Swedish American Genealogist
Volume 27 | Number 3 Article 1
9-1-2007 Full Issue Vol. 27 No. 3
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Recommended Citation (2007) "Full Issue Vol. 27 No. 3," Swedish American Genealogist: Vol. 27 : No. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/swensonsag/vol27/iss3/1
This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Swedish American Genealogist by an authorized editor of Augustana Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. (ISSN 0275-9314)
A journal devoted to Swedish American biography, genealogy, and personal history
Volume XXVIISeptember 2007 No.3 CONTENTS
Family Ties to the Dakota Uprising. Part 2 ...... 1 by Helene Leaf
Copyright © 2007 (ISSN 0275-9314) A memory of Nils William Olsson ...... 5 by Robert P. Anderson Swedish American Genealogist “The Honorable Exception”: Elder Blomberg .. 7 Publisher: by John Norton Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296 Handwriting Example XV ...... 10 Telephone: 309-794-7204. Fax: 309-794-7443 E-mail: [email protected] News from the Swenson Center ...... 11 Web address: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/ by Elisabeth Thorsell
Editor: Elisabeth Thorsell Bits & Pieces ...... 13 Hästskovägen 45, 177 39 Järfälla, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] A Family from Östra Husby ...... 14 By Anders Köhler Contributing Editor: Peter S. Craig. J.D., F.A.S.G., Washington, D.C. Swedes in Hollywood before WWII ...... 16 by Agnieska Stasiewicz ...... Editorial Committee: H. Arnold Barton, Carbondale, IL The Old Picture ...... 21 Dag Blanck, Uppsala, Sweden Dennis L. Johnson, Pottstown, PA Handwriting Example XV, solution ...... 22 Ronald J. Johnson, Madison, WI Christopher Olsson, Stockton Springs, ME The dream came true ...... 23 Priscilla Jönsson Sorknes, Minneapolis, MN by Lois Haraldsen
Swedish American Genealogist, its publisher, editors, Book Reviews ...... 24 and editorial committee assume neither responsibility nor liability for statements of opinion or fact made by Interesting Web Sites ...... 29 contributors. Genealogical Queries ...... 30 Correspondence. Please direct editorial correspon- dence such as manuscripts, queries, book reviews, Acknowledging the Octogenarian Resource .. 31 announcements, and ahnentafeln to the editor in by P. Robert Willey Sweden. Correspondence regarding change of address, back issues (price and availability), and advertising should The Last Page ...... 32 be directed to the publisher in Rock lsland.
Subscriptions. Subscriptions to the journal are $28.00 per annum and run for the calendar year. Single copies are $8.00 each. Swenson Center Associates are entitled to a special discounted subscription price of $15.00. Cover picture: Direct all subscription inquiries to the publisher in Rock The Monitor again meets with the Merrimac, but this time in Island. Filipstad in July 2007 (Photo: E. Thorsell) In Sweden the subscription price is 225.00 Swedish kronor per year for surface delivery and 275.00 kronor per year for air mail. This subscription fee may be deposited in a plusgiro account: 260 10-9, Swedish American Genealogist, c/o Thorsell, Hästskovägen 45, S-177 39 Järfälla, Sweden. Family Ties to the Dakota Uprising – Minnesota 1862, Part 2
Connections to the Lundborg and Broberg victims
BY HELENE LEAF
When I was searching for informa- ioner who said that she was related County, Minnesota. Using the census tion about Mary Anderson, I asked to John through the Wahlstroms. At records through Ancestry.com at a Pastor Robert Kruger if he had any that time I had no idea who the local library and church records at memories of people talking about an Wahlstroms were so that information the Swenson Center, I was able to East Union person who was killed in was filed away somewhere in the determine that Anna Wahlstrom, the Sioux uprising. Pastor Kruger back of my mind for about thirty daughter of Ingri and Olof, had had served for many years at the years. In the past few years I had married August Lundborg at West East Union Lutheran Church, Car- found out who the Wahlstroms were, Union where both had been born, ver Co., Minnesota, but now he is but not how this parishioner was confirmed, and started to raise a retired. He said that he did not connected to the Wahlstroms. Last family. They had lived for some time remember any connection with the year I decided to figure this out. in Isanti County and then had moved East Union Church, but he thought John’s great-grandmother, Katarina to Wright County and belonged to the that there was something about the Carlsdotter, had a sister, Ingri, who Stockholm Lutheran Church. The Lundborgs from West Union being married Olof Wahlstrom. Ingri and parishioner from Dunnell was a connected with the Massacre. Im- Olof had married in Geneva, Illinois, daughter of Anna and August Lund- mediately I thought this is something but eventually moved to San Fran- borg, as was confirmed by census to investigate as my husband had cisco Township, Carver County, Min- records and church records from family ties to the Lundborgs at West nesota, and joined West Union Salem Lutheran Church, Dalbo, Union Lutheran Church which is just Church. The West Union Church Isanti County, and Stockholm Lu- about 8 miles from the East Union records were lost in a fire in 1943 so theran Church, Wright County, Min- Lutheran Church. the best source for following these nesota. In 1970 at my husband’s first people was gone. parish in Dunnell, Martin County, I turned to following the family in Who were the Minnesota, there was one parish- U.S. censuses. I was able to get the names and approximate ages of their Lundborgs? children. The boys I could follow in At this point the research stopped federal censuses, but with the girls, until Pastor Kruger’s remark. I had I lost their trail. read about the Lundborgs who had been killed at the Broberg house in Mystery solved August 1862 during the Indian uprising. Now to find out if there was The breakthrough came in January a family tie. Because the West Union 2006 when my husband handed me Church records were not available, I a photo of his grandmother. This looked on the Rootsweb.com website Hennepin Co., photo had been given to John by the (Minneapolis) for Carver County; there is a listing parishioner from Dunnell; it had of the readings from the West Union been her mother’s. On the back were Lutheran Church Cemetery. There Carver Co., these words, “to my cousin Anna Minnesota were the names of many Lundborgs. Lundborg.” Now I had a last name For several of them exact birth dates and a place. I knew this parishioner and places, and death dates and had been raised mostly in Wright
