Päiviö Tommila
Humanist of the day

Päiviö Tommila

Päiviö Tommila, one of the central figures in Finnish historical research, began his studies at the University of Helsinki at the beginning of the 1950s. During his career this prolific scholar of history worked as the leader of wide-ranging history projects. In addition to his professorships at the universities of Helsinki and Turku, he is also known for his term of office as Rector of the University of Helsinki. Professor Tommila, who participated in the first wave of alumni activities, hosted, in his role as Rector, the University’s 350th anniversary celebrations.

Päiviö Tommila

Juhani Päiviö Tommila
Born August 4, 1931, Jyväskylä

Bachelor of Arts (Finnish History) 1954, Master of Arts (valedictorian) 1957, Licentiate 1960, PhD (valedictorian) 1964, University of Helsinki

Rector of the University of Helsinki 1988–92
Dean of the Department of History and Language Sciences 1987–88, University of Helsinki
Dean of the Faculty of Arts 1967–71, 1973–75, University of Turku
Professor of Finnish history1965–76, University of Turku
Docent in Finnish history 1962–67, University of Helsinki
Research assistant in History 1959–65, University of Helsinki
Employee of the Nurmijärvi District History Committee 1955–57

Federation of Finnish Learned Societies 1989–2000
Executive Board of the Finnish Institute in Estonia 1993–2002
Project leader of Suomen lehdistön historia (‘the history of the Finnish press’) 1975–92
Board of Trustees of the Finnish Cultural Foundation 1978–85, Chairman 1985–87, Supervisory Board 1987–96, General Secretary 1994–96
Editor-in-chief 1983–90, Historiallisen Aikakauskirja

Awards and honours:
Honorary title of Academician 2004
First Class Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Honorary PhD 1998, University of Jyväskylä
Member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences

Photo: Faculty of Arts
Written by Olli Siitonen
Translated by Matthew Billington

At the Roots of Kronos and Villa Lante

In the beginning of the 1950s, right after completing his national service, Päiviö Tommila enrolled at the University of Helsinki to study history. He joined Kronos, the student association of history students founded in 1945, and served as its master of ceremonies. To balance his time at the association, he also joined the Satakuntalainen Osakunta student nation, which he chose because his father’s family are from the Satakunta region of Finland.

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The History of the Finnish Press and Other Publications

The ten part Suomen lehdistön historia (‘The History of the Finnish Press’) is the most extensive of Päiviö Tommila’s publications. The project, which lasted over a decade, included every university in Finland and employed several researchers and students. Besides the comprehensive work on the Finnish press, the project resulted in much additional research.

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Alumni Activity and a University in Change

Päiviö Tommila remembers how the institution of the university expanded and spread at the turn of the 1970s; the number of students increased, new universities were founded, and new professorships were rapidly established. Times have now changed, but the professor emeritus believes that the University will remain strong.

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The Anniversary Year of 1990

The ongoing 375 Humanists project is part of the 375th anniversary of the University of Helsinki. The festivities of 1990 in turn coincided with Päiviö Tommila’s tenure as rector. The 350th anniversary of the University was celebrated with great ceremony, the rector naturally partaking in the festive spirit.

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My Dream

Päiviö Tommila, who enrolled at the University of Helsinki to study history in the early 1950s, has not regretted his choice of subject. His studies led to a long academic career with professorships and major research projects, and culminated in his becoming rector.

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