Sophus Birket-Smith
Sophus Lauritz Henrik Christian Julius Birket-Smith (born April 28, 1838 in Randers , † October 1, 1919 in Copenhagen ) was a Danish librarian and literary historian .
life and work
Sophus Birket-Smith studied medicine in Copenhagen , but later devoted himself entirely to the history of literature and art . He worked for a short time as an assistant in the royal cabinet of antiquities and published the first work Kort Veiledning i Antikkabinettet i Kjøbenhavn (1861; 2nd edition, Copenhagen 1864), which immediately found general recognition. In 1863 he became an assistant at the University Library in Copenhagen, but took part in the German-Danish War the following year . At the university library he devoted himself to studying Danish history , especially the history of literature before Holberg . In 1880 he became head of the university library and in 1893 received the title of senior librarian. In addition to his work as a university librarian, he was an archivist at the university archives and Christian IX's private librarian .
Birket-Smith was well versed in older Danish history and literature. A series of studies appeared in Danske Samlinger for Historie, Topographi, Personal og Literaturhistorie (Copenhagen 1865–79). Of his editions of older Danish plays, the following should be emphasized: Ludus de sancto Kanuto duce (Copenhagen 1868), Tobiæ Komedie (Copenhagen 1887) and Peder Helgelunds Susanna og Calumnia (Copenhagen 1890). Above all, however, he published the then rediscovered autobiography of Leonora Christina Ulfeldt , the unhappy daughter of King Christian IV , about her many years in prison ( Jammers Minde , 1869; 3rd edition 1885; popular editions 1887 and 1900). Birket-Smith had this work followed by a detailed biography of Leonora Christina: Leonora Christina Grevinde Ulfeldt's history (2 vol., Copenhagen 1879–81; popular edition in 1 vol., 1887). He also edited the autobiographies of Otto Sperlings ( Dr. med.Otto Sperlings Selvbiografi, oversat i Uddrag , 1885) and Johan Monrads ( Etatsraad Johan Monrads Selvbiografi , Copenhagen 1888).
The following works by Birket-Smith have also appeared:
- Om Kjøbenhavns University Library for 1728 , 1882
- Studier paa Det Gamle Danske Skuespils Omraade , 2 vols., 1883-96
- Til Belysning of litterære Personer and Forhold i Slutningen af det 18. og Begyndelsen af det 19. Aarhundrede , Copenhagen 1884
- Kjøbenhavns Universitets Matrikkel 1611-1740 , 2 vols., Copenhagen 1890–94
literature
- Smith, Sophus Birket- . In: Brockhaus' Konversationslexikon , 14th edition, 1893–97, 14th volume, p. 1045.
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Birket-Smith, Sophus |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Birket-Smith, Sophus Lauritz Henrik Christian Julius (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Danish librarian and literary historian |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 28, 1838 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Randers |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 1, 1919 |
| Place of death | Copenhagen |