Tal vid K. Alexanders-universitetets inskrifningar, den 15 September 1877', 146–7. 44 Cf. Södersten, 'One Hundred Years of Swedish Development', 15–36. 45 Barine, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 436. Arvède Barine was the pseudonym of Mme. Charles Vincens, born Louise-Cécile Bouffé. She mostly wrote on the subject of women, but also about travel and the political issues of the day. 46 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 166–7. 47 'Das Jubelfest in Upsala', 25 September 1877. 48 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 168. 49 De Laveleye, Lettres d'Italie, 80. 50 Fredericq, 'Notes de voyage sur l'enseignement supérieur en Suède et en Finlande', 424–5. 51 Fredericq, 'Notes de voyage sur l'enseignement supérieur en Suède et en Finlande', 424–5. 52 Dhondt, Un double compromis, 306. 53 Cf. Horvath-Peterson, Victor Duruy and French Education. 54 Dhondt, 'Lehr- und Lernfreiheit en Abitur', 92–3. 55 Thordén, 'The University of Upsala', 480–1. 56 Segerstedt, Universitetet i Uppsala, 32–5. 57 Upsala Universitets fyrahundraårs jubelfest september 1877, 121. 58 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 168. 59 Buchan, 'Report of the Deputation to Upsala', 524. 60 [Anderson], 'The University Tercentenary', 4. Cf. Anderson, 'Edinburgh University Celebrates', 46–7 and Anderson, 'Ceremony in Context', 130. 61 'Das Jubelfest in Upsala', (22-09-1877). Cf. Lönnecker, '… gilt es, das Jubelfest unserer Alma mater festlich zu begehen', 145. 62 Like at the other 17th-century Swedish universities of Dorpat, Åbo/Turku and Lund, the students in Uppsala were organized in nations, taking their names from the provinces or regions from which they recruited their members. The nations were in charge of all kinds of social activities which were at other universities handled by student unions or student societies. 63 Thordén, 'The University of Uppsala', 486–7. 64 Fredericq, 'Notes de voyage sur l'enseignement supérieur en Suède et en Finlande', 425–6. 65 Thordén, 'The University of Uppsala', 489–90. 66 'Das Jubelfest in Uppsala', (22-09-1877). Punsch is a traditional liqueur in Sweden produced from arrack, neutral spirits, sugar, water, and various flavourings. 67 Grot, Vospominanija o cetyrechsotletnem jubilee Upsal'skago universiteta, 45. 68 Cf. Hilson, 'Denmark, Norway and Sweden', 192–209. The celebration of the quatercentenary of Copenhagen University in 1879 was used as an opportunity to restore the relationships. Cf. Elleh⊘j, Grane, and H⊘rby, eds., K⊘benhavns Universitet 1479–1979, 363–434 and Slottved, 'Binding the Northern Universities, Scholars and People More Closely Together. The Quatercentenary of Copenhagen University in 1879', in Dhondt & Kirwan, eds., 19th-Century University Jubilees. 69 Buchan, 'Report of the Deputation to Upsala', 525. This theme will be further developed in Dhondt, 'The Echo of the Quatercentenary of Uppsala University in 1877 within the Nordic Countries', in Dhondt & Kirwan, eds., 19th-Century University Jubilees. 70 Buchan, 'Report of the Deputation to Upsala', 525. 71 'The University of Upsala', 18 September 1877. 72 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 192. 73 Geffroy, 'Le quatrième centenaire de l'Université d'Upsal', 192. Geffroy is referring to the uprising in education as a result of the French Revolution, what led in his eyes to the need of thorough reforms in his own time. 74 Coppens, Paul Fredericq, 164–6. 75 Anderson, 'Ceremony in Context', 123, 129–31. 76 Ladenburg, Lebenserinnerungen, 109. In a short report written after the festivities in Uppsala for the governing body of his university in Kiel, Ladenburg repeated the same strengths of the Swedish system as most of his foreign colleagues: the respect and support of the king and the people in general for education and science, the openness of education, the mixture of old and new worthy of imitation and the beautiful music during the whole celebration. Ladenburg, Bericht über das 400jährige Jubiläum der Universität Uppsala; Landesarchiv Schleswig-Holstein, Archiv der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel: Abt. 47, Akte Nr. 868 Jubiläen fremder Universitäten, Bd. 2; Laufzeit 1857–1881. 77 Graux, 'Trois lettres sur la mission en Danemark et en Suède', 340. 78 One example from Paul Fredericq who devoted three series' of articles in three different journals to the Uppsala jubilee, together with some 100 pages in his diary: 'These three days of joy were so exceptionally successful and so remarkably important, that probably we will never again in our live witness such special and deep impressions in such an atmosphere. … I promised you to send you my story of the quatercentenary of the University of Uppsala, here it is. But it will be difficult, if not impossible to make you aware of the deep impression, which these unique festivities have left not only on me, but on all the foreign guests. Nevertheless, I will try to give you a meagre image of the whole happening', [Fredericq], 'Uit Zweden', 6 October 1877 and 15 September 1877. Such statements are more than mere politeness and appear in many of the non-Northern European accounts, but not in any of the Northern European reports. 79 Grot, Vospominanija o cetyrechsotletnem jubilee Upsal'skago universiteta, 67.