Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:03:32.242Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Scholars discover local history: the case of northeast Lapland in the 18th century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2011

Maria Lähteenmäki*
Affiliation:
Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, Box 111, University of Eastern Finland, 80101 Joensuu, Finland (maria.lahteenmaki@uef.fi)

Abstract

The academic study of local and regional history in Sweden took on a quite new form and significance in the 18th century. Humiliating defeats in wars had brought the kingdom's period of greatness to an end and forced the crown to re-evaluate the country's position and image and reconsider the internal questions of economic efficiency and settlement. One aspect in this was more effective economic and political control over the peripheral parts of the realm, which meant that also the distant region of Kemi Lapland, bordering on Russia, became an object of systematic government interest. The practical local documentation of this area took the form of dissertations prepared by students native to the area under the supervision of well known professors, reports sent back by local ministers and newspaper articles. The people responsible for communicating this information may be said to have functioned as ‘mimic men’ in the terminology of H.K. Bhabha. This supervised gathering and publication of local information created the foundation for the nationalist ideology and interest in ordinary people and local cultures that emerged at the end of the century and flourished during the 19th century.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acerbi, J. 1802. Travels through Sweden, Finland and Lapland to the North Cape in 1798 and 1799. London: J. Mawman.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alanus, C.C. 1639. Kort Berättelse om Kemi Lapmarckz tillståndh I Öster-Norlanden Under Åbo Bischops Stifft Belågit [A brief description about the situation of Kemi Lapland in the Eastern Norrland under the rule of the Turku diocese]. Turku [Abo]: K.G. Leinberg.Google Scholar
Anttila, V. 1964. Suomen kotiseutututkimus 1894–1920 ja kansanperinteen joukkokeruun alkuhistoria. Kansatieteellinen Arkisto [Studies of the Finnish home districts from 1894 to1920 and the beginning of folklore collecting]. Helsinki: Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistys 17.Google Scholar
Ashworth, G.J., and Brian, G. (editors). 2005. Senses of place: senses of time. Ashgate: Aldershot.Google Scholar
Barton, H.A. 1998. Northern arcadia. Foreign travelers in Scandinavia, 1765–1815. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.Google Scholar
Bhabha, H.K. 1995. The location of culture. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Bigo, D. 1998. Frontiers and security in the European Union: the illusion of migration control. In: Anderson, M., and Bort, B. (editors). The frontiers of Europe. London: Printer: 148164.Google Scholar
Boldt, R. 1899–1900. Ortbeskrifningen i Finland på 16- och 1700-talen [Local descriptions in Finland in the 17th and 18th centuries]. Helsinki: Centraltryckeri (Meddelanden af geografiska föreningen i Finland I.)Google Scholar
Brunnius, E. 1731. Dissertatio gradualis de urbe Torna. Uppsala: Literis Wernerianis.Google Scholar
Castrén, S. 1800. Observationer gjorde i Utsjoki Lappmarks Prestgård åren 1795 och 1797 [Observations made in the parsonage of the Utsjoki Lapland from the year 1795 to 1797]. Stockholm: Konliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar.Google Scholar
Celsius, A. 1743. Longituden af Torneå [Longitude of Torneå]. Stockholm: Konliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar.Google Scholar
Chydenius, S. 1754. Animadversiones nonnulae de oeconomia et moribus incolarum Lapponiae Kimiensis [Some notes on economy and habits of the inhabitants in Kemi Lapland]. Turku [Abo]: Jacob Merckell.Google Scholar
Clarke, E. 1819. Travels in various countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. Part 3. Scandinavia. London: Cadell and Davies.Google Scholar
