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Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Swedish Law – Global Legal Collection Highlights

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

This blog post is part of our Global Legal Collection Highlights series intended to introduce readers to various foreign legal collections and resources. The creation of a nation is a particularly complex and difficult task. One might say that it often involves blood, sweat, and tears, as well as possibly toil and terror; the types of …

Ornate red and ivory wall decoration, with plaque and symbols

Finland: 100 Years of Independence – Global Legal Collection Highlights

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

Just over 100 years ago, on December 6, 1917, Finland officially declared independence from Russia. The Declaration of Independence had been signed on December 4 by the Senate (then Finland’s highest governing body) and was adopted by the Finnish Parliament two days later. Work towards independence had commenced in March 1917 following the abdication of the Russian tsar. In …

Iceland – Global Legal Collection Highlights

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

Today is the National Day of Iceland, which celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Iceland upon Iceland declaring full independence from Denmark on June 17, 1944.  This seemed like a good occasion to share some of the highlights of the Law Library of Congress collection of Icelandic materials with In Custodia Legis readers. Jónsbók …

The Law on Establishment of a Law School in Iceland (Lov om Oprettelse af en Lovskole i Island)(Nr. 6 Lov af 4de Marts 1904). Photo by Donna Sokol.

115 Years of Legal Education in Iceland

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

One hundred and fifteen years ago today, on March 4, 1904, the Danish King Christian IX (the “parent-in-law of Europe”) signed a law to establish an Icelandic Law School in Reykjavik. The law was signed after Iceland gained home rule in 1904 and before it gained its independence in 1944 and can be seen as …

Midsommar Becomes Weekend Holiday in Sweden in 1953 – Pic of the Week

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

A few weeks ago, on June 6, Swedes celebrated their national day, in remembrance of both Gustav Vasa being elected king on this date in 1523 and the adoption of the Constitution of 1809, establishing the constitutional monarchy. If you ask a Swede, however, it seems an even bigger celebration is actually Midsommarafton (Midsummer’s Eve), …

On this Day in 1523: Gustav Vasa Elected King – Happy 500, Sweden!

Posted by: Elin Hofverberg

    Today, June 6, Sweden celebrates 500 years as an independent nation. On June 6, 1523, Gustav Eriksson Vasa was elected king of Sweden at the assembly (riksmötet) in Strängsnäs, officially uniting Sweden under one king and ending forever the Kalmar Union that tied Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (including Finland) together under one monarch. …