Hjalmar Pettersen

Hjalmar Marius Pettersen (13 January 1856–18 January 1928) was a Norwegian librarian and bibliographer, best known for editing the Bibliotheca Norvegica, a bibliography of Norwegian literature. Born in the country's capital to a family of means, he became, early, a voracious reader, eventually embarking on a philological career. After longer stays in Paris, a city he adored, he sought a post at the University Library of Oslo, becoming employed as its lecturer in 1887.

In the 1890s, Pettersen published numerous bibliographies, sourcing rare and exotic works from libraries abroad. After the exit of his fellow librarian Jens Braage Halvorsen from the University Library, Pettersen occupied the position of chief librarian. Having begun on the Bibliotheca Norvegica around the end of the 19th century, he finished it four years before his death, leaving the first 21 sheets of paper for the fifth volume behind.

Having become a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1903, he was rewarded by the Order of St. Olav in 1909. In 1928, two years before his eventual death, he was upgraded to a commander of the same order. His biographers usually describe him as an industrious yet gregarious man.

Early years As the eldest son of merchant Gunerius Pettersen (1826–92) and Iverine Grorud (1828–1905), he grew up in Storgaten, central Oslo. His father had founded a retailing company there, still visible as Gunerius Shoppingsenter, and Hjalmar's younger brothers, Gunerius, Harald, Axel and Carl, were active as company owners. The family business was flourishing financially, but the young Pettersen was of poor health and did not seek a mercantile career. He instead read voraciously, which precipitated his love for philology. In April 1895, Hjalmar Pettersen married the merchant's daughter Hildur Børs (1864–1947), and their son Christian Børs Pettersen took over the family company after Hjalmar's four brothers.