Ref: 2004—06
1. SUMMARY
The two archival fonds of Skånska Generalguvernementet (the administration
of the governor-general of Skåne) from 1658-1693 originate from the
regional Swedish civil and military administration of the provinces Skåne,
Halland and Blekinge, which were conquered by Sweden from Denmark in 1645
and 1658. These provinces constitute a border region, which has its history
in two nations.
The fonds are of great value as historical sources, since they reflect a
period of transition from Danish to Swedish rule and the establishment of
the new Swedish civil and military administration. They contain material
concerning the resistance of the population and the measures taken by the
central government and the local civil servants. They thus contain source
material for comparative studies of border conflicts and the development of
conquered territories. Of special interest in this context is the
comparatively peaceful integration of the former Danish provinces in the
Swedish realm. This was achieved not at least through the well balanced
policy of the regional administration, who often took sides for the
provinces against the central government.
name1: Landsarkivet (Regional Archives) in Lund and the Swedish National
Memory of the World Committee
relation: Landsarkivet in Lund is a governmental archival institution which
is responsible for records from local and regional government authorities
in the counties of southern Sweden. The archival fonds of Skanska
Generalguvernementet are kept at Landsarkivet.
person: Jan Dahlin, Director of the Archives
details: Postal address: Landsarkivet, Box 2016, SE-220 02 LUND, Sweden
Phone: +46 46 19 70 01
Fax: +46 46 19 70 70
E-mail: jan.dahlin@landsarkivet-lund.ra.se
name: Name: Skanska generalguvernementskansliets arkiv and Skanska
generalguvernementskontorets och landsbokhalleriets arkiv. Identity
numbers: SE/LLA/10879 and SE/LLA/10880. Owner: the State of Sweden.
Custodian: Landsarkivet (Regional Archives) in Lund, Box 2016, SE-220 02
LUND, Sweden.
description: Description and inventory
The two archival fonds comprise together 52,5 shelf metres. The content is
described in two inventories that are available in Swedish on www.nad.ra.se.
There is also an exhaustive register of correspondence. The fonds mainly
consist of documentation of decisions taken by the Governor-General, of
letters sent to him from the government, other authorities and private
persons, of accounts and similar material concerning Inland Revenue and
taxation of individuals and estates, of judicial verdicts, and of records
concerning military administration.
Provenance
The archival fonds have since their origin been in the custody of the
regional government administration in the province of Skane. After a brief
period at the University Library in Lund they were in 1903 in accordance
with the archival statutes transferred to the Regional Archives in Lund,
which had been established that same year.
Physical state and condition
The fonds, consisting of both bound volumes and
are stored in the depositories of Landsarkivet.
contain material that is more or less seriously
volumes/boxes contain minor damage. Most of the
earlier attacks of mildew.
separate documents in boxes,
About 110 volumes/boxes
damaged. About 90
damage has been caused by
Bibliography
1. Skanska Generalguvernementet 1658-1693 och dess arkiv (Lund 1967,
doctoral dissertation, summary in German) by Alf Erlandsson
2. Skaanes Overgang fra Danmark til Sverige (Kobenhavn & Lund 1958) by Knud
Fabricius
3. Friskyttarna (snapphanarna) under skanska kriget (Lund 1916) by Per
Sorensson
Referees
1. Dr Alf Erlandsson, former archivist of the United Nations, Hawaii, USA
(e-mail: aerlandsson@att.net)
2. Dr Anna Christina Ulfsparre, prof. em. of archival science, Lund, Sweden,
(e-mail: aulfsparre@sverige.nu)
3. Dr Sten Skansjo, Kristianstad University, Lund, Sweden (e-mail:
sten.skansjo@husa.hkr.se)
authenticity: The authenticity of the archival fonds is guaranteed by the
fact that they since their origin have been in continuous custody of the
regional government authorities, where they were created, and during the
last hundred years have been subject to elaborate and highly qualified
professional examination and description (see Bibliography, nr 1, above) at
an archival institution.
significance: The significance of the archival fonds is mainly found in the
fact that they are the direct evidence of the political and administrative
measures that led to the successful and peaceful incorporation in Sweden of
the provinces Skane, Halland and Blekinge, which were conquered from
Denmark in the 17th century. The incorporation falls within Sweden's short
but significant period as a great power. During this time the Swedish civil
and military administration was in many respects one of the most efficient
and advanced in Europe. The fonds reflect this administration and its
record keeping system on a regional and local level.
The Scandinavian region was in the 17th century characterized by severe
national rivalry between Sweden and Denmark and lengthy military conflicts.
During the last 200 years, however, Scandinavia has developed into one of
the most stable regions of the world. A significant foundation for this
development was undoubtedly laid already at the end of 17th century by the
Swedish administration in the newly conquered Danish provinces. In the
course of world history there may not be many examples of border provinces,
whose population in such a short time - not more than a few decades - and
with so few disturbances has accepted the transition from one nation to
another. In this sense the archival fonds of the regional Swedish
administration are of unique and irreplaceable character.
criteria: Criterion 1 Time: The fonds are good representatives of the early
modern period of Europe, which is characterized by frequent wars between
the emerging national states. In particular they reflect the typical
results of the peace conferences of that time, i. e. the handing over of
provinces from one nation to another without any consideration to the
opinion of the inhabitants.
