1930 Einar Hilsen, an American of Norwegian origin, donates to Reykholt some editions of Snorri Sturluson´s work with the wish that a library dedicated to the memory of Snorri would be established.     1936 After the death of Tryggvi Thorhallsson, former Prime Minister of Iceland, the politician Jonas fra Hriflu works for the purchasing of Tryggvi´s library and its relocation to Reykholt.     1963 In connection with the struggle for regaining the manuscripts from Denmark, the Minister of Culture and Education, Gylfi Th. Gislason, and Einar Gudnason, priest in Reykholt, introduce the idea of founding an institution in Reykholt dedicated to the memory of Snorri.     1984 The congregation of Reykholt decides to build a new church, as well as pushing for the construction of Snorrastofa. The State´s architect gets the task of designing the building.     1984-88 The parish of Reykholt prepares the construction of the new church and Snorrastofa in collaboration with the Icelandic government.     Spring 1988 The Bishop of Iceland, Petur Sigurgeirsson, takes the first spade to the building of the new church and Snorrastofa. The construction project begins.     Sept. 6th 1988 The President of Iceland, Vigdis Finnbogadottir, lays the cornerstone of the church and Snorrastofa, in the presence of Olafur Hakonarson, the King of Norway, who delivers a gift from the people of Norway to Snorrastofa.     23rd sept. 1995 The dream of a special institution dedicated to Snorri comes true when Snorrastofa is formally established with the signing of a charter. The progress of Snorrastofa is reflected by the construction of a magnificent church and, by its side, the building of Snorrastofa.     June 11th 1996 The institution begins its activity by the signing of an Activity Agreement between the State and those local institutions that are engaged in running the institution. The new church is consecrated and the tourist service Heimskringla Ltd. is founded and located in the new building.     Sept. 1998 Snorrastofa opens an office after employing a director. To start with the institution is located in the old school building, i.e. until the new building is ready for use.     Feb. 24th 1999 Snorrastofa promoted as a research centre. Mr Bjorn Bjarnason, Minister of Culture and Education, introduces a report from a commitee, suggesting that a research centre in Icelandic and European Medieval Studies is established in Reykholt.     Jan. 11th 2000 The signing of a new agreement with the Minister of Culture and Education on the management of Snorrastofa, with regard to the report from 1999.     July 29th 2000 The opening of the premises of Snorrastofa in the presense of the President of Iceland, Mr Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, and the Norwegian King Harald V and Queen Sonja.     Feb. 4th 2001 The first guest to use Snorrastofa's flat for visiting scholars and authors was Mr Jonas Kristjansson, former director of the Arni Magnusson Institute in Iceland and a member of Snorrastofa's board.     The idea of medieval studies at Reykholt At a conference at the National Museum of Iceland on September 20th 1996, the Minister of Education Mr Bjorn Bjarnason, opened up the discussion on a European cultural centre at Reykholt that promotes medieval studies and archaeological research.  In April 1998 Ulfar Bragason, director of the Sigurdur Nordal Institute and a member of the board of Snorrastofa, wrote an article in the newspaper Morgunbladid, where he supported this idea.    Members of the board of Snorrastofa then introduced future ideas to the Ministry of Culture and Education with plans for research studies. This resulted in the launching of a committee in July 1998 by the Ministry of Education, to carry out the ideas, that are now the core of Snorrastofa's activities. ( From the Ministiy of Education's report Midaldafraedi í Reykholti.)   Recent developments Snorrastofa's formal activity began in the autumn of 1998 with the employment of a director, Bergur Thorgeirsson, MA in Icelandic literature from The University of Iceland. Since then, a number of projects have been promoted. See more about the developments under Programme / What's on in the year 2001.   From the symposium on the occasion  of Jon Helgason's centenary in July 1999.