Consett, M. 1789. Tour through Sweden, Swedish-Lapland, Finland and Denmark. Stockholm: R. Christopher.Google Scholar
De L'Isle, G. 1706. Carte des courones du nord. Paris: Chez l'Auteur.Google Scholar
Eliasson, P. 1999. Platsens blick. Vetenskapsakademien och den naturalhistoriska resa 1790–1840 [The place's glance. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and natural history Travel, 1790–1840]. Umeå: Umeå Universitetet (Umeå Universitet Idéhistoriska skrifter 29).Google Scholar
Enbuske, M. 2008. Vanhan Lapin valtamailla: asutus ja maankäyttö historiallisen Kemin Lapin ja Enontekiön alueella 1500-luvulta 1900-luvun alkuun [In the realms of power in old Lapland. Inhabitation and land use in the historical Kemi Lapland and Enontekiö region from the 16th to the 20th century]. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura.Google Scholar
Enckel, N. 1790. Observationer gjorda i Sodankylä Lappmark år 1789 [Observations made in Sodankylä Lapland in 1789]. Stockholm: Konliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar.Google Scholar
Fellman, J. 1846. Anmärkningar öfver ‘Anteckningar om Församlingarne i Kemi Lappmark af And. Joh. Sjögren [Notes on the parishes in Kemi Lapland made by And. Joh. Sjögren’]. Suomi Tidskrift i Fösterländska ämnen 1: 210.Google Scholar
Fellman, J. 1910–1914. Handlingar och uppsatser angående finska Lappmarken och lapparne I-IV. Samlade och utgifna av Isak Fellman [Documents and essays concerning the Finnish Lapland and Lapps I-IV. Collected and edited by Isak Fellman]. Helsinki: Finska Litteratursällskapets tryckeri.Google Scholar
Finland, National Library. 2011. Historiallinen sanomalehdistö [Historical newspapers]. Helsinki: Finnish National Library. URL: http://www.kansalliskirjasto (accessed 20 June 2011).Google Scholar
Foucault, M. 1973. The order of things. An archaeology of the human sciences. New York: Vintage. Randon House.Google Scholar
Foucault, M. 1995. Discipline and punish. The birth of the prison. Westminster, MD: Vintage.Google Scholar
Foucault, M. 2007. The archaeology of knowledge. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Hellant, A. 1760. Bevis på klimatets hälsosamma beskaffenhet i Norra Lappmarken [Evidence of climate's healthy character in the north of Lapland]. Stockholm: Konliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar.Google Scholar
Hellant, A. 1749. Almanachor till Torneå horizont 1744–1748 [Almanacs to Tornio horizon, 1744–1748]. Stockholm: Konliga Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar.Google Scholar
Hermelin, S.G. 1797. Charta öfver Wästerbottn och Svenske Lappmarcken [Map of the county of Västerbotten and Swedish Lapland]. Stockholm: S.G. Hermelin.Google Scholar
Högström, P. 1747. Beskifning öfwer de til Sweriges krona lysanda lapmarke [Description of Lapland which belongs to the Swedish crown]. Stockholm: Lars Salvii.Google Scholar
Itkonen, T. 1963. Esipuhe [Preface]. In: Schefferus, J.Lapponia. Hämeenlinna: Karisto.Google Scholar
Ingman, S. 1884–1895. Kaarle IX nen Jäämerenpolitiikka I–II [Politics of the Arctic Ocean by the King of Sweden Charles IX I–II]. Helsinki: Suomen Historiallinen Seura (Historiallinen Arkisto).Google Scholar
Juva, E.W. 1940. Paikallishistoriallisesta tutkimuksesta Turun vanhan akatemian aikana [On the studies of local history during the time of the old Academy of Turku]. In: The provincial book of the Southwest Finland, part 7. Turku: Varsinais-Suomen maakuntaliitto.Google Scholar
Kalm, P. 1756. En Resa till Norra America [Travels into North America]. Stockholm: Lars Salvii.Google Scholar
Karvonen, E. 1999. Elämää mielikuva-yhteiskunnassa [Living in the image society]. Helsinki: Gaudeamus.Google Scholar
Knuuttila, S. 2006. Paikan moneus [A multiple place]. In: Knuuttila, S., Laaksonen, P., and Piela, U. (editors). Paikka. Eletty, kuviteltu, kerrottu [Place. Lived, imagined, narrated]. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura: 711.Google Scholar
