Finska Hushållningssällskapet as a source for the historical geography of Finland

Abstract

Finska Hushållningssällskapet, taking as its model the British Board of Agriculture, was the first independent organisation in Finland to be con­cerned with the diffusion of ideas and techniques aimed at the improve­ment of the economic and social life of the country. Accordingly, the archive of the Society, now housed and catalogued in the library of Åbo Akademi, contains much material relevant to the appreciation of the historical geography of early nineteenth century Finland. The material is never comprehensive, but despite its deficiencies, it lends itself to geo­graphical appraisal. This paper provides examples of the ways in which the material can be used to widen the understanding of the human geography of the country at a critical time in its history. The first examples spring out of two measures calculated to reduce the high rate of mortality the encouragement of potato cultivation to increase food supply and the promotion of vaccination according to the newly‑discovered method of Edward Jenner. The second examples focus upon phenological record­ keeping. The archive of the first few decades of the Society's existence is testimony to the remarkable network of relationships between its members – a factor of social geography which had a direct bearing upon improvements in the economy.