SWEDISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA:
An Inventory of Its Records and Collected Papers at the Minnesota
Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
| | |
| Creator: | Swedish Historical Society of
America, creator. |
| Title: | Society records and collected papers. |
| Dates: | 1854-1962 (bulk 1905-1951). |
| Abstract: | Correspondence, organizational papers, speeches and
articles, data on library holdings, and other records of an organization (founded in
1905) that was concerned with the preservation and documentation of Swedish history,
culture, and literature among and for Swedish-Americans. |
| Quantity: | 9.0 cubic feet (14 boxes, including 32
volumes). |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf
locations. |
The Swedish Historical Society of America (SHSA) was founded in Chicago on July 22,
1905. The name of the organization was then the Swedish-American Historical Society.
It was discovered, however, that an earlier, but at the time defunct, society
founded in 1889 was still officially listed among the Illinois corporations as the
Swedish-American Historical Society. This led the later organization to change its
name to the Swedish Historical Society of America, and it was so incorporated on
April 10, 1908. In 1921 the organization moved its headquarters to St. Paul,
Minnesota.
The objects of the society, as stated in its constitution of 1905, were to promote
the study of the history of the Swedes in America and of their descendants; to
collect a library and a museum along these lines; to issue publications relating to
their history; and to encourage the study of Swedish history and literature.
Although the Society's membership was national in scope, it never exceeded 500.
The history of the society can be divided into two periods: the Chicago period
(1905-1920) and the Minnesota period (1921-1934). Since the members of the society
were spread all over the United States, a core group carried out many of its
functions and activities. During the Chicago period these members were drawn mainly
from the Chicago area, and during the later Minnesota period several very active
members were from Minnesota. The annual meeting was always the society's main event.
The affair included a business meeting, a program, and a banquet. The papers that
were read at the annual meeting were generally printed in the society's yearbook.
The library collection and the yearbook publication were the society's principal
activities during the rest of the year.
The society received donations from authors, publishers, newspapers, and other
sources for its library. The material consisted of books, newspapers, periodicals,
pamphlets, and manuscripts. Since the society did not have a permanent library, the
collection was kept in storage until 1907, after which it was housed in the Swedish
Methodist Seminary at Evanston, Illinois. In 1918 it was transferred to the Denkman
Library of Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois, where it remained until its
final transfer to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1921.
During the Chicago period six yearbooks were issued over a period of ten years.
Volume seven, the issue published in Minnesota, appeared in 1922. It was then
published annually in Minnesota until 1928, when it was replaced by Swedish-American Historical Bulletin, issued quarterly
through 1932.
In 1920 representatives from the Swedish Historical Society of America conferred
about affiliation with the Minnesota Historical Society. At the last meeting held in
Chicago (April 9, 1920) the articles of agreement were accepted, and in January
1921, a contract was signed for the permanent deposit of the library at the
Minnesota Historical Society. The headquarters of the society was also moved to St.
Paul, Minnesota. In 1934 the Swedish Historical Society of America held its last
annual meeting; it became defunct soon thereafter. The society's book and periodical
collection was dispersed and is now at different repositories, with books relating
to the Swedes in Minnesota being kept at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Historical information was obtained from the records and from: Conrad Peterson,
"Twenty five years of the Swedish Historical Society of America. A Retrospect,"
Swedish American Bulletin 3:1 (1950), pp.1-23;
Gustaf N. Swan, "En Återblick" (address delivered at the 10th anniversary, 1915);
and Roy Swanson, "Our Predecessors," Swedish Pioneer
Historical Quarterly, 1:1 (1950), pp. 12-21.
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The records of the Swedish Historical Society of America are divided into three major
groups: the records of the society; materials collected by the society; and essays,
histories, and other writings. Records in Swedish are so indicated in the series
description; otherwise the papers are in English.
The society's own records document its history and development, membership,
collecting and publishing activities, and Swedish-Americans and their culture. They
include lists and catalog cards for the society's library.
