To mark 200 years since the birth of Jón Árnason, collector of folk tales and National Librarian, a conference will be held and an exhibition opened in Þjóðarbókhlaða, the library building at Arngrímsgata 3, on 7 September 2019.
Programme:
13:00–13:15 The Minister of Education, Science and Culture, Lilja Dögg Alfreðsdóttir, gives an address and unveils a relief in the entrance hall of Þjóðarbókhlaða.
13:20–13:30 The National Librarian, Ingibjörg Steinunn Sverrisdóttir, gives an address.
13:30–13:50 Soffía Auður Birgisdóttir and Arndís Hulda Auðunsdóttir: “My dear, good Addni!” Jón Árnason’s correspondence with the children of Sveinbjörn Egilsson and Helga Benediktsdóttir Gröndal.
13:50–14:10 Hólmfríður K. Gunnarsdóttir: “That is how it goes with those one knows best and loves most”. The letters of Rev. Jón Þórðarson to Jón Árnason.
14:10–14:30 Coffee
14:30–14:50 Bragi Þorgrímur Ólafsson: “The purest absurdum”. Jón Árnason and the struggle to strengthen the National Library.
14:50–15:10 Romina Werth: “I was worst to the one I loved most”. On the friendship and disagreements of Jón Árnason and Konrad Maurer.
15:10–15:30 Helga Kress: “Magisterconferencen”. From the letters of Jón Árnason and his wife Katrín Þorvaldsdóttir to their foster son Þorvaldur Thoroddsen during his student years in Copenhagen, 1875–1880.
15:30 Opening of the exhibition
Light refreshments