New themed exhibition in the foyer of the Packhouse

Mrs Thorbjorg Bergmann, the first Hafnarfjörður collector 

Hafnarfjörður Museum of Local History opens a new themed exhibition in the foyer of the Packhouse at 6 Vesturgata on Hafnarfjörður's 114th anniversary, Wednesday, 1 June at 5 p.m. The exhibition is titled „Mrs Þorbjörg Bergmann, Hafnarfjörður's First Collector.“ Culture and Commerce Minister Lilja Alfreðsdóttir will give a speech at the opening.

The life and collecting of Thorbjorg Sigurdardottir Bergmann 

The exhibition is about the life and collecting work of Þorbjörg Sigurðardóttir Bergmann, who was born in Pálsbær on Seltjarnarnes on 13 April 1876. After completing her studies at the Girls' School in 1898, Þorbjörg took a job in Bíldudal where she met her future husband, Sigfús Bergmann, and they were married in the turn of the century, 1900. That same year, they moved to Hafnarfjörður and soon became prominent in the town's life. 

Thorbjorg's belongings formed the basis of the Árbæjarsafn. 

Thorbjorg started collecting folk objects early on, and her main aim seems to have been to save them from being lost. She recognised the changes taking place in Icelandic society and the necessity of preserving the various items that could be said to have been typical of the old Icelandic peasant society. Thorbjorg Bergmann's collection contained around 400 items, which were transferred to the Reykjavík Society in 1952 and later donated to the Árbær Museum in 1958, forming the basis of the museum's collection. The exhibition in the Packhouse features items from Þorbjörg's collection, which were loaned from the City History Museum, Árbær Museum, and from Þorbjörg's descendants.