GRAPHIS ScnIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

Deichmann Branth - A portrait based mainly on his letters
VAGN AI-STRUP
Alstrup, V. L992: Deichmann Branth A portrait based mainly on his
letters. Graphis Scripta 4: 39-43. Stockholm. ISSN 0901 -7593.
A biography is given of the Danish amateur lichenologist Jacob Severin
Deichmann Branth (1831-l9ll) based mainly on his correspondence for
more than 60 years with his friend Otto Moller.
Vagn Alstrup, Institut for gkologisk botanih Q. Farimagsgade 2D, DK-1353
Kqbenhavn K Danmark.
Branth was born 1831 in NykObing Mors,
Denmark. After his mother's death two years
later he was brought up by his uncle, the rural
dean R. S. Deichmann. In L849 he graduated
from secondary school and began to study
theology at Copenhagen University, where he
met Otto MOller. The correspondence
between the two students began in 1853 and
continued until Christmas 1914, shortly before
Mgller died. 242 letters were exchanged
between them.
The letters are all preserved and have
been published in full length (NOrr 1936). In
the letters the two friends exchange opinions
about all aspects of their personal life,
religious matters, culture, politjcs and science.
Being personal letters they are often written
in a straightfonvard, powerful style, and they
contain expressions and personal opinions
about colleagues and other public persons,
which they would hardly have published. As a
historical source they are therefore valuable,
although it sometimes appears, that they kept
a debate open by provoking exaggerations or
ambiguities to tease each other. They often
used words which cannot be found in ordinary
dictionaries and my translation into English
does probably not give the writers full justice.
The following portrait is based on the
letters as well as on Norr's introduction,
Christensen (L924-L926) and on my personal
contact with Branth's youngest daughter Ruth
Deichmann Branth, born L903. Several
photographs of Branth at different ages are
included in NOrr (1986). Christensen also
brought a portrait.
Deichmann Branth's professional caneer.
Branth worked as a private tutor 1358-L86L,
then he became headmaster at Tonder
Realskole. After the German occupation of
Slewig L864 he was dismissed and was
unoccupied until he became assistent vicar in
SkrelskOr, Zealand, L866. I87l to 1880 he was
vicar at Elling in north Jutland and 1880- 1905
vicar at Sneptrup, east Jutland. After his
retirement he moved to Kolding where he
died.
Family life.
Deichmann Branth married Sophie
Dumreicher 1862. Branth was sorry, that they
did not get any children, but 1872 they had a
foster-girl, who brought some life to the
house. Sophie was very quiet and religious,
and she turned more and more inwards.
Branth wrote to Moller, that she had almost
left this world long before she died shortly
after their silver jubilee in L887.