Magnus Dahlström

Political career Dahlström was Turku city councillor in 1896–1904.

Philanthropy

The brothers were theatre and art patrons and in the 1890s they started donating significant sums to their home city, Turku. In 1895, the brothers donated 150 000 marks for art museum building. The granite-made Turku Art Museum planned by Gustaf Nyström was built on Puolalanmäki and inaugurated in April 1904. In 1912, the brothers saved the Swedish-speaking theatre from financial trouble; the theatre was renamed Åbo Svenska Teater in 1919. Donations by Dahlström brothers had an important role in 1919 at founding Åbo Akademi, the Swedish speaking university of Turku.

While the art museum and university were the most significant donations, the brothers also supported individual students and public health work. Their actions also inspired other donors.

Magnus and Ellen Dahlström remained childless and bequeathed their property to Åbo Akademi, Turku Art Association and Åbo Svenska Teater. Their former residence close to Turku Cathedral is nowadays in use by Åbo Akademi.