Society for history enthusiasts

‘We are a small association that works as a meeting place for interested parties,’ says Elias Sonnek, Chair of the Society for University and Student History. ‘We listen and have discussions with the experts, in pleasant and relaxed settings.’

The Society’s statutes state that their purpose is to promote interest in the history of Uppsala University and its students and that one of the ways this purpose should be achieved is by bringing together people with an interest in this subject.

Elias Sonnek emphasises the importance of just this relaxed conversation between interested parties.

‘We are not an association for historians,’ he says, ‘but rather an association for people who are interested and curious. We invite people to speak who know about an issue, often in an environment connected with that issue, listen, and have fun. It’s usually a good atmosphere, with discussions and encounters between our older and younger members.’

City tour and meetings

Every semester, the Society arranges a historical city tour for new students.

‘It’s like a quick introduction to student history in Uppsala and hopefully makes the new students feel more at home,’ says Sonnek.

The ambition is to also hold a few events with various lecturers. In autumn 2022, for example, there will be a meeting on 29 September with the author Odd Inge Skjævesland, who wrote the book Sångarprinsen (‘The Singer Prince’).

‘The Swedish-Norwegian Prince Gustaf wrote, among other things, the student song that was first performed in Uppsala,’ says Sonnek. ‘A Swedish translation of the book is now being published, and will be the first book in the Society’s new publication series.’