Korpijaakko, K. 1989. Saamelaisten oikeusasemasta Ruotsi-Suomessa: Oikeushistoriallinen tutkimus Länsi-Pohjan Lapin maankäyttöoloista ja -oikeuksista ennen 1700-luvun puoliväliä. Lapin korkeakoulun oikeustieteellisiä julkaisuja [Legal rights of the Sami in Sweden-Finland. Legal historical study of land use circumstances and rights in West Bothnia Lapland before the middle of the 18th century]. Helsinki: Lakimiesliiton kustannus.Google Scholar
Kytömäki, J., Ervasti, V., Paananen, J., and Toivonen, T.. 2007. Globus - aluetutkimus [Regional studies]. Helsinki: WSOY.Google Scholar
Laine, T., and Laine, E. M.. 1997. Turun Akatemia [The academy of Turku]. In: Laine, T. (editor). Vanhimman suomalaisen kirjallisuuden käsikirja. [The handbook of the oldest Finnish literature]. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura: 1448.Google Scholar
Lähteenmäki, M. 2006a. The peoples of Lapland. Borders and Interaction in the North Calotte 1808–1889. Helsinki: Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (Suomalaisen Tiedeakatemian toimituksia 338).Google Scholar
Lähteenmäki, M. 2006b. Terra ultima. A short history of Finnish Lapland. Helsinki: Otava.Google Scholar
Lähteenmäki, M., and Ferrand, J. (editors). 2011. Le grand tour. Du reste de l'Europe jusqu'à la Laponie - et retour. Helsinki: Unigrafia, University Press. URL: http://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/24920 (accessed 15 June 2011).Google Scholar
Linné, C. von. 1737. Flora Lapponica. Amstelodam: Salomonem Schouten.Google Scholar
Linné, C. von. 1735. Systema naturae. Leiden: Theodor Haak.Google Scholar
Massey, D. 1991. A global sense of place. Marxism Today June 1991: 24–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Massey, D. 1995. For space. London: SAGE Publications.Google Scholar
Maupertuis, P.L.M. de. 1738. La figure de la terre, déterminée par les observations de Messieurs de Maupertuis, Clairaut, Camus, Le Monnier de l'Académie Royale des Sciences, et de M. l'Abbé Outhier, Correspondant de la méme Académie, Accompagnés de M. Celsius, Professeur d'Astronomie à Upsal, faites par ordre du roy au cercle polaire. Paris: De l'Imprimerie Royale.Google Scholar
Motraye, A. de la. 1723. Travels through Europe, Asia and into part of Africa, with proper cuts and maps. London: printed for the author.Google Scholar
Magnus, O. 1973. Pohjoisten kansojen historia. Suomea koskevat kuvaukset [History of the northern people. Descriptions of Finland]. Helsinki: Otava.Google Scholar
Outhier, R. 1744. Journal d'un voyage au Nord, en 1736 &1737. Paris: Piget and Durand.Google Scholar
Pihlaja, P.M. 2009. Tiedettä Pohjantähden alla. Pohjoisen tutkimus ja Ruotsin tiedeseurojen suhteet Ranskaan 1700-luvulla [Science under the polar star. Northern research and relations between scientific societies in Sweden and France in the eighteenth century]. Helsinki: Suomen Tiedeseura (Bidrag till kännedom av Finlands natur och folk 181).Google Scholar
Pihlaja, P.M. 2005. The study of the north in the 18th century, Knowledge of Lapland in Europe, and Its significance for foreign scholars. In: Lähteenmäki, M., and Pihlaja, P.M. (editors). The north Calotte. Perspectives on the histories and cultures of northernmost Europe. Inari: Puntsi: 2537.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor) 1772a. Kort underrättelse om Utsjoki by i Torneå Lappmark [A brief notification from the village of Utsjoki in Tornio Lapland]. Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo 12 (19 March 1772}: 9395.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor). 1772b. Kort underrättelse om Utsjoki by i Torneå Lappmark [A brief notification from the village of Utsjoki in Tornio Lapland]. Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo. 13 (26 March 1772}: 97104.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. 1782. Plan, Til en Sockne-Beskrifning [Plan for the description of a parish]. Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo January 1782: 25–28.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor). 1784a. Anmärkningar om Sodankylä socken i Kemi Lappmark [Remarks on the parish of Sodankylä in Kemi Lapland]. Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo 22 (3 June 1784): 171176.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor). 