Berit Wallenberg

Anna Berit Wallenberg (19 February 1902 – 4 September 1995) was a Swedish archaeologist, anthropologist, art historian, photographer, and philanthropist.

In 1936, she became the first Swedish woman to be appointed as a supervisor for the national heritage committee, responsible for the restoration of the Lovö church [sv].

Scientific knowledge, Christian beliefs, and local historical work, especially around Drottningholm Island and Lovå, became the most significant aspects of her life.

The self-portrait of one of the most famous late medieval Swedish painters, Albertus Pictor, was found by Wallenberg in Lids Church during an excavation.

Her collection of approximately 25,000 photographs were handed over as a gift to the Swedish National Heritage Board's archives in the early 1980s with the hope that it would be preserved for future research.

As a part of her advanced program in archaeological history, she finished her licentiate degree in 1931 on the subject of the Bronze Age period, even though she held up until the following year to get her Bachelor's certificate.

Subsequently, she collected a large number of photographic materials, regarding many ancient buildings and residential areas in Europe that were destroyed in World War II.

The images and oral descriptions she collected subsequently published will help preserve the knowledge of this cultural heritage for future generations.

Her collection of approximately 25,000 photographs were handed over as a gift to the National Heritage Board's archives in the early 1980s with a wish that it would be preserved for future research.

A representative selection of the images from the collection has been digitized by the Swedish National Heritage Board, which has been made possible through a grant from the Berit Wallenberg Foundation.

In addition to the Nordic countries, she traveled to France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Russia.

[19] Other photos show the private sphere with schoolmates, relatives, and friends, scout activities, Christmas celebrations, and holidays.

She was an active missionary, writer of newspaper columns, and a cantata, and her social environment includes religious and spiritual leaders.

Scientific knowledge, Christian beliefs, and local historical work, especially around Drottningholm Island and Lovön, became the most significant aspects of her life.

Since the beginning of her foundation's establishment, it has been providing support to cultural heritage institutions, art historians, and archaeologists.

Berit Wallenberg (left) and her mother in Falsterbo , Skåne (1922)
Wallenberg (right) during the lunch break at her 1930s archaeological excavation in Nälsta, Uppland, Sweden
Wallenberg as a girl scout at Lovö, Sweden
Wallenberg during her trip to Germany in 1921