Collected materials consist of manuscripts and miscellaneous material the society
collected for its library, including manuscripts, scrapbooks, and miscellany
(1882-1926) of writer Edward Sundell; correspondence, minutes, and financial records
(1886-1894) of the Swedish Linnaean Monument Association; annual reports, minutes,
and correspondence (1912-1915) of the Stringbergarne society; constitution and
membership records (1895-1898) of the Swedish Festival Chorus, Chicago; and
correspondence of the Swedish-American Republican State Club of Minnesota
(1902-1908).
The collection also includes essays, histories, and other writings by N. O.
Westergreen, C. M. Esbjorn, Alfred Sandell, G. N. Malm, Signe Ankarfelt, Carl
Springhorn, A. E. Sylvan, W. W. Thomas, A. A. Magnusson, Carl A. Olson, Johan A.
Enander, John Solomon Anderson, and S. M. Hill, and miscellany by or about a number
of other Swedish-Americans. There are also photostatic copies of letters (1854-1861)
from Illinois Central Railroad immigration agent Oscar Malmborg. The original
letters were owned by the railroad and are apparently in its possession.
Translations of selected documents from Swedish into English were made in 1997 by
John LaVine. The translations have been interfiled with the original documents in
their respective file folders.
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These documents are organized into the following sections:
| | |
| | Records of the Society |
| | Collections of the Society |
| | Essays, Histories, Other Writings |
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Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here].
Swedish Historical Society of America Records and Collected Papers. Minnesota
Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 1987; 2034A; 2777; 2791; 2821; 2836B; 3139; 3328; 3448; 3796;
5343; 9472; 11,082; 13,565; 14,879
Processing Information:
Processed by: Dagmar K. Getz, July 1983; David B. Peterson, May 1995
Catalog ID number: 990017327700104294
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 1 | Historical information and miscellany, undated and 1915, 1930,
1950. |
| | | Contains two articles and an address, as well as a variety of blank
stationery forms, postcards, pictures, and other miscellany related to
SHSA. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Organizational and related records, 1889, 1905-1921. |
| | | Contain information about the organization and functions of the SHSA.
They include an information circular to prospective members, both in
Sweden and the United States, as well as a proposal for a constitution,
lists of officials, articles of incorporation, the drawing for the
society's emblem, and the articles of agreement between the SHSA and the
Minnesota Historical Society. The articles of incorporation of 1889
concern the Swedish-American Historical Society, which was founded that
year but ceased existence soon after. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Proceedings: |
| | | Minutes, 1905-1916, 1931. 2 folders. |
| | | | Minutes of the organizational meeting (July 1905) and minutes,
reports, and resolutions from council, committee, and annual
meetings. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 11 | | Minute books, December 1923-December
1934. 2 volumes. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 1 | Addresses (speeches), 1906-1915, 1933. |
| | | Copies of addresses delivered at annual meetings and at the tenth
anniversary (1915). The addresses deal with the SHSA, Swedish-Americans
and their culture, Vinland, and related topics. There are also addresses
in honor of Carl A. Swendsen (1933) and John Ericson (1909). |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Manuscripts of SHSA yearbook articles, undated and 1908, 1910,
1915. |
| | | Peter Westerlund, "Reminiscences of a trip to Pike's Peak and Down the
Rio Grande in 1859 at the Time of the Pike's Peak Gold Craze" (1908),
including some biographical information on Westerlund; O. A. Linder,
"The Kensington Rune Stone" (1910); Marcus Skarstedt, "The Swedish
Student Life" (1910), in Swedish; Carl Ringius, "Jenny Lind in Hartford
and in the Valley of Connecticut" (1915); Alfred Thorsten Lindgren,
"Reminiscences of the Great Fire in Chicago, October 9, 1871 and of the
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel's Church" (this paper was
submitted, but never published in the yearbook). |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Correspondence: |
| | | Undated and 1905. |
| | | | Includes invitations to individuals and organizations to join the
society, and letters dealing with organizational matters. Many of
the letters are addressed to Axel Josephson, one of the leading
forces in organizing the society; in a few later letters its
secretary, C. A. Smith of Minneapolis, offered advice for
structuring the society. |
| | | 1906-1907. |
| | | | Deals with membership confirmations and recommendations, as well as
prospective library acquisitions. Vice Consul Gustaf Swan of Sioux
City, Iowa and A. E. Johnson of the Scandinavian American Line (New
York) are frequent letter writers. |
| | | January-April 1908. |
| | | | Includes letters discussing how to raise funds to purchase the
library of O. N. Nelson, Minneapolis. Several letters include
requests and acknowledgments for the yearbook. A letter from John
Root to Ernst W. Olson replies to a request for information on the
case known as Erik Norberg and others vs. the Bishop Hill Colony and
others. A summary of the affairs of the Swedish settlement at Bishop
Hill, Illinois is included. |
| | | May-December 1908. |
| | | | Deals to a large extent with membership drives, and includes a
circular letter sent to prospective members in the United States.
