Every first Thursday of the month, Telemark Museum organizes the lecture series O-fag. Thursday, March 5th, it is about Ibsen's nephew.
Carl Stousland (1860–1941) was among those who had the most impact on the development of Skien and large parts of the county in the decades after the great city fire of 1886. He was a merchant, banker, consul, politician and a prominent community builder, with a rare ability to translate initiative and enthusiasm into concrete results for the city.
He was born on 25 October 1860 as the eldest son of shipmaster Hans Jacob Stousland and Hedvig Ibsen. Through his mother, he was a nephew of Henrik Ibsen and a cousin of Prime Minister Sigurd Ibsen. Stousland played a central role in the commercial life and local politics of Skien, was mayor of the city and represented Skien in the Storting for five terms.
Among his most important achievements were the work to build the Bratsberg Line all the way to Skien, and the establishment of the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce Support Association. Both were of great importance for the further development of the city and the region.
Carl Stousland died on August 23, 1941. In connection with the death, one of the city's newspapers wrote:
"Few people have had the ability to accomplish as much for their city as Consul Stousland, and one saw in him an example of what initiative and enthusiasm can drive it to."
The evening's speaker, Finn Erik Karlsen, has written a book about Carl Stousland and presents the story in Carl Stousland – Hold ut og hold sammen, published in collaboration with Skien Historielag. Karlsen has broad experience from the business world and is a committed local historian. He has also contributed to several editions of Byminner, including Villa Fløyen – 50 år i Handelsstandens eie (2006).
