Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel
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Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel ( en, Society for the Welfare of Oslo), often known as Oslo Byes Vel, is a non-profit heritage association for the benefit of
Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...
, Norway's capital city. It was established in 1811 by
Niels Wulfsberg Niels Wulfsberg (29 August 1775 – 25 June 1852) was a Norwegian priest, newspaper editor and publisher. Born in Tønsberg, the son of a bailiff, he gained little respect as a priest in Christiania, owing to his libidinous lifestyle. He became kn ...
.


History

Niels Wulfsberg founded the association on 29 May 1811. It was initially named "Selskabet for Christiania Byes Vel", and was organised in seven commissions. Its first urban political cause was the establishment of a university in Christiania (now Oslo). A university was opened on 2 September the same year, named '' Det Kongelige Frederiks Universitet'' (Royal Frederick University). Christiania Byes Vel also issued a periodical, ''Den Norske Borgerven'' ("The Norwegian Citizen's Friend"), discontinued after seven installments. In 1819, Oslo's first public park was opened thanks to the association's initiative. In the following years, Christiania Byes Vel advocated political reforms such as water purification and the construction of green valleys along the city's approach roads. Poet
Henrik Wergeland Henrik Arnold Thaulow Wergeland (17 June 1808 – 12 July 1845) was a Norwegian writer, most celebrated for his poetry but also a prolific playwright, polemicist, historian, and linguist. He is often described as a leading pioneer in the develop ...
joined the association in 1838, which started printing his enlightenment letter ''For Arbeidsklassen'' ("For the Working Class"). In 1842, the association started handing out a medal to citizens who had served the city in a special manner. However, in 1867, it reduced the number of medals given, since there were reportedly too many given. The association celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1911, and had in the meantime changed its name to "Kristiania Byes Vel". In 1915, Kristiania Byes Vel started publishing the periodical ''
St. Hallvard ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy an ...
''. The initial editors were Edvard Bull and
Anton Wilhelm Brøgger Anton Wilhelm Brøgger (11 October 1884 – 29 August 1951) was a Norwegian archaeologist. Personal life He was born in Stockholm as a son of professor of geology Waldemar Christofer Brøgger (1851–1940) and Antonie Scheel Siewers (1854–1 ...
. The publication of ''St. Hallvard'' was ceased for a short period of time in 1923. One year later, the city experienced a name shift, from Kristiania to Oslo. In 1927, following the advice of the architect
Harald Aars Harald Aars (31 May 1875 – 4 June 1945) was a Norwegian architect. Personal life He was born in Christiania as a son of educator Jacob Jonathan Aars (1837–1908) and his wife Anna Ernesta Birch-Reichenwald (1838–1919). He was the brothe ...
, the antiquarian
Arno Berg Arno Berg (14 February 1890 – 1 June 1974) was a Swedish born, Norwegian architect and antiquarian. Berg is particularly associated with the preservation of historic building in Oslo. Biography Berg was born in Gothenburg, Sweden. He was ...
agreed to take the role as head of Oslo Byes Vel, where he stayed for the remainder of his active life. He also wrote around 450 articles and book reviews for ''St. Hallvard'', even after his retirement. Oslo Byes Vel celebrated its 150-years anniversary in 1961, and donated the sculpture ''Dynamikk'' by
Arnold Haukeland Arnold Haukeland (28 March 1920 – 18 June 1983) was a Norwegian sculptor. Biography He was born at Verdal in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. He was the son of Arnold Martin Haukeland (1891–1977) and Lilly Karoline Wallem (1896–1969). He att ...
to the city. In 1982, the association was awarded the
Oslo City art award The Oslo City Art Award (''Oslo bys kunstnerpris'') is given annually for contributions to the arts by the city of Oslo, Norway. The Oslo City Art Award has been awarded every year since 1978 with the exception of 1991 when the prize was not award ...
for its contributions to architecture in the city. The third edition of '' Oslo byleksikon'' ("Oslo City Encyclopedia") was published in 1987 in cooperation between Oslo Byes Vel and
Kunnskapsforlaget Kunnskapsforlaget () is a Norwegian publishing company based in Oslo. Kunnskapsforlaget was established in 1975, as a partnership between H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard) and Gyldendal Norsk Forlag. The purpose was to co-operate on publishing e ...
. In 1989, Oslo Byes Vel handed out the honorary award "Bypatrioten" for the first time, to major
Rolf Stranger Rolf Stranger (15 January 1891 – 18 June 1990) was a Norwegian businessman and politician for the Conservative Party who served as Mayor of Oslo. Biography Rolf Stranger was born in Kristiania. He was the son of Anund Hanssen (1847–193 ...
. The following year, the association launched its
blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...
programme for protected buildings. In 2001, a guide to the 250 plaques was published by the association. In 2010,
Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg (14 April 1936 – 2 April 2020) was a Norway, Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party of Norway, Conservative Party, and a professor of medicine. She was the state secretary to the Minister of Social Affairs 1981 ...
was appointed chair of Oslo Byes Vel, the first woman ever to head the association. The association celebrated its bicentennial anniversary in 2011.


Association

The headquarters of Selskabet for Oslo Byes Vel are located at ''Grev Wedels plass'' in the Oslo city centre and are open on weekdays. , Astrid Nøklebye Heiberg is the chairman of the association, whilst Ida Fossum Tønnessen is deputy chair. The association publishes the periodical ''St. Hallvard'' four times a year.


References


External links

* {{in lang, no Organizations established in 1811 1811 establishments in Norway Organisations based in Oslo