Gerard De Geer and the Geochronological Institute

The institute and its activities started when Professor Gerard De Geer, the father of the earthenware chronological method, retired from his position at Stockholm University in 1924. It was then housed in an apartment on Sveavägen 34 in central Stockholm and served both as housing for the De Geer family and as an international center for geochronological research. De Geer led from Sveavägen the work that his employees did in all continents except Australia. Materials were collected and sent to Sweden, where we now have samples from Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa in the museum. The institute could be started thanks to a large number of donors and patrons who provided the necessary funds. During the period leading up to World War II, the institute played a central role in geochronological research, and scientists from all parts of the world visited De Geer and his institutes.

After De Geers' death in 1943, the institute became financially troubled and it was incorporated into Stockholm University in 1968. The premises on Sveavägen became too expensive over time and the institute moved first to Kungstensgatan 45 (1972) for a short time and then to Odengatan 63 (1975). ), where the Quaternary Geological Department was then located.

Geokronologiska muséet i Geovetenskapens hus. Fotograf Elisabeth Sturesson.

When all geo-institutions moved to Frescati in 1997, a room in the Y-house was set aside to be used by the former institute, which was now renamed the Geochronological Museum.

The interior of the museum is designed according to the dimensions that applied during De Geer's time. That is, the length of 50 cm is a continuous module. The samples taken for documentation were taken in zinc gutters, which were 5 cm wide, 2 cm deep and 50 cm long. All these samples are stored in boxes, which are specially designed for the purpose. The cabinets that are specially manufactured, by NK inredning, have an upper part where the samples can be exposed and viewed by visitors. In the middle of the museum / room is a large table that houses maps, work materials, sketches and other samples. In the cabinets located at the top, original strips from clay yard measurements are stored, as well as materials that have been collected during various expeditions and field work.