Fotoutstilling
Annie Giæver
Introduction
When Annie passed away in 1956 at the age of 74, she had documented her surroundings for well over 50 years. Her photographic documentation of everyday life in Nord-Troms is unique both in size and motive.
Through her photographs we get a glimpse of the life of ordinary people along the coast in northern Norway and life at, and around, the trading port of Havnnes. We get to experience the move between the inland and coast with the reindeer herders, life in Kautokeino and the invaluable role the hospital ship ‘Viking’ played for the people of Finnmark. Last, but not least, we also get a glimpse of Annie’s life and her community engagement in a time of great change. Changes Annie herself was very much involved in, amongst others, as one of the first board member of a Norwegian bank. It is therefore not surprising that she was also behind one of the first ever colour photographs in Norway, and the motive was her home and her constant – Havnnes.
No 14.
Young boys sorting out the fish on the quay in 1924. From right to left: Hans Jacob Giæver, Johannes H. Giæver, and Willy Tiberg
No 15.
The Giæver brothers Johannes, Hans Jacob and Thorvald in the harbour at Havnnes in 1924.
No 16.
Model boats were popular toys. Children playing by the seaside in Vest-Uløy in 1927.
No 17.
Everyone helped out when the fishing boats arrived from the sea. Fish is carried on shore in Årviksand around 1930.
No 18.
One of Annie’s most famous photographs is this photograph of Isak Persen from Kriken, delivering a halibut at Havnnes. The halibut weighed 248 kilos after being headed and gutted. The photograph is beleved to have been taken around 1920.
No 19.
Pollock being prepared on the quay at Havnnes in the 1920s. This demanded a lot of hands as the fish had to be prepared immediately after delivery.
No 20.
The development of boat engines revolutionised the fisheries in the north. Here a boat is being fitted with an engine in 1912. Thorvald H. Giæver was a dealer for the Grei engine from 1908 onwards.
No 21.
Fishermen on the boat ”Skartind” from Arnøyhamn photographed in the 1930s.
No 22.1.
Karl Mathisen, an experienced miner with knowledge that came in handy, also at Havnnes.
No 22.2.
The rich woodlands around Havnnes yielded a good income and work for many. The timber was transported to the quay with horses and sledges, and shipped out from there.
No 23.
With over 300 acres, most of which were used for growing hay, the harvest was a busy time at Havnnes.
No 26.
The shop at Havnnes sold everything one might need. Ms Normann and merchant Thorvald H. GIæver are serving their customers.
No 33.
The chapel in Rotsund photographed around 1935. Annie was one of the key members of the building commitee, and also documented the building process.
Community Engagement
”From what I have described, it is easy to understand that travelling to a church was a difficult journey - and it did take two or three days for people who lived very far away. Therefore, people really wanted to have a church building closer. The dream of a chapel for the people who lived far away began to happen, slowly. Money was collected for many years and there were many difficulties to overcome. But in September 1932, Rotsund Chapel was finally opened by Bishop Berggrav. It was a day of celebrations for the entire village."
Annie Giæver - journeys to church in the old days in the radio programme House and Home, 1952
No 28.
Annie's niece, Vaiga Giæver, and a friend on a rock in the sea at Rødbergan around 1925.
No 34.
To walk through the gates of their own church had been a dream for many people in the area.
No 36.
Annie was one of the first women to be elected as a board member in a Norwegian bank in 1932. A position she kept until she retired in 1949. From the right: Annie Giæver, Kristian Berg, Andreas Bernhard Gamst, Thorvald Hoseth Giæver og Trygve Nilssen.
No 37.
Skjærvø Savings Bank had its head office at Havnnes from 1900 to 1960. Here, the supervisory board and the cashier are photographed on the bank steps in 1946. Bank manager Thorvald H. Giæver is at the front. The only woman in the group is the cashier, Marta Trangen.
No 39.
Christmas tree celebration at Havnnes, 1946 or 1947. Annie was committed to ensuring that the children had something to look forward to and something to remember. She also sought to bring joy to others through photographs, and this particular image of the children survives in numerous copies.
No 43.
Anna and Nils Andersen ̈s temporary house at Storsletta. Built from available materials on the foundations of the previous buildings.
The rebuilding of Nord-Troms
”They knew they were returning to burned remains. They also knew that it would be hard work from early morning until late night just to build temporary houses for the winter. But nothing stopped them. And now they have survived the first winter in small huts, which they managed to build last year. Now the plans for rebuilding are ready and during the summer, real houses and barns will appear again in the area.”
