The founding meeting in Copenhagen - on the 6.th of may, 2006
- In front: the total collection of writing balls in the "Teknisk Museum" in Denmark. Behind: the newly elected president and the vicepresidents of the Malling-Hansen Society, Christian Barnholdt(in the middle), Dieter Eberwein(to the right) and Sverre Avnskog(to the left). Photo: Dieter Eberwein
- The first honorary member of the Society, the Count of Knuthenborg, Adam Knuth, descendant of Malling-Hansens economic benefactor. To the right, the next Count, his son Christoffer Knuth. Photo: Dieter Eberwein
On a warm and sunny day in the spring of 2006, a group of very enthusiastic admirers of the Danish inventor, Rasmus Malling-Hansen was gathered in the old school of Malling-Hansen in Copenhagen.
The shool is still in use for the teaching of the deaf children, and in the basement there is a museum showing the scool's old history. The chairman of the "Døvehistorisk Selskab", Jan William Rasmussen, took us on a tour around the school and in the museum, and we could see many interesting items and old photos of Malling-Hansen, and about the history of the teaching of the deaf. We also were shown the 11 rooms in the building that were used by the headmaster of the school and his family, as their private residence, and also the large garden that was at their disposal.
The founding meeting was very well planned by the man who was elected as the Society's first president, Christan Barnholdt. He has been a pioneer in the Malling-Hansen research for more than 15 years, and finally on this beautiful day in 2006, in the same locals where Malling-Hansen had his daily work for more than 25 years, he finally experienced an old dream come true - the foundation of The International Rasmus Malling-Hansen Society, with participants from Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway.
The most prominent guest at the event was the present Count of Knuthenborg - the descendant of Malling-Hansen's old economic benefactor, who made it possible for Malling-Hansen to get his education as a teacher. Participants on the meeting were also some descendants of Malling-Hansen's daughter, Emma, and of his youngest brother, Johan Frederik Hansen.
Before the meeting started, some very rare and interesting old Malling-Hansen items, photos, and documents were displayed - among them not less than three writing balls, Malling-Hansen's old Bible, original letters and other books which had belonged to Malling-Hansen's wives and his grandfather. Many of these items were provided from the present family members of the Malling-Hansen family.
Chairman of the meeting was Uwe Breker, and he also showed some unique items from his Malling-Hansen collection, and also some photos of what he has in his collection in his home in Germany. Sverre Avnskog from Norway held a powerpoint presentation of his great collection of photos, and shared his great knowledge about the Malling-Hansen family and their lives. And Dieter Eberwein, who has restaured Friedrich Nietzsche's old writing ball then held a lecture about the writing ball and shared his tremendous skills and insight in the technical aspects of the writing ball.
The Count of Knuthenborg was elected as honorary member of the Society, and as the first president was elected Christian Barnholdt. Vicepresidents for the first periode are Dieter Eberwein and Sverre Avnskog.
A beautiful painting of the old Institute for the Deaf-mutes, which has been in the family's ownership for decades was finally given as a gift from the Malling-Hansen descendants to the museum - and received by Jan William Rasmussen.
Oslo, 28.11.06
Sverre Avnskog
- Uwe Breker was the chairman of the founding meeting in Copenhagen. He had brought with him some very interesting items and pictures from his collection in Germany. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- This is a picture of Uwe Breker's collection of Malling-Hansen items. Everything on the picture have belonged to Malling-Hansen himself or to his family. Photo: Uwe Breker
- The exhibition at the meeting contained 3 writing balls, one of them was a very rare writing ball with braille instead of letters. It belongs to the Institute for the blind. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- Among the items, there were som very rare books, documents and pictures. The large picture of Malling-Hansen in the black frame, is a copy of a picture that belongs to the Norwegian Heiberg Museum in Sogndal. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- The participants waiting outside for the tour in Malling-Hansen's old school on this beautiful day in may, 2006. In the middle stands the Count of Knuthenborg, and to the left of him, one of Malling-Hansen's grand grand daughters. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- Jan William Rasmussen, with the large beard, showed us the school and the museum in the basement. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- A large work had been done in front of the founding meeting. Christian Barnholdt had released a press message, and some Danish newspapers wrote about the event. Here is the Malling-Hansen page in "Politiken". Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- Christian Barnholdt has been a pioneer in the Malling-Hansen research for more than 15 years and was elected the Society's first president. To the left of him you can see a grand grand daughter of Malling-Hansen's youngest brother, Johan Frederik Hansen. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- One of the vicepresidents, Sverre Avnskog from Norway, is signing the memory poster from the founding meeting. Photo: Dieter Eberwein
- The Malling-Hansen descendants, Lars Mathiesen and Jacob and Elsebet Erlangsen donated an old painting of the Institute to the museum of the Døvehistorisk Selskab. Jan William Rasmussen received the gift on behalf of the museum. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- In the evening, Mr. Barnholdt and his wife invited the participants of the founding meeting to a dinner party in their home. As can be seen from the napkins, every detail was well prepared! Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- The hungry guests are just waiting to be seated. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- The time had come for a toast for the happy event. Finally Rasmus Malling-Hansen has got his own Society, keeping the heritage from him alive! Photo: Uwe Breker
- Mrs. Barnholdt had prepared the most delicious meal, and she and one of her daughters served at the table. Photo: Sverre Avnskog
- The next day, the remaining guests visited the Teknisk museum, to take a closer look at their nine writing balls. Unfortunately only one of them are exhibited at the moment. Let's hope they soon will honour Rasmus Malling-Hansen with a large exhibition in the museum. On the picture the Malling-Hansen reseachers are gathered around the writing balls. It was the end of a truly great weekend in Copenhagen! Photo: Dieter Eberwein
