The Widow's Mite, or Crumbs from the Rich Man's Table: Popular Support for Public Libraries in Finland during the Nineteenth Century

This article aims at ascertaining to what extent ordinary people participated in the foundation of public or parish libraries in Finland during the nineteenth century, and how and by whom the participation was organized. Sources include data on libraries compiled by Kaarle Werkko and published in 1879, archival sources, and historical literature. Miroslav Hroch's periodization of national movements is used as a framework. Special attention is given to the activity of Archbishop Edvard Bergenheim and of the clergy, who mobilized the rural people in favor of the libraries, collecting money and establishing libraries. Original collection lists show that the upper class donated most of the funds, but the peasantry gained importance during the last third of the century. After the 1870s, lotteries and other activities organized by the farmers replaced collections organized by the clergy as the most important way of financing the libraries. The development of other ways of financing is outlined.