This worn sofa had a central place in Alva and Gunnar Myrdal's home.
The Myrdals began their life together when they were young. When they met in 1919, Gunnar was 20 and and Alva 17. They married in 1924. In the 1930s, they collaborated on several important projects. Their most famous work is the book Crisis in the Population Question, which had a major impact on public debate and social policy. Alva and Gunnar Myrdal's joint efforts continued even as their careers went in different directions. Did they sit on this sofa when discussing their work?
The sofa was donated to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2009 by Alva and Gunnar Myrdal's family.
This napkin was meticulously hemmed and embroidered by Alva Myrdal. Sewing was a valuable and relaxing pastime for her, and she kept on doing it well into her old age.
The napkin was donated to the Nobel Prize Museum by the Myrdal family in 2009.
This mug often stood on Alva Myrdal’s desk, including while she was working on the book The Game of Disarmament.
The mug was donated to the Nobel Prize Museum by Alva Myrdal's family in 2009.
This typewriter was used by Alva Myrdal while working on her book The Game of Disarmament, published in 1976.
A typewriter is associated primarily with writing and solitary thinking. These were also aspects of Alva Myrdal's life, although much of her work took place with an audience and at the negotiating table. With a background in psychology, sociology, and pedagogy, Alva Myrdal focused in the 1930s on family policy and social policy. From the 1950s, her career became increasingly international. She had several assignments for the UN. In particular, she engaged in peace and disarmament issues. As the leading Swedish delegate to the Disarmament Conference in Geneva (1962-1973), she worked to diminish the arms race between the superpowers. In addition to her involvement in peace efforts, she also worked intensely for gender equality.
The typewriter was donated the to the Nobel Prize Museum by the Myrdal family in 2009.
