Aalto University Archives

Stories from the archive collections

Welcome to explore the archive’s collections through texts and images!

Articles written by the archive staff delve into the collections and various bodies of material found in Aalto University’s archive. Through these articles, you can glimpse the university’s history—through science and art as well as fascinating personal stories.
Vintage photo of students sitting close together, one reading from a large dark book.
Reading session. Image: Aalto University Archives.

Articles from the archive collections

Mielenosoitus Helsingin Kauppakorkeakoululla

The School of Economics into a School of Peace - Cold War Student Activism

In the 1970s, the Peace Committee of HSE, established under the Finnish Peace Committee, organized lectures, parties, and demonstrations to engage the community of Helsinki School of Economics with on-going conflicts. Members of the association believed that through activism, they could also influence the resolution of these conflicts. Many of the association's views and goals remain relevant in today's increasingly polarized world.

Aalto University Archives
Gustaf Komppa

Gustaf Komppa – Master of Organic Syntheses

Gustaf Komppa served as a professor of chemistry at the Helsinki University of Technology from 1908 to 1937. Gustaf Komppa rose from modest circumstances to become one of Finland's most significant and respected chemists. His most famous scientific achievements were the development of the total synthesis of camphor between 1901 and 1903, the development of the total synthesis of pinene in 1937, and the invention of the so-called Komppa method for producing synthetic gasoline from peat and wood raw materials.

Aalto University Archives
Itä-Karjala 1942.

Impressive Houses and Quiet Villages - Eastern Karelian Architecture in the Photo Collections of Aalto University Archives

In the summer of 1942, Carolus Lindberg, together with Jouko Hautala, went on an expedition to occupied Eastern Karelia. The purpose was to search for and examine the areas where architecturally significant material remained.

Aalto University Archives
Otahalli

Olympic dreams and a village for tech students

Teekkarikylä (Tech village) in Otaniemi was financed primarily by the hard work of the teekkarit (tech students), but the campaign related to Finland's Olympic dreams also served as a good help and shaped the popular opinion. Finland's Olympic dreams did not turn out to be in vain and Helsinki received the 1952 Summer Olympics. For a while, the remote Teekkarikylä of Otaniemi turned into an Olympic village for the athletes of the Eastern Bloc.

Aalto University Archives
Ateneum-rakennuksen historiaa ja työskentelyä iltakoulussa - kipsimallin kopiointi

First female students of the founding universities of Aalto University

During the Women's Day Week it is a good moment to look not only to the future but also to the past. What the world looked like from the perspective of women in the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century in the Grand Duchy of Finland, when the first women went to study technology, industrial arts and business. And how do the collections of the Aalto University Archives reflect these first representatives of their fields.

Aalto University Archives
New Yorkin maailmannäyttely 1939.

The world on display – World’s fairs as seen through the Aalto University Archives

Universal Exhibitions were important and influential events in culture and science from 1850s to the 20th century.

Aalto University Archives
Firth of Forth rautatiesilta 1890

History of the teaching of bridge building

Throughout history, bridges have been an important part of infrastructure, and advances in technology have enabled the development of many different types of bridges.

Aalto University Archives
Olli Lounasmaa Kylmälaboratorion aivokuvantamislaitteessa.

The success story of Finnish low-temperature physics can be uncovered at Aalto University Archives

The Low Temperature Laboratory (LTL) of Aalto University is a significant success story of Finnish science. The laboratory was founded by the Finnish physicist Olli V. Lounasmaa (1930-2002). The Archives of Aalto University hold archival collections from first few decades of the LTL’s operation, as well as the personal archive of Lounasmaa.

Aalto University Archives
Yki Nummi Ornon piirustuskonttorissa Helsingissä

Yki Nummi archive

The Yki Nummi archive is an extensive private archive collection held in the Aalto University Archives. Yki Nummi was one of the most influential post-war designers, whose groundbreaking work elevated Finnish design to its international reputation. Nummi is known above all else for his light fixtures, but his artistic merits also include the designing of other home utility goods, book illustrations and acting as a color and light expert.

Aalto University Archives
Suuri alhaalta ja ylhäältä kapea, keskeltä leveä saviruukku, jossa on ruskea ja sininen lasitus.

Ceramics in the Aalto University Archives collection

A significant proportion of the archive ceramic collection is available to explore digitally. The collections consist of the Kyllikki Salmenhaara archive, Airi Hortling archive and the collection of ceramics and glass art.

Aalto University Archives
Kuvassa on Otto Meurmanin tekemä mittauspiirustus ”Antiikin tyylimuotoja” vuodelta 1911. Piirroskuvassa on koristeellisia yksityiskohtia rakennusten seinistä ja pylväistä.

Explore the treasures of the digital archives

Aalto has become the first Finnish university to digitise the majority of its theses from the 1960s onwards.

News
Name and dates of the exhibition

Re-imagining the Past - Stories from the Aalto Archives exhibition

Exhibition highlights carefully selected items from the Aalto University Archives.

– Events
Re-imagining the Past Vol. 2. Photos: Kitty Norros

Re-imagining the Past exhibition Vol. 2 online

The stories and images from the exhibition celebrating Aalto 10 are now available for online exploration.

– Events
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