There are also letters concerning the visit and lecture by Professor
Oscar Montelius of Stockholm. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 2 | | 1909. |
| | | | Mainly concerns yearbook and membership matters. A letter from
Amandus Johnson is included. |
| | | 1910. |
| | | | Includes letters from Swedish-American lodges replying to a
membership appeal. A letter from J. E. Osborn discusses the
Kensington Rune Stone, and a letter from Ernst Skarstedt gives
information on William Nemos. |
| | | 1911-1912. |
| | | | Includes a letter from professor A. A. Stomberg of the University of
Minnesota with advice on getting Scandinavian languages into the
curricula of the Chicago schools. He refers to how it was done in
Minneapolis and includes a list of societies that requested
Scandinavian languages in Minneapolis high schools. |
| | | 1913-1918. |
| | | | Deals with miscellaneous matters. |
| | | 1923-1951. |
| | | | Concerns membership dues; SHSA publications and printing orders;
Peter Cassel, a Swedish immigrant and pioneer at New Sweden, Iowa;
and the disposition of the SHSA library collection (1940s) after the
organization became inactive. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Financial records: |
| | | General materials, 1905-1916. 2 folders. |
| | | | Includes bank statements, bills, receipts, and reports. The
treasurer's report also includes names of members who paid their
dues. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 11 | | Treasurer's book, 1920-1934. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 2 | Insurance documents, 1908-1912. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 3 | Membership records, undated and 1905-1915. 2 folders. |
| | | Consists of membership lists, cards, applications, and renewal forms. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 4 | Periodical, newspaper, and book lists, undated. 2 folders. |
| | | Loose-leaf lists of periodicals and newspapers held by the society,
including lists of issues missing from the holdings. The lists are
arranged alphabetically by states and cities. Two lists of books
collected and donated by Alfred Söderström are also included, as are
other book lists and book reviews, biographical information on authors,
and publishers' advertisements. |
| | | Also included are notes on books wanted by or recommended for the
library. Lists of religious periodicals, arranged by denomination, and
of secular periodicals such as school papers, organizational
publications, yearbooks, and calendars are included as well. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 11 | Accession records: |
| | | Volume 1. Accession book no. 1, SHSA Library, 1907. |
| | | Volume 2. Accession book no. 2, SHSA Library, undated. |
| | | Volume 3. Accession book no. 3, SHSA Library, circa 1912. |
| | | Volume 4. Accession book no. 4, SHSA Library, 1913. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 13 | Catalog cards of books and periodicals: |
| | | Boxes 13 and 14 contain approximately 6,000 catalog cards for books in
the SHSA Library, and about 3,500 cards for periodicals, bulletins,
yearbooks, and reports. Cards for duplicates and separates are also
included. See also volumes 1-4, which are SHSA Library accession
books. |
| | | Catalog cards. 4 boxes. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 14 | | Catalog cards. 4 boxes. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 4 | Newspaper clippings: |
| | | Unbound clippings, undated and 1908-1909, 1930-1933.
