Black-and-white photograph of a man in a suit and glasses with his hand to his chin on the left, against a blue-black background with a mosaic pattern.

Edvard Westermarck

Letters, Articles, and Field Studies

The founder of Finnish sociology Edvard Westermarck (1862–1939), was one of Finland’s most renowned scholars of his time. His pioneering research in moral philosophy, sociology, and anthropology earned him widespread acclaim. At the same time, he was an active voice in public debate and a prominent cultural figure.

The digital edition Letters, Articles, and Field Studies, brings together his newspaper and journal articles, along with a large selection of his correspondence and the autobiographical works Six Years in Morocco and Memories of My Life. This collection sheds light on Westermarck’s role as a researcher and public intellectual, offering new insights into a central figure in Finland’s scientific and intellectual history.

The project began in 2024 as a collaboration between the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland and the Åbo Akademi University Library. In spring 2025, Edvard Westermarck’s archive was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register, a recognition of his significance to both Finnish and global cultural heritage.

Publication begins in autumn 2025, with new material added regularly. The edition is scheduled for completion in 2027.