Håndværksmestre i den lille by 1880-1921 – netværk og relationer blandt Ringkøbings førende borgere

Abstract

Denne artikel er en undersøgelse af håndværkets sociale situation i den lille by under forandring i årtierne omkring 1900. 172 borgere i seks erhvervssektorer i den vestjyske købstad Ringkøbing identificeres som byens elite over tre punkter i tid, og ved identifikation af forskellige typer af forbindelser imellem dem kortlægges sociale strukturer i netværksanalyser. Emnets bredere anlagte forskning opererer med håndværkets gradvise integration i byernes øvrige kultur i perioden, sådan at mestrene efterhånden stod på linje med de øvrige arbejdsgivere. Den tætte undersøgelse i Ringkøbing bekræfter denne udvikling, men den nuancerer den også. I 1880’erne stod håndværkets mænd kun i begrænset grad i relation til købmænd, sagførere, bankdirektører osv. I 1921 havde de mange flere kontakter. Imidlertid: Når disse relationer opdeles i familie, fadderskaber, interessefællesskaber og forretning, viser det sig, at den gamle handels- og embedselite uden håndværksmestre i nogen grad bestod. Den fik selskab af nye grupper, der udnyttede nye muligheder, og som talte en række håndværksmestre. Disse gamle og nye grupper stod i tæt forbindelse i foreningsbestyrelser, valglister og efterhånden også i økonomiske relationer, men integrationen var ufuldstændig. De mødtes ikke i familie eller fadderskaber.

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Master Craftsmen in the Danish Small Town 1880-1921 – Elite Network and Relations in Ringkøbing

This article is an investigation into the social situation of craft in a small market town in the decades around 1900. 172 townsmen in six lines of trade and profession are identified as the elite in the Western Jutland town of Ringkøbing, and ties and connections between them are identified. Using social network analysis, relations among them are mapped. The more general Danish research on the field gives rise to an expectation of gradual integration in the small town elite and an evolving alliance between master craftsmen and other employers. A closer look into Ringkøbing confirms this hypothesis but introduces light and shade. In 1880, men of the crafts had only a few ties to merchants, solicitors, and bank managers. By 1921, they had many more contacts. However, when their relations are categorised according to family, sponsorship, common interest, and business, it appears that an old elite of trade and civil service endured to some extent while new groups, master craftsmen included, took advantage of new possibilities. These old and new elites were in contact in civil societies, electoral registers and eventually by business relations, but their integration was incomplete. They did not form ties of family or sponsorship.