|
| | | | Includes articles dealing with the emigration from Sweden, its causes
and reaction to it in Sweden, and biographical accounts of Swedish
immigrants in the United States. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | | Mounted newspaper clippings: |
| | | | Vols. 27 and 28 include newspaper clippings from the
Swedish-American, Swedish, and American presses containing
biographical information, obituaries, and current events. |
| | | | Volume 27. 1903-1909. |
| | | | Volume 28. 1909-1910. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 4 | Printed material, 1908-1912. |
| | | Includes a broken series of Scandia Life News
(1909-1911), the Swedish Engineers' Society of Chicago Newsletter (1908-1909), and Chronicles (Vol. 1, No. 1; February 1912), a
newsletter published by the Swedish Historical Society of America. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Miscellaneous papers, undated and 1927-1933. |
| | | Includes a list of members of the Swedish Hospital Association,
Minneapolis [ca.1930], copies of letters or articles (in Swedish)
submitted to the Swedish American press by Conrad Peterson (1930s), and
information about the SHSA library collection. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 13 | Miscellaneous material: |
| | | Preliminary financial information, 1907. |
| | | Bibliographic notes relating to proposed additions to the
SHSA library, undated. 12 items. |
| | | Card (in Swedish): Officers and committee assignments of the
Swedish-American Historical Society, 1907-1908. |
| | | Constitution and council of Swedish-American Historical
Society, undated. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Biblioteca Historica Suco-Gothica of C.G.
Warmholz: Register, 1889. 1 volume. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | Volume 29. Catalog of books and household items belonging to Axel Lindegard,
Hallock, Minnesota, 1911. |
| | | Includes photographs. |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 5 | Biographical information: |
| | | Contains biographical data collected for the book History of the Swedes in Illinois (Chicago, 1908). The
material, in the form of questionnaires and letters, is arranged
alphabetically by subject surname. |
| | | A-M. 13 folders. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 6 | | N-Y; Lists and printed material. 8 folders. |
| | | Lists and printed material, undated and 1907-1908.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 7 | Edward Sundell papers and writings: |
| | | Edward Sundell was born in Sweden in 1859. He came to North America in
1880 and, after a brief residence in Newfoundland and Chicago, lived in
New York City until his 1929 death. For several years he served as the
private secretary of Chauncey M. Depew, United States senator and
president of the New York Central Railroad. |
| | | Papers (foldered): |
| | | | The papers include Sundell's literary manuscripts (plays, articles,
poems, and songs), fragmentary diaries and notes, scrapbooks, and
mounted newspaper clippings. Many of his writings were published in
various Swedish-American newspapers and periodicals. The first
folder contains biographical information on Sundell. |
| | | | Manuscripts and notes, undated. |
| | | | Poetry and articles, undated. |
| | | | Drama and poetry, undated. |
| | | | Poetry, undated and 1887-[1920s?].
|
| | | | Articles, undated and 1893.
|
| | | | Music, undated. |
| | | | Clippings and telegram, undated and 1891-1922.
|
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 11 | | Writings: |
| | | | Volumes 5-16 contain Sundell's writings from New York, Newfoundland,
and Chicago, and from his travels abroad and in the United States.
They consist of poetry, essays, reminiscences, and newspaper
clippings of articles and poetry published in Nordstjernan and other publications. Volume 17 is a
scrapbook of newspaper clippings containing biographical sketches
and portraits of various persons. Because of its similarity to other
material in the collection, it has been assumed that this scrapbook
also belonged to Sundell. Sundell wrote in both English and
Swedish. |
| | | | Volume 5. Writings and newspaper clippings, 1887-1893, |
| | | | Volume 6. Poems and essays, 1882-1900. |
| | | | Volume 7. Writings, undated. |
| | | | Volume 8. Poems, undated. |
| | | | Volume 9. Poems, undated. |
| | | | Volume 10. Poems and reflections, 1907-1910. |
| | | | Volume 11. Poems, reflections, and reminiscences, 1912-1914. |
| | | | Volume 12. Poems, undated. |
| | | | Volume 13. Poems and newspaper clippings of his writings, undated. |
| | | | Volume 14. Poems and newspaper clippings of his writings, 1922-1924. |
| | | | Volume 15. Poems, undated and 1925. |
| | | | Volume 16. Scrapbook, undated. |
| | | | | Includes some poems by Sundell. |
| | | | Volume 17. Scrapbook of mounted clippings, undated. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 8 | Swedish Linnaean Monument Association records: |
| | | An association founded in Chicago in 1887 to erect a monument in Lincoln
Park to honor the Swedish naturalist Carl von Linné. |
| | | Proceedings, undated and 1887-1892.
