Unesco National World Heritage collections at Åbo Akademi University Library
The Åbo Akademi University library has over the years been the recipient of a significant number of culturally important book and archival collections, which it is now preserving for future generations.
The collections are an important part of the cultural heritage of the Swedish-speaking Finns, but some of the have a larger national or international significance. Unesco has noted the collections and selected six of them for the national Memory of the World Register. One of these, the Gadolin library, is a book collection, while two, the Finnish Economic Society, the Gunnar Björling collection, the Hagar Olsson collection and Edvard Westermarck’s Archives, are archival collections. The last, the Vasa svenska lyceum library, including the Oskar Rancken collection, is a mixed book and archival collection. In April, 2025 Westermarck’s archives were included in the UNESCO Memory of the Word Programme.
Edvard Westermarck’s archives
The sociologist, anthropologist and philosopher Edvard Westermarck (1862–1939), known for his research on marriage, morals and religion, left an extensive collection of letters, manuscripts, excerpts and notebooks.
Finnish Economic Society (1797-1917)
The extensive collection constitutes more than 40 running meters and spans the time period from 1797, when the Society was founded, to about 1917.
Gadolinska biblioteket (the Gadolin library)
Gadolinska biblioteket (the Gadolin library) was the private library of the world-renowned chemist, Professor Johan Gadolin (1760–1852).
Gunnar Björling collection and Hagar Olsson collection
In addition to manuscripts, the collections include correspondence, diaries and photographs. They provide an interesting insight into the cultural life of the first decades of the 20th century.
Vasa svenska lyceum library, including the Oskar Rancken Collection
Vasa svenska lyceum library, including the Oskar Rancken Collection gives an idea of the education culture of the Pohjanmaa region over four centuries.