Håkan Blomqvist

Background and Education

Håkan Blomqvist was born in 1952 in Karlstad, Sweden. He studied history of religion, philosophy, and ethnology at Stockholm University, disciplines that would profoundly shape his approach to UFO research. For much of his professional life, Blomqvist worked as a librarian at Norrköping Public Library, eventually retiring in 2016.

Founding of AFU and Archives Work

In November 1970, Blomqvist founded UFO-Södertälje, marking the beginning of his active involvement in organized UFO research. Three years later, in 1973, he co-founded Arbetsgruppen för ufologi (the Working Group for Ufology) alongside Kjell Jonsson and Anders Liljegren. This organization would eventually evolve into what is now known as Archives for the Unexplained (Arkivet för det Okända), or more commonly Archives for UFO Research (AFU), based in Norrköping, Sweden.

Under Blomqvist's stewardship as co-founder, archivist, and vice chairman of the AFU board, the archive grew into one of the world's most comprehensive repositories of UFO-related materials. Spanning approximately 3.5 kilometers of shelf space across 15 locations, AFU holds over 55,000 books in various languages, 88,000 magazine issues, 650,000 newspaper clippings, and 30,000 photographs. This vast collection covers UFOs, ufology, Forteana, cryptozoology, paranormal phenomena, and folklore, making it an invaluable resource for researchers worldwide.

Research Interests and Methodology

Blomqvist's scholarly approach to UFO research distinguishes him within the field. His special interests focus on contactee cases, the psychological and religious dimensions of UFO encounters, and the relationship between the UFO phenomenon and esoteric/theosophical traditions. Unlike more sensationalist approaches, Blomqvist emphasizes rigorous documentation, historical context, and the cultural frameworks within which UFO narratives emerge.

His academic background in history of religion and philosophy informs a nuanced view that treats UFO experiences not merely as anomalous physical events but as culturally significant phenomena deserving serious scholarly examination. He has written extensively on how esoteric traditions, particularly theosophy, intersect with UFO belief systems and contactee narratives.

Published Works

Blomqvist has authored several significant works on UFO research and related phenomena:

• UFO – i myt och verklighet (UFO: In Myth and Reality, 1993) — A foundational work examining the UFO phenomenon through both mythological and empirical lenses.
• Främlingar på vår jord: Ufokontakter i Sverige (Aliens on Earth: UFO Contacts in Sweden, 2009) — Compilation of Swedish contactee cases with historical analysis.
• En resa i tiden: UFO-Sveriges historia 1970–2010 (A Journey in Time: The History of UFO-Sweden 1970–2010, 2010) — Organizational history of Swedish UFO research groups.
• Gudarna återvänder: Ufo och den esoteriska traditionen (The Gods Return: UFOs and the Esoteric Tradition, 2013) — Exploration of connections between UFO phenomena and esoteric philosophy.
• Esotericism and UFO Research (2017) — Academic examination of how esoteric frameworks shape UFO interpretation.

His contributions to UFO studies are characterized by scholarly rigor, multilingual research capability, and a commitment to historical accuracy.

Legacy and Ongoing Work

Blomqvist maintains an active research blog where he publishes historical analyses, biographical sketches of notable ufologists, and methodological essays on UFO research practices. His blog serves as a valuable educational resource for both amateur enthusiasts and academic researchers. His work emphasizes the importance of primary source documentation, archival preservation, and treating UFO research with the same intellectual seriousness accorded to other historical and cultural phenomena.

Through AFU, Blomqvist has ensured that decades of UFO research—including rare documents, photographs, and testimonies—remain accessible to future generations of researchers. His contributions extend beyond individual scholarship to institution-building: AFU stands as a testament to his vision of UFO studies as a legitimate field of historical and cultural inquiry.