|
| | | | Includes historical data, the constitution (in Swedish), proceedings,
committee and financial reports, and an inventory of items placed in
the pedestal of the Linné Monument. |
| | | Correspondence, undated and 1886-1892.
|
| | | | Includes a circular letter announcing the plans for the monument and
urging Swedes in the United States to contribute, and several
letters in Swedish from Otto Meyer of Stockholm, whose firm cast the
sculptures. Each of the 26 Meyer letters has been summarized in
English by John LaVine. |
| | | Financial records, undated and 1887-1892.
|
| | | | Receipts, financial reports, and an estimate of the cost of the
monument (in Swedish crowns). Lists of people selling tickets to
raise money, and of Swedish societies contributing to the monument,
are also included. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | | Volume 18. Minute book, 1887-1894. |
| | | | Lists the association's officials and committees. The minutes
(1887-1894) include discussions of fund-raising and give accounts of
the different fund-raising events. The location of the monument in
Lincoln Park is also discussed. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | The Swedish Festival Chorus (Chicago) records: |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 8 | | Constitution and bylaws, undated. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | | Volume 19. Constitution and bylaws, 1895-1897. |
| | | | Includes lists of chorus members. |
| | | Volume 20. Lists of chorus members, 1897-1898. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 8 | Strindbergarne records: |
| | | Records of a society founded in Chicago in 1912 to increase knowledge of
the Swedish author August Strindberg's writings. |
| | | 1912-1915. |
| | | | Include annual reports (1912 and 1913) and correspondence (1912-1915)
dealing mostly with membership and sale of tickets to performances
of Strindberg's plays. One letter is from Axel Lundegard, who
offered to hold a lecture on Strindberg's religious ideas and
Emanuel Swedenborg's influence on him. Included also are membership
lists, the essay "Was August Strindberg Mad," and a prologue by
Jakob Bonggren read at the performance of Strindberg's "Paria" in
Chicago on May 2, 1914. It also includes a program from the
Strindberg Evening, January 24, 1915, a facsimile of a letter by
Strindberg from the 1880s, and newspaper clippings. |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | | Volume 21. Minute book, 1913. |
| | | | Contains minutes from six meetings, and a list of members in the
Chicago area. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 8 | Swedish-American Republican State Club (Minnesota) records, 1902-1908, 1924. |
| | | Correspondence, mostly responses to a circular letter of May 6, 1902
about organizing the club. Letters are addressed to C. O. Alexius Olson,
club secretary. A 1924 letter to professor A. A. Stomberg, who was then
president of the SHSA, includes information on founding the club and on
the SHSA. There are also newspaper clippings with biographical
information (in Swedish) on Swedish-American members of the 33rd (1903)
Minnesota legislature. There is a program for a banquet given in St.
Paul by the club for the Swedish-American legislators, and a newspaper
clipping that lists the members who were present. The clippings have
been translated into English. They are believed by the translator to
have been taken from Svenska Folkets
Tidning. |
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| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 8 | Westergreen, N. O.: "Swedish Methodism in America"
manuscript, 1895. 2 folders. |
| | | A history written on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Swedish
Methodism in America. Rev. N. M. Liljegren wrote the chapters on
Methodist beginnings and development in England, and Rev. N. O.
Westergreen wrote the chapters on Swedish Methodism. These two folders
contain the manuscript draft (in Swedish) of Westergreen's chapters.
