The Hallenblad award

Associate Professor Erik Wångmar has an extensive research background and a long list of publications to his credit. His research has primarily focused on the mergers of parishes and municipalities, as well as local politics and municipal governance structures, with several examples drawn from Småland. Wångmar is a highly ambitious and meticulous researcher who always utilizes primary sources in his studies and delves deep into the secrets of the archives. In his latest book, he conducts a thorough study of Florence Stephens’ much-publicized life at Huseby, from her takeover of the estate’s management after her father’s death, the scandals, and the path to her eventual declaration of incompetency. Wångmar’s deep dive into the archives sheds new light on this dramatic and, in many ways, tragic story.

The Hallenblad Fund’s scholarship committee wishes to recognize Erik Wångmar’s extensive and wide-ranging research contributions, in which he has offered new and interesting perspectives on the history of Småland and Kronoberg County. Additionally, Wångmar has consistently been an advocate for preserving the craft of historical research and fundamental source-critical methods, always seeking new knowledge from primary sources in the archives.

Since its founding, the Växjö Diocesan Historical Society has published a large number of “papers,” “bulletins,” and “memorials,” and has organized several diocesan history symposia. The society has also overseen the publication of the diocese’s most recent clerical records. In conjunction with the diocese’s 850th anniversary, the society initiated and published the anthology “Växjö Diocese: 850 Years.” This impressive volume contains 15 articles offering a wide range of perspectives and highlighting different periods in the diocese’s long history. Topics covered include the Christianization of Värend, Saint Sigfrid in legend and historiography, and the merger of Växjö and Kalmar dioceses in 1915. The editorial committee consisted of Lars Aldén, Oloph Bexell, and Erik Sidenvall.

The Hallenblad Fund’s scholarship committee wishes to acknowledge the Växjö Diocesan Historical Society’s impressive work in shedding light on and researching the multifaceted and exciting history of Växjö Diocese. We hope and believe that the scholarship will encourage continued efforts to provide new perspectives on the history of Växjö Diocese and Kronoberg County.

Dr. Magnus Gustavsson, a nationally recognized music researcher and vice CEO of Musik i Syd, is renowned for his work in musicology. He has authored several musicological books and articles and is a national folk musician involved in the music groups Sågskära and Höök. For many years, he has also worked as a freelance music journalist and reviewer for Swedish Radio.

Professor Emerita Margareta Pettersson has recently made a significant impact by renewing and revitalizing research on Huseby. She has delved into unique, newly discovered source material from Huseby, which, along with other materials, has provided a more detailed understanding of Huseby’s place in the world.

Pettersson has advanced knowledge about family networks, placement strategies, friendships, and romantic relationships that led to the investment of funds earned from railway construction in India into the purchase of Huseby Estate. Her contributions include research, publications, and exhibitions that enhance the understanding of Kronoberg County’s global significance, benefiting academia, the public, and tourist destinations.

The Hallenblad Award 2018 is presented to Professor Erika Lagerbielke. The jury awards Erika with the following motivation: With her 35 years as an active designer, Erika has been part of a significant portion of Orrefors’ 120-year history. Thus, her recently published book serves as an interesting contemporary document that contributes new perspectives and insights into artistic processes, research and development work, modern design history, and the cultural and industrial development of glass in Sweden.

Awards Reception

Olle Larsson has distinguished himself as an outstanding storyteller and educator, both as a public lecturer and as a high school teacher.

Olle Larsson has undoubtedly succeeded in popularizing the subject of history, thereby spreading historical knowledge to both high school students and the historically interested general public. He has excellently combined popular and academic history and is, in many ways, a pedagogical role model for both fellow history teachers and high school students.

Awards Reception

A little north of Markaryd and just east of the current E4 route, Smålands Museum’s archaeologist Carl Persson discovered an area that he, after extensive landscape studies, identified as a potential prehistoric settlement site. His theoretical framework was based on the landscape changes that occurred due to land uplift after the last ice age.

Parts of southern Småland were still covered by water, and the water landscape included islands and promontories that became natural resting places for people on the move.

Through persistent and intensive work, Carl Persson located ancient site number 71 in Markaryd parish. A limited number of flint tools and flint flakes reinforced his hypothesis about a repeatedly used settlement site in Småland’s inland, albeit sparse in finds. Persson’s idea is that find-poor sites for earlier phenomena result from nutrient-poor soils. Organic material has been absorbed, leaving only stone fragments from the earliest use of the sites.

Awards Reception