Criterion 2 Place: The fonds are good representatives of the Scandinavian
region, as they reflect both the conflict-filled past and the first steps
towards the stability, prosperity and peaceful cooperation of today.
Criterion 3 People: The fonds are of great significance, as they reflect
the process of transition from one nation to another, i. e. how the Danes
of the conquered provinces in an astonishingly short period of time became
loyal Swedes.
Criterion 4 Subject and
document the successful
peaceful integration of
has survived undisputed
Theme: The fonds are of great significance, as they
policy of an occupying power. Its major goal - the
the conquered provinces - was rapidly achieved and
to this day.
(Criterion 5 Form and Style does not apply)
Rarity: As evidences of an altogether successful administration of occupied
territories in the 17th century the archival fonds may well be said to
possess a high degree of rarity.
Integrity: In the 18th and 19th centuries parts of the fonds have most
probably been classified as useless and deliberately destroyed, and there
have also been some losses due to inappropriate storing and handling, but
on the whole the fonds may be said to be well preserved.
Threat: The fonds are not under any particular threats, and normal archival
procedures are enough to ensure their security.
Management plan: No further management plan has been drawn up for these
particular fonds. The fonds are kept in the ordinary depositories of
Landsarkivet (Regional Archives), where temperature, humidity and security
are controlled according to current rules and standards for the keeping of
archives of the state. Every volume of the fonds has been systematically
examined with regard to damages, and volumes which contain damaged material
have been marked up. In case damaged material is demanded by researchers,
the material is first secured by the Conservation Department of
Landsarkivet (Regional Archives), whose staff possesses the necessary
professional skills.
owner: The archival fonds are owned by the Swedish state and kept in the
custody of Landsarkivet (Regional Archives) in Lund, Box 2016, SE-220 02
LUND, Sweden (Phone: +46 46 19 70 00, Fax: +46 46 19 70 70, E-mail:
landsarkivet@landsarkivet-lund.ra.se)
custodian: See 5.1.
category: The archival fonds are owned by the state.
accessibility: The fonds are freely accessible to all visitors to
Landsarkivet (Regional Archives). The only factor that limits public access
to the material is physical damage. In case damaged material is demanded by
researchers, the material must first be secured by the Conservation
Department.
copyright: There is no copyright connected with these fonds.
responsible: Landsarkivet (Regional Archives) in Lund is legally
responsible for the safekeeping of the material. The responsibility is
directly exercised through its staff.
other: The keeping of state archives in Sweden and the duties of the
archival institutions of the state are regulated in the Archive Act, the
Archive Ordinance, the Instruction for the National Archives and the
Regional Archives and in various regulations issued by the National
Archives (Riksarkivet).
management: There is no further management plan in existence for these
particular fonds. The general rules and regulations that apply to the
archives of the state and the practices and routines at Landsarkivet
(Regional Archives) can be presumed to give fairly good protection against
further damages.
The fonds are kept in the ordinary depositories of Landsarkivet (Regional
Archives), where temperature, humidity and security are controlled
according to current rules and standards for the keeping of archives of the
state. Every volume of the fonds has been systematically examined with
regard to damages, and volumes which contain damaged material have been
marked up. In case damaged material is demanded by researchers, the
material is first secured by the Conservation Department of Landsarkivet
(Regional Archives).
A more rapid and systematic conservation of the damaged items of these
particular fonds is urgent, but has not as yet been carried out. The
limited resources of the Conservation Department are generally directed
towards more acute work. A digital reproduction of major parts of the fonds,
especially the more frequent ones, is also desirable.
owner1: The Director General of the National Archives of Sweden, dr Tomas
Lidman, has been consulted concerning this nomination.
custodian1: Bengt Danielson, Senior Archivist at the Regional Archives in
Lund, has been consulted concerning the completion of this form.
committee: The Swedish National Memory of the World Committee resolved at
meetings on November 13, 2003 and May 18, 2004 that a proposal concerning
the archival fonds of Skanska Generalguvernementet was to be further
developed into a formal application.
risk: Due to frequent use by researchers there is a slight risk that
improper handling may cause damages.
preservation: There is evidence from the 18th century that the fonds have
been damaged due to inadequate storing.
In connection with Alf Erlandsson's work on his doctoral dissertation (see
3.2) in the 1960's the fonds were arranged and catalogued according to
modern principles. Volumes and documents were put in new packages, and some
conservation work was carried out.
Around 1990 the entire material was carefully examined with regard to
damages. Volumes and documents were systematically cleaned, and
inappropriate packages were replaced. This examination showed that about
110 volumes/boxes contained material with more or less serious damages.
About 90 volumes/boxes contained minor damages. Most of the damages had
been caused by earlier attacks of mildew. Volumes which contained damaged
material were marked up. In case damaged material is demanded by
researchers, the material is first secured by the Conservation Department
of Landsarkivet (Regional Archives), whose staff possess the necessary
professional skills.
A more rapid and systematic conservation of the damaged items of these
particular fonds is urgent, but has not as yet been carried out. The
limited resources of the Conservation Department are generally directed
towards more acute work. A digital reproduction of major parts of the fonds,
especially the more frequent ones, is also desirable.
name2: Jan Dahlin
signature: Jan Dahlin
date: June 9, 2004