Translator LaVine has excerpted in English all Minnesota references that
he found in the manuscript, and notes that the manuscript itself appears
to be incomplete in that there is no ending. A published copy of Svenska metodismen i Amerika is in the
Minnesota Historical Society book collection. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 9 | Esbjorn, C. M.: "The Founding and Growth of the Oldest Swedish
American Educational Institution in America," 1910, 1911. |
| | | A manuscript copy of an address delivered in Swedish at the fiftieth
anniversary of Augustana College and Theological Seminary, Rock Island,
Illinois. It also includes two letters from C. M. Esbjorn to A. F.
Anderson (1911) with instructions for printing the address. |
| | | Translator LaVine looked through only the footnote references. The only
reference he found to Minnesota (footnote no. 2 which refers to this
event, which is described on pages 2-3 of the manuscript) is to a
meeting in Chicago on April 4, 1900 attended by the "Chicago,
Mississippi & Minnesota Conferences." This meeting was the origin of
the Swedish-American Augustana Lutheran Synod. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sandell, Alfred: "A Historical Letter," 1916. |
| | | Essay giving a critical view of the Augustana Synod, particularly in
Denver, Colorado. It also deals with the author's book about the history
of the Swedes in America. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Malm, G. N.: Charli Johnson,
1909. 3 folders. |
| | | Manuscript copy (in Swedish) of a novel which gives a picture of
Swedish-American life in the 1890s. There is an English version of the
novel in the Minnesota Historical Society book collection. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ankarfelt, Signe: Manuscript and newspaper clippings, undated and 1921-1923. |
| | | Manuscript of two tales, and mounted newspaper clippings of the author's
writings published in Svenska Amerikanaren
Tribunen (1921-1923). |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Springhorn, Carl: Notes for the book History of the New Sweden Colony (1878), undated. |
| | | Includes copies of documents and maps from the 17th century. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sylvan, A. E.: Translations of writings on Swedish Colonization
in America, undated. |
| | | Translations into Swedish of sections of mainly Dutch writings that
include descriptions of Swedish colonization in America and their
conflict with the Dutch in the mid-17th century. A section from
Beauchamps Plantagenet's Description of the
Province New Albion is also translated. The translations were
made from originals at the Lenox Library, New York. There is also an
extract from page 13 of the "Relations...and the Missions of the Fathers
of the College of Jesuits" (Paris, 1649). Translations of this material
into English have not been made. Sylvan, a linguist, was evidently
fluent in English, Dutch, and French. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 10 | Oscar Malmborg papers, 1854-1861. |
| | | Letters from Oscar Malmborg to A. E. Burnside, Illinois Central Railroad
treasurer. Malmborg was an early emigration agent in Scandinavia, and
the letters were written while he visited Sweden and Norway as an agent
for the Illinois Central to create interest in the company's land,
especially in Illinois. The letters are copies of the originals, which
are in the possession of the Illinois Historical Society. An excerpt
from The History of the Swedes in Illinois,
chapter 10: "The Swedes in the Civil War," provides biographical
information on Malmborg, who returned from Scandinavia to serve in the
Civil War. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | W. W. Thomas papers, undated and 1927. |
| | | Address given at the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Hampton Roads
(1862), of which Thomas had personal recollections. The main part of the
address deals, however, with the funeral of John Ericson. Included are
four letters (1927) from Thomas to Dr. Hägglund, minister of the Swedish
Evangelical Lutheran Vasa Church in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and a
newspaper clipping with biographical information on Thomas, who was the
American ambassador to Sweden during the Civil War, and who was
instrumental in the settlement of New Sweden, Maine. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | A. A. Magnusson papers, 1857, 1878, 1882-1909. |
| | | Magnusson was born in Sweden in 1841. He emigrated to the United States,
was pastor for Missionsförbundet, and later belonged to the Augustana
Synod. He contributed to the Swedish newspapers Nordstjernan and Missionsvennen.