1784b. Anmärkningar om Sodankylä socken i Kemi Lappmark [Remarks on the parish of Sodankylä in Kemi Lapland]. Tidningar Utgifne Af et Sällskap i Åbo 22 (17 June 1784): 179180.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor). 1791a. Anmärkningar om Utsjoki socken i Kemi Lappmark [Remarks on the parish of Utsjoki in Kemi Lapland]. Åbo Tidningar 2 (10 January 1791): 2.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. (editor).1791b. Anmärkningar om Utsjoki socken i Kemi Lappmark [Remarks on the parish of Utsjoki in Kemi Lapland]. Åbo Tidningar 3 (17 January 1791): 13.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. 1792. De scepticismo historico [On historical scepticism]. Turku (Abo): Frenckellianis.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. 1904. Studies. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura.Google Scholar
Porthan, H.G. 2007. Henrici Gabrielis Porthan opera omnia [The collected works of Henrik Gabriel Porthan]. Turku: Porthan Society.Google Scholar
Regnard, J.-F. 1753. Voyage de Laponie 1681. Amsterdam: Aux dépens de la Compagnie.Google Scholar
Rovaniemi Library. 2011. Lapin vanhat kartat [Old maps of Lapland]: URL: http://www.rovaniemi.fi/lapinkavijat/vanhatkartat/ (accessed 10 June 2011).Google Scholar
Rudbeck, O. 1679–1699. Atlantica vols. 1–3. Upsala: Henricus Curio. (also known as Atland eller Manheim).Google Scholar
Schefferus, J. 1979. Lapponia. Hämeenlinna: Karisto.Google Scholar
Sjögren, A.J. 1828. Anteckningar om Församlingarne i Kemi-Lappmark [Notes of the parishes in the Kemi Lapland]. Helsinki: Simelius.Google Scholar
Skjöldebrand, A.F. 1801–1802. Voyage pittoresque au Cap Nord. Stockholm: Charles Deleen et J. G. Forsgren.Google Scholar
Suomen historiallinen bibliografia [Finnish historical bibliography]. 1986–1990]. Helsinki: Suomen Historiallinen Seura.Google Scholar
Sörlin, S., and Bravo, M. (editors). 2002. Narrating the Arctic. A cultural history of nordic scientific practices. Canton: Science History Publications.Google Scholar
Tegengren, H. 1952. En utdöd Lappkultur i Kemi Lappmark. Studier i nordfinlands kolonisationshistoria [Extinct Lapp culture of Kemi Lapland. Studies of the colonization history in North of Finland]. Åbo: Åbo Academi. (Acta Academiae Aboensis Humaniora XIX.4).Google Scholar
Tommila, P. 1974. Paikallishistoriantutkimus Skandinavian maissa [Local history in the Scandinavian countries]. In: Kuusanmäki, J. (editor). Muuttuvan paikallisyhteisön historia [Changing history of local communities]. Helsinki: Paikallishistoriallinen toimisto: 413.Google Scholar
Tommila, P. 1996. Paikallishistorian tutkimus eilen ja tänään [Studies of local history in past and today]. In: Jokipii, M. (editor). Paikallishistoria [Local history]. Jyväskylä: Gummerus: 925.Google Scholar
Tornaeus, J.J. 1772. Beskrifning öfver Torneå och Kemi Lappmarker 1672 [Description of Tornio and Kemi Laplands in 1672]. Stockholm: S. Loenbom.Google Scholar
Tresk, O. 1928. Kartor över Kemi och Torne Lappmarker [Maps of Kemi and Tornio Laplands]. Stockholm: K. W. Wiklund.Google Scholar
Wahlenberg, G. 1804. Geografisk och ekonomisk beskrifning om Kemi Lappmark i Vesterbottens höfdingdöme [Geographical and economic description of Kemi Lapland in Vesterbotten jurisdiction]. Stockholm: Carl Delén.Google Scholar
Wegelius, J. 1758. Tanke-Försök om Hushållningens Hinder och Hjelp i Kimi Lappmark [Attempts of thoughts on the economic obstacles and help in Kemi Lapland]. Abo: Jacob Merckell.Google Scholar
Wegelius, H.H. 1755. Tankar Om Möjeligheten och Nytan af Beqwamare Båtfarter i Kimi Elf uti Österbotn [Thoughts on possibility and utility of more convenient ship passage along Kemi River in East Bothnia] Åbo: Jacob Merckell.Google Scholar
Varpio, Y. 1997. Matkalla moderniin. 1800-luvun suomalainen matkakirjallisuus [On the route into modernity. The Finnish travel books in the 19th century]. Helsinki: Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura.Google Scholar
Yi-Fu, T. 2003. Space and place. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
Yi-Fu, T. 2004. Sense of place: Its relationship to self and time. In: Mels, T. (editor). Reanimating places. A geography of rhythms. Aldershot: Ashgate: 4555.Google Scholar