Annie Giæver - the reconstruction of ruined Northern Norway. Gothenberg Trade and Shipping Newspaper, 1946
No 47.
The quay and storage buildings at Havnnes had survived the war and daily boats would arrive to collect building materials to rebuild the region.
No 49.
Elen and Aslak Persen Siri singing hymns and listening to the worship in Sámi on the radio in 1936.
The reindeer Sámi on Uløya
”At least 8-9 dogs rush out of the tent, barking and making a lot of noise! But I know Banni, Dilko, Tschalmo and Gairis, and we greet each other happily. After the dogs, people open the tent door and look to see who has arrived. We are so glad to see each other! Ellen and Marit, Susanna and Inger Marja. We are welcomed as if we have returned home. Here we can settle down in the tents and feel comfortable. It’s extremely important to look after people in the mountains.”
Annie Giæver - ”To Kautokeino with reindeer sledges” in the radio programme House and Home 1953
No 50.1.
From the 18th century onwards, reindeer grazed on Uløya during the summer months. Close bonds of friendship developed between the Sámi and the settled population. During the winter, goats were kept in barns belonging to villagers. Inga Siri and her son Nils Isak at Rødbergan on Uløya, around 1940.
No 50.2.
Inger Mikkelsdatter Utsi, Ellen Nilsdatter Sara og Aslak Persen Siri by the summer camp at Rødbergan.
No 51.
The reindeer herd crossing the fjord between Uløy and Rotsund. People would help with boats, and children would have a day off school when the reindeer herds arrived late in the spring.
No 52.
Anne Hotti, Elen Siri, Mikkel Nilsen Sara, Gunhild Marie Inger Anna Siri and Per Aslaksen Siri near the quay on Havnnes in 1935.
No 53.
Simon Aslak Nilsen Vars photographed in 1935.
No 55.
On route, travelling through a frozen winter landscape.
With the reindeer herd to Kautokeino
”The evening is more beautiful than I can believe! To the south, there is a low red moon in the clear sky. Sparkling cold, flat ground, the reindeer are always happy to be outside when it is like this. Jonars Johan understood me well and gave me one of his best reindeer. Usually, this reindeer pulls the sledge which carries Jonar’s supplies. The reindeer begins to run fast immediately. And if I whistle, it thinks the wolves are behind it and speeds up. It is too fun to describe. But when you arrive at the large fields on the mountain, then you really understand what it is like to be pulled on a sledge by a reindeer. I don’t think you can ever feel so free, even in a flying machine!”
Annie Giæver - To Kautokeino with sledges in the radio programme House and Home 1953
No 56.
Girls in Kautokeino. In the middle, Anne Marie Luci Andersdatter Bæhr (mother of Fimbden Ailo Karen) and Marit Juuso til to the right. The girl on the left is Karen.
No 57.
Congregation outside Kautokeino Church, probably in April 1921.
No 59.
The hospitalship VIking in Honningsvår. H/S "Viking" was a floating hospital which served the people along the coast in Nordland and Finnmark counties between 1923 and 1938.
The Hospital ship Viking (1924-1927)
”Our travel secretary, Miss Annie Giæver, is staying on Viking and is always busy. She does many things, but maybe what she does most is help the nurses with their work. They have so much to do that they are really happy to have a little more help."
”Viking’s job is so famous that if you say its name, people will immediately know why it is important. But outside of Finnmark, the other jobs the Red Cross do in the Arctic are less famous, including the work which our determined and energetic travel secretary and district secretary, Miss Annie Giæver, has continued for the last two years.”
Norway’s Red Cross Journal, 1926-1927
No 60.1.
Fishermen on board Viking. A common injury was infections caused by cuts in the hands and fingers.
No 60.2.
An injured man is carried onboard Viking. Annie often positioned the nurses so that the Red Cross emblem was visible in the photographs.
No 61.
Leif Nylund was born onboard "Viking" on June the 7th in 1927. The ship also meant a lot to the local population along the coast.
No 14.2
The Giæver brothers Johannes, Hans Jacob and Thorvald in the harbour at Havnnes in 1924.
No 46
The temporary home of Ida and Aksel Jensen and their family, Vest-Uløy.
No 63
One of the earliest photographs in colour was taken by Annie Giæver in 1912.
Life in colours
Always part of development, it comes as no surprise that one of the earliest known colour photographs in Norway was taken by Annie in 1912. The Autochrome Lumière process became available in 1907, but was not much used in Norway. Annie mastered the difficult process.
For some reason, Annie chose not to venture further into colour photography and returned to black and white photography until her very last film roll, which she eagerly anticpated while lying on her deathbed.