Árbók Landsbókasafns Íslands - Nýr flokkur - 01.01.1991, Síða 145

ENGLISH SUMMARY
Finnbogi Guðmundsson: Grímur M. Helgason deildarstjóri, f. 2. september
1927 - d. 26. desember 1989. Landsbókasafn íslands. Árbók. Nýr flokkur 15 (1989).
Rv. 1991, pp. 5-8.
This volume of the Yearbook of the National Library of Iceland is dedicated to
the memory of Mr Grímur M. Helgason (1927-1989), who was head of the
Department of Manuscripts for 22 years. Grímur M. Helgason obtained the
cand. mag.-degree in Icelandic studies at the University of Iceland in 1955.
Subsequently he taught for a few years, working at the same time on a scientific
edition of the Pontusrímur (published in 1961). Hejoined the staff of the National
Library permanently in 1962, becoming head of the Department of Manuscripts
in 1967. By his conscientious work and his love for the manuscripts in his care, he
made a lasting contribution to the department and the Library as a whole. He will
also be remembered for several important editions he was responsible for, and
for popular radio broadcasts based on material in the Department of Manu-
scripts.
Lúðvík Kristjánsson: Minnisblöð Sigurður Lynge á Akranesi. Landsbókasafn
íslands. Árbók. Nýrflokkur 15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 9-19.
Five sets of diaries written by Icelandic fishermen, now in the Department of
Manuscripts in the National Library, have proved to be of great value as sources
for the historical study of various aspects of fishing and sea-lore in general. One
of them is the diary (“Minnisblöð”) kept frorn 1836-1881 by Sigurður Lynge
(1813-1881), who lived most of his life at Akranes in the southwest of Iceland.
Sigurður was a very versatile man, and although first and foremost a fisherman,
he managed to find time for other activities, partly to supplement his income.
Thus, for example, he kept a primary school for a few children for decades. He
showed a lively interest in the social and political movements of the day, including
absdnence from alcoholic drink and the resurrection of the Alþing. All this is
reflected in his diary, which contains a wealth of informadon as to his day to day
activities, such as seasonal work at a farm while he was young, the making of
fishing equipment and oil-skins, the processing of fish, his business reladons in
Reykjavík, horticulture and farming, prices and wages, etc.
Jón Þórarinsson: Karl O. Runólfsson tónskáld. Landsbókasafn íslands. Árbók. Nýr
flokkur 15 (1989). Rv. 1991, pp. 20-35.
Karl O. Runólfsson (1900-1970), the composer, was born in Reykjavík. As a
young man he studied to become a printer and worked as such for several years.
At the same time he had a bent for music and used every opportunity to improve