He was for a time the treasurer of the Children's Home in
Jamestown, New York, and chairman of the Philadelphia district of the
New York Conference. He also lived in Cincinnati, Ohio and Brooklyn, New
York, where he died in 1908. |
| | | The papers contain reminiscences and an essay "The Journey of Swedish
Immigrants to the U.S., Their Arrival and Experiences There." Included
also are sermons and addresses, as well as correspondence (undated and
1882-1909); and newspaper clippings of an article written by Magnusson
in Nordstjernan. Three copies of Evangelisten (March 31, 1857, April 15, 1857,
and April 30, 1857) and one copy of Det Rätta
Hemlandet (March 5, 1857) are included. |
| | | There are guidelines and suggestions (in Swedish) for a constitution for
a Christian convention in Skäninge, Sweden in 1878. This material
actually consists of minutes of a meeting held on October 14, 1878 in
Skäninge to establish a "Christian Church...supported by biblical
principles...where Christ is its head." Magnusson is listed as one of
those present. |
| | | There is a translation of a Swedish language note continued in the papers
that includes background information on Magnusson. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 12 | Volume 22. Carl A. Olson writings, undated. |
| | | Travel accounts in Swedish written in a poetic format. |
| | | Carl Olson (1858-1927) was born in Sweden and in 1869 came to Omaha,
Nebraska with his parents. In 1882 he took a homestead in Saunders
County, Nebraska. He married Albertina Anderson in 1883. Olson traveled
to Palestine, Sweden, and other European countries. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Volume 23. Johan A. Enander poems, undated. |
| | | Includes some poems on the Chicago fire (1871), Swedish singer Kristina
Nilsson, American Presidents U. S. Grant and J. A. Garfield, and poems
dealing with immigration. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Volume 24. John Solomon Anderson. Nils from Orsa, or
when Lucifer kidnapped Kristina from Mora Strand,
undated. |
| | | A story about life and tradition in the Swedish province Dalarna, based
on folklore of that region. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Volume 25. S. M. Hill, Penitentiary Pointers,
undated and 1899-1918. |
| | | Includes poetry and essays written by Rev. S. M. Hill. Part one:
"Dedicated to All Followers of the Prince of Peace"; part two:
"Dedicated to Profiteers, War Maniacs and Such Ilk." |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Volume 26. Virgil's Aeneid translated into
English hexameter, by S. M. Hill. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Location | Box |
| P1432 | 10 | Miscellany: |
| | | "A Resume of Chicago's Earliest History and the Origin of its
Name," undated. |
| | | | Anonymous handwritten manuscript. |
| | | Bylaws of the Svithiod Singing Club of Chicago, undated. |
| | | "Chicago: A Field for the Methodist Episcopal Church," undated. |
| | | | Pages 34 and 35 of this report deal with the Swedish constituency and
a description of work with Swedish people in Chicago. |
| | | Josephson, Baner, Bonggren, Dahlen, and Anonymous, undated and 1883-1911.
|
| | | | Six songs by J. A. Josephson, translated into English by Ernst W.
Olson; "Valaskrift och Vanaheim" and "Ragnarok," two poems in
Swedish by J. G. R. Baner on old norse mythology (Baner wrote under
the pseudonym Johan Fornmo); newspaper clippings of poems in Swedish
by Jakob Bonggren (undated and 1883-1884, 1887); text and music to
the song "Samla in Barnen," by Reverend Carl Dahlen, Swedish Baptist
Church, Lake View, Chicago; "To [sic] Late" and "The Nameless
Grave," two anonymous essays. |
| | | Miscellany: School newspapers, confirmation certificate,
etc., undated and 1905-1913.
