Från en stor svensk till en stor stenstorpare : En undersökning av historiebruket kring Gustaf Dalén mellan åren 1931–2020

Sammanfattning: The aim of the essay is to investigate the use of history of the inventor and Nobel prize winner Gustaf Dalén between the years 1931–2020. The survey answers the question why Dalén has gone from being regarded as one of Sweden's most important people to being of local importance. By examining how different groups have used Dalén's memory over time and with different purposes, an explanation for this can be given to this question. The material that forms the basis of the study includes biographies, dissertations, popular science books, a poem, a movie, a theatre performance and Dalén's own museum. A qualitative method is used to examine the material, with historian Klas-Göran Karlsson's use of history classification as an analytical tool. The study results imply that Dalén's memory was used in conjunction with Sweden's industrialization to create unity. In addition, create cohesion around the political project that followed the build-up of the welfare state. This use was prominent until the 1960s, when the history of symbolic characters such as Dalén changed because of a different view of nationalism. The use of history of characters such as Dalén then became more of a local phenomenon. In addition, changed economic conditions in the countryside and a larger cultural history sector have also impacted they change of historical use of Dalén. The development and professionalisation of the subject of history has also had an impact on the use of history that surround Dalén.