About the Commission

The Arnamagnaean Commission (Den Arnamagnæanske Kommission) was set up in 1772 as a governing body for the Arnamagnaean Foundation, the collection of manuscripts and printed books that Árni Magnússon bequeathed, along with his private estate, to the University of Copenhagen on his death in 1730.

The members of the Commission are four: the Rector of the University of Copenhagen (ex officio chairman), the Director of the Royal Library (ex officio) and two representatives appointed for a period of four years, one by the University of Copenhagen and one by the Ministry of Education. In addition, the University exercises supervision through two trustees.