|
| | | | Includes Iduna, a Bethany College
newspaper in Swedish (1905) (handwritten copy of first issue, first
volume of the newspaper of the Iduna Society of Bethany College,
Lindsborg, Kansas, March 20, 1905); Svea,
a Round Rock, Texas school newspaper in Swedish (1909); Philomath, a school newspaper in English
(1909). Svea and Philomath appear to be related, as there is a specific
reference to Philomath in the first
paragraph of Svea, which appears to
have published just this one issue. Both were issued at Trinity
College, Round Rock, Texas, an Augustana Synod-supported school. |
| | | | There is a list of Olaf Bjorkman's sculpture work, including some
biographical information; biographical information on Ernst Hugo
Rehmer; genealogical information on the Carleson family prepared by
Fannie J. Platt Scott; a list of Swedish-born residents of Chicago,
and a list of Swedish-Americans, both based on Släktkalendern (1913); a blank confirmation certificate;
and two catalogs for dentists' and jewelers' furniture made by a
Swedish-American manufacturer. |
| | | Unidentified register of names, undated. |
| | | Längasjö Historical Society visit to Minnesota, June 1962. |
| | | | Four items (in Swedish) from a 1962 Svenskarnas Dag visit to
Minnesota of representatives of the Längasjö (Kronoberg Province,
Sweden) Historical Society. Includes official greetings from the
Kronoberg County governor and Bishop Elis Halmeström of the Växsjö
See, a sermon given by a Swedish pastor at Minnehaha Park
(Minneapolis), and a group itinerary. All Svenskarnas Dag items
(except the sermon) have been translated into English. |
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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics,
persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Great fire, Chicago, Ill., 1871.
- Kensington Rune Stone.
- Methodists, Swedish.
- Swedish American literature.
- Swedish American Lutherans.
- Swedish American periodicals.
- Swedish Americans.
- Swedish Americans -- Biography.
- Swedish Americans -- Genealogy.
- Swedish literature.
- Places:
- Bishop Hill Colony (Ill.).
- Chicago (Ill.).
- Sweden -- Emigration and immigration.
- West (U.S.) -- Description and travel.
- Persons:
- Anderson, John Solomon.
- Ankarfelt, Signe.
- Banér, Johan G. R. (Johan Gustave Runeskeold), 1861-1938.
- Bjorkman, Olaf.
- Bonggren, Jakob, 1854-1940.
- Dahlen, Carl O.
- Depew, Chauncey M. (Chauncy Mitchell), 1834-1928.
- Enander, Joh. A. (Johan Alfred), 1842-1910.
- Esbjörn, Constantin Magnus, 1858-1911.
- Erickson, John, 1803-1889.
- Hill, Samuel M.
- Johnson, A. E.
- Johnson, Amandus.
- Josephson, Aksel G. S. (Aksel Gustav Salomon), 1860-1944.
- Josephson, Jacob Axel, 1818-1880.
- LaVine, John (Charles John), 1925-2018, tr.
- Leiv Eiriksson, -approximately 1020.
- Lindegard, Axel.
- Lind, Jenny, 1820-1887.
- Linder, Oliver Anderson, 1862-1939.
- Lindgren, Alfred Thorsten, 1852-.
- Magnusson, A. A.
- Malm, G. N. (Gustav Nathaniel), 1868-1928.
- Malmborg, Oscar, 1820-1880.
- Meyer, Otto.
- Montelius, Oscar, 1843-1921.
- Nemos, William.
- Olson, Carl Alfred, 1858-1927.
- Olson, Ernst Wilhelm, 1870-.
- Ringius, Carl.
- Root, John, 1849-.
- Sandell, Alfred.
- Skarstedt, Marcus.
- Smith, Carl A.
- Söderström, Alfred, 1848-1928.
- Springhorn, Carl.
- Stomberg, Andrew Adin, 1871-.
- Strindberg, August, 1849-1912.
- Sundell, Edward, -1929.
- Swan, Gustaf N. (Gustaf Nelson), 1856-1938.
- Swendsen, Carl Johan, 1862-.
- Sylvan, A. E.
- Thomas, William Widgery, b. 1839.
- Westergreen, N. O., b. 1834.
- Westerlund, Peter, 1839-.
- Organizations:
- Augstana College and Theological Seminary (Rock
Island, Ill.).
- Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Church (Chicago, Ill.).
- Lăngasjö Historical Society (Kronobergs län, Sweden).
- Stringbergarne (Chicago, Ill.).
- Svithiod Singing Club (Chicago, Ill.).
- Swedish-American Historical Society (1905-1908).
- Swedish-American Republican State Club.
- Swedish Linnaean Monument Association (Chicago, Ill.).
- Types of Documents:
- Genealogies.
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