Historisk Tidskrift för Finland

Historisk Tidskrift för Finland, whose title means “Historical Journal for Finland,” is a Finnish scholarly periodical devoted to history and related research. It is primarily a Swedish-language journal and has been published by Historiska föreningen, the Historical Society, since its establishment in 1916. The journal originated in the Swedish-speaking student historical milieu of Finland. Its founder, Per Olof (P. O.) von Törne, had established Svenska studenters historiska förening in 1914; that organization later developed into Historiska föreningen, the journal’s publishing society. Von Törne served as the first editor-in-chief from 1916 through 1924. The publication functions as a forum for historical scholarship concerning Finland and the wider Nordic and Baltic environment. Although Swedish is its principal language, support for translation from the Delegation for the Promotion of Swedish Literature, administered by the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, has helped make the journal accessible to Finnish-speaking historians as well. This gives the periodical a role within Finland’s bilingual scholarly culture and broadens participation beyond its original Swedish-language readership. Historisk Tidskrift för Finland is issued four times each year. Its readership is concentrated in Finland, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic region, with approximately 550 subscribers reported in the available reference material. Articles undergo peer review by two external referees, reflecting the journal’s position as a research publication rather than a general-interest history magazine. Its content is therefore aimed primarily at professional historians, academic researchers, students, libraries, and readers with a sustained interest in Finnish and regional history. The journal has also developed a substantial digital-access presence. Issues from the 1990s onward are available as open-access publications through the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies’ online platform, with ISSN 2343-2888 identified for the digital publication. New issues are made available through HTF DIGITALT after a one-year delay. This combination of continuing print publication, scholarly peer review, and delayed digital open access allows the journal to preserve its established identity while increasing discoverability and long-term access to its archive. Across its history, the journal has been guided by a succession of editors who represent several generations of Finnish historical scholarship. After von Törne, Eric Anthoni led the publication for more than four decades, followed by Jarl Gallén, Max Engman, Lars-Folke Landgrén, and Jennica Thylin-Klaus. The continuity of this editorial succession, together with publication by Historiska föreningen, has made Historisk Tidskrift för Finland a durable institution in Finland’s historical research infrastructure.

Historisk Tidskrift för Finland was founded in 1916 by Per Olof (P. O.) von Törne, two years after he had established Svenska studenters historiska förening, or the Swedish Students’ Historical Society. That student organization later became Historiska föreningen, the Historical Society that publishes the journal. The periodical was created within Finland’s Swedish-language scholarly community and has remained associated with historical research in Finland throughout its existence. Von Törne served as editor-in-chief from 1916 to 1924. He was followed in 1925 by Eric Anthoni, whose tenure lasted until 1969 and constituted the longest documented editorial period in the journal’s history. Jarl Gallén became editor in 1970 and continued until 1981. Max Engman then led the journal from 1982 through 2000, followed by Lars-Folke Landgrén from 2001 to 2016. Jennica Thylin-Klaus became editor-in-chief in 2017 and is identified as the current editor in the available reference material. The journal’s principal language is Swedish, but it has also served as a channel for Finnish-speaking historians. Translation assistance from the Delegation for the Promotion of Swedish Literature, which is managed by the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, has supported this broader role. The publication consequently reflects Finland’s bilingual intellectual environment while retaining its Swedish-language identity. Historisk Tidskrift för Finland publishes four issues annually. Its subject area is Finnish history and related historical scholarship, with its readership extending beyond Finland into the Nordic countries and the Baltic region. The available reference material reports approximately 550 subscribers, primarily in those areas. Articles are evaluated by two external referees, establishing a formal peer-review process for the journal’s research content. The publication has progressively expanded its digital availability. Through the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, issues from the 1990s onward are available as open-access publications, with ISSN 2343-2888 associated with the digital publication. More recent editions are released through HTF DIGITALT after a one-year delay. Digital distribution complements rather than replaces the journal’s established periodic publication model, preserving access to its historical archive while providing a route for online readers and researchers. The journal’s long editorial succession and association with Historiska föreningen demonstrate institutional continuity across more than a century. Its ongoing publication, peer-review practices, and digital archive place it within Finland’s academic publishing infrastructure and distinguish it from a commercial consumer magazine or general-interest media title.

• 2017

  Jennica Thylin-Klaus becomes editor-in-chief

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Jennica Thylin-Klaus began serving as editor-in-chief.

• 2001

  Lars-Folke Landgrén becomes editor-in-chief

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Lars-Folke Landgrén took over editorial leadership for the period 2001–2016.

• 1990

  Open-access availability begins for 1990s issues

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Issues from the 1990s onward became available through the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies’ open-access platform.

• 1982

  Max Engman becomes editor-in-chief

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Max Engman succeeded Gallén and led the publication through 2000.

• 1970

  Jarl Gallén becomes editor-in-chief

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Jarl Gallén assumed editorial leadership of the journal.

• 1925

  Eric Anthoni begins editorial tenure

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Eric Anthoni succeeded von Törne as editor-in-chief, beginning a tenure that continued until 1969.

• 1916

  Journal founded and first issue published

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Historisk Tidskrift för Finland began publication as a Swedish-language Finnish history journal, with Per Olof von Törne as its first editor-in-chief.

• 1914

  Predecessor student society established

  [1]Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org

  Per Olof von Törne founded Svenska studenters historiska förening, the Swedish Students’ Historical Society, which later became Historiska föreningen, the journal’s publishing society.

A bilingual-aware, peer-reviewed scholarly history journal rooted in Finland’s Swedish-language academic culture and focused on Finnish, Nordic, and Baltic historical research.

• Academic periodical · 1916

  Print journal

  The core publication is a peer-reviewed Swedish-language history journal issued four times a year. It presents historical research associated with Finland and the surrounding Nordic and Baltic region and is intended for scholars, students, libraries, and historically focused readers.

• Digital journal edition

  HTF DIGITALT

  HTF DIGITALT is the journal’s digital publication channel. New editions are made available online with a one-year delay, extending the reach of the continuing journal while maintaining a distinction between current publication and delayed digital access.

• Digital archive · 1990

  Open-access archive

  Issues from the 1990s onward are available as open-access publications through the Federation of Finnish Learned Societies’ website. The archive supports long-term discovery and use of the journal’s historical scholarship.

1. 1Historisk Tidskrift för Finlanden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official websitehistorisktidskrift.fi