Vilhelm Grundtvig 1866-1950

Abstract

Vilhelm Grundtvig: In Memoriam. By Gustav Albeck.

Vilhelm Grundtvig (1866—1950), formerly Head Librarian at Aarhus, was the son of N. F. S. Grundtvig’s eldest son, the archivist Johan Grundtvig, who while taking part with his father and brother in the meeting of Scandinavian students at Christiania (Oslo) in 1851 met Vilhelmine Stenersen, who later became his wife. She was a daughter of the Norwegian Professor of Theology Stener Stenersen (d. 1835), one of the many leading personalities in Norwegian cultural life who were influenced by N. F. S. Grundtvig.

Vilhelm Grundtvig was a philologist and librarian. After being in charge of the Library of the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural College (1892—1903), he came to the State Library at Aarhus, where he became Head Librarian in 1905. In the 31 years during which he was in charge of this Library, the largest in Denmark outside Copenhagen, its scope was greatly extended to serve a twofold aim: to be the chief centre of the Danish Municipal Libraries, and to be the Library of the University of Aarhus, which was opened in 1928.

His work as a writer was chiefly concerned with bibliography and its problems. In addition to this he was interested in philological studies, espedaily with regard to the concepts expressed in language. He contributed to the study of Grundtvig’s writings as co*editor of Grundtvig’s letters from England to his wife (1920). He also brought to light and published the testimonial which the Principal of Aarhus Cathedral School gave N. F. S. Grundtvig to take with him to the Professors at Copenhagen University, and from which it appears that the teachers at the school were fully convinced that Grundtvig possessed powers which would ensure for him “a reputation which will increase as he grows older”.

Vilhelm Grundtvig had not his grandfather’s fighting spirit. In his earlier years he found it difficult to understand the greatness of N. F. S. Grundtvig’s life*work; but as time went on he reached a deeper understanding of it; and the foundation of the Grundtvig Society was a great joy to Grundtvig’s grandson. He took part in the direction of the Society and was greatly interested in the plans for a definitive scholarly edition of Grundtvig’s works. To the younger research students of Grundtvig he was an unwearied helper. He will be much missed in the Grundtvig Society, which will always homour his memory.