Lars-Folke Landgrén
Humanist of the day

Lars-Folke Landgrén

Lars-Folke Landgrén is a versatile individual. His career has gone from research assistant and assistant to teacher and researcher and then later head of archives and academy director. He has written commissioned works and non-fiction, for example, a history of the Finnish press, Finnish book design, the rationalising of state administration, the press in the Nordic countries and Nazi Germany, as well as sixteenth-century military history.

Lars-Folke Landgrén

Walter Lars-Folke Landgrén
Born April 18, 1951, Helsinki.

Master of Arts, 1979, Licentiate of Philosophy, 1982, Doctor of Philosophy (Finnish and Nordic History), 1995, Master of Theology, 1996, University of Helsinki
Docent, Finnish and Scandinavian History, University of Helsinki, 1996-

Head of the Department of World Cultures 2010–, University of Helsinki
Vice-dean (with responsibility for societal impact) of the Faculty of Arts 2014–15, University of Helsinki
Head, Renvall Institute (for area and cultural studies) 2004–9, University of Helsinki
University Lecturer (Nordic Studies) 2001–4, Renvall Institute
Head Archivist 1998–2001, Brages Pressarkiv
Acting amanuensis 1995–6, Renvall Institute
Project planner, NOS-H funded research network, ”Nation-building in the North and the Problem of Borders in the Arctic Periphery”, 1993–5
Assistant, Scandinavian History, Renvall Institute, 1992–3, 1996–7

Researcher, Helsingin Graafisen Klub (Helsinki Graphic Club) funded Kirjapainotaito itsenäisessä Suomessa (Book design in independent Finland) project, 1986–92
Researcher and secretary of editorial board, J.V. Snellman’s collected works, 1983–6
Researcher, Academy of Finland-funded project on history of Finnish press, led by Professor Päiviö Tommila, 1980–8

Publications, research projects and other academic activity

Photo: Mika Federley
Written by Lars-Folke Landgrén (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.)
Translated by John Calton

Research topics with attitude

Lars-Folke Landgrén is a committed member of the University community; he has worked long days for the good of the academy and the humanities. He has worked as a university lecturer and assistant, for a dozen or so years as a department head, as both researcher and head of academic research projects, as editor-in-chief of scientific periodicals, contributor to and editor of writing projects as well as serving in academically-oriented associations and societies as both chairperson and board member.

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Department head, both fast and fair

Lars-Folke Landgrén is a Helsinki man, born and bred, whose family can be traced back on his mother’s side right back to the old town of the sixteenth century. His outlook on life is that of a humanist and democrat. As head of department his watchwords are equality, fairness and…

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Influential in the scientific community

Lars-Folke Landgrén has been extensively involved in the Finnish scientific community and has been a member of numerous learned societies. He has worked in various positions of trust and specialist roles for three decades in the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland (SLS) and has also led a research group…

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My best memories at the University of Helsinki

My best memories are shared ones from Christmas parties and birthdays and the common good feeling of events, but also the team spirit, whether it was with colleagues in the department or the faculty council or various training events. My encounters with students in different situations over the years have been rewarding.

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