HISTORY

The year was 1639. For the first time students from the Västgöta region in Sweden got together in Uppsala for a memorial service to honor their friend Andreas Andreae. They laid the groundwork for what would become the Västgöta nation we know and love today.  

Most of the students from the Västgöta region studied in Uppsala to become priests. 25 years after the first gathering of Västgöta nation, many other student nations had been established in Uppsala and the university’s leaders decided it was time to recognize the nations as part of the academical life in Uppsala. The nations would be officially recognized on one condition. Every nation would be assigned an inspector; a professor from the university charged with monitoring and containing the reckless students at the nations. Today, the inspector’s role is one of supporting nation members and acting as a steward of the nation.

In the beginning the nation did not have its own house, all important meetings were held in the inspector’s home. It was not until 1825 that the nation purchased the official nation house by the river Fyris where it still exists today. The nation house was presumably built in 1604. In 1666 the house underwent an extensive renovation, signified by the iron numbers embedded on the side of the house facing the river. The house has also been renovated multiple times since the 19th century.

It was in the late 19th century when women finally received permission to study at the university. The first female student at Uppsala University was Betty Petterson of Gotlands nation. The first woman to become a member at Västgöta nation was Anna Von Hall in 1885. The first female curator at Västgöta was Märta Smedmark who held the title of first curator (1Q) during 1960-1961.

We are enormously grateful to the students from centuries passed that have helped to make Västgöta nation what it is today. Their hard work ensures that the nation is still as important a place for students as it was back then, a home away from home in Uppsala where people always feel welcome.

References: Foreword of inspector emeritus John-Erik Thun, Västgöta nation i Uppsala, 350 år, Västgöta Correspången nr3., 2018