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 1 places were given. Three of the names matched perfectly with the three Lundborgs who were at the West Lake cabins in August 1862 but escaped being killed: Anders the fa- ther, Johannes the oldest brother, and Samuel the youngest brother. Tombstones help The tombstones said that the Lund- borgs were born in Tumberg, Väster- götland. A check of the birth records and HFL in Tumberg confirmed that these Lundborgs in the West Union Cemetery were the ones who had survived the massacre and that the three Lundborg brothers who died at the Broberg cabin were part of this Membership records for the Anders Peter Broberg family, from the records of the Lebanon Luth family. Census records from 1870 and later confirmed that Samuel and Jo- Lars, b. 1840; Sara, b. 1842; Johan- home when young Peter Broberg (age hannes lived in Carver County near na, b. 1848; and Samuel, b. 1853. 7) ran up and said that Indians were the West Union Church. A look In 1858 three of the Lundborg at the Broberg cabins and were through the West Union Lutheran brothers, Johannes, Anders Petter, bothering the children who had been Church 50th Anniversary Book and Lars, immigrated to Minnesota. left at home. This was not cause for showed that they both had been In 1860 they claimed land by West great alarm but Anders Petter Bro- active in that congregation. There Lake at the western edge of Monon- berg and four of the Lundborg bro- were even pictures of them in the galia County (now northern Kandi- thers started for the Brobergs by book. yohi County). The following year taking a shortcut through the woods. A further study of the 1870 cen- their parents, Andreas Larsson and Daniel Broberg took the women and sus showed that Johannes and his Lena Johansdotter, brothers Gustaf children in the oxcart via the road. wife Christina were the parents of and Samuel, and sister Johanna left The Lundborgs did not take their August Lundborg who later married Tumberg and came to the brothers’ guns with them as Pastor Jackson Anna Wahlstrom. I had found the homestead near West Lake in Mon- advised them so as to not incite the family tie. Now I set out to find out a ongalia County, Minnesota. Also in Indians. Father Andreas Lundborg little more about these Lundborgs. 1861 two brothers, Anders Petter and forever after regretted that they had Daniel Petter Broberg, and their not taken their guns. He took his gun Origins in Sweden families emigrated from Södra Här- and also headed to the Broberg ene, Älvsborg län. Södra Härene is cabins. In the Tumberg records we find the close to Tumberg, and the families When Anders Petter and the family living at Lund Västergården. probably knew each other in Sweden. Lundborgs arrived at the cabin, they The parents were Andreas Larsson, The Broberg brothers each claimed found that they knew all of these b. 28 Feb. 1812, and Lena Johans- 80 acres of land about two miles west Indians and started talking to them. dotter, b. 11 Oct. 1810. The children of the Lundborgs just over the line All of a sudden the Indians opened listed were: Johannes, b. 1832; An- in what is today Swift County. Two fire, killing Anders Petter Broberg, ders Petter, b. 1837; Gustaf, b. 1839; other families from this same area his brother-in-law Johannes Nilsson, in Sweden also settled in this area; Anders, Gustav, and Lars Lundborg, they were the Sven Öman and Olle and four small children. The young- Larsson families. All the families est Lundborg brother, Samuel, was became members of the Norway shot; he pretended to be dead even Lake parish which had been founded when the Indians went through his in 1859. There was no church build- pockets and beat him with their ing so services were held in homes. guns. He survived. Andreas Lundborg arrived on the Indians were coming scene with his gun, but was badly On Wednesday, August 20, 1862, outnumbered and fled. The Indians Pastor Andrew Jackson was holding fired at him, but they did not hit him. Kullings-Skövde church, which was also a morning service at the Lundborg They stopped chasing and shooting used by the people of Tumberg. 2 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 shores of Norway Lake. On Thursday Johannes and some of the others returned to the Broberg cabin to bury the dead, but there were too many Indians around, and they returned to the survivors hiding in the grass. That evening they gathered with other settlers on an island in Norway Lake to spend the night; this island is to this day called Isle of Refuge. On Friday the survivors returned to bury the dead. Sam was not there; he had revived and crawled into the cellar for the night and then hid in the woods. He eventually was found by the Öman family. The people on the island had intended to leave on heran Church, New London, Kandiyohi Co., Minnesota. Microfilm R74 from Swenson Center. Friday, but there were too many Indians around and they returned to at him as Daniel Broberg came near. the Indians rummaged through the the island for one more night. On Daniel Broberg was shot and killed. house. The Indians did not discover Saturday a group of 62 settlers set The Broberg wives and children them, and later at night these people off for St Cloud going by way of leaped from the wagon and ran for along with the other settlers hid in Paynesville. These people stayed in their lives. All were killed except one the woods and grassy areas. Andreas the St Cloud area and then Anoka child from each family: Peter from Lundborg had grabbed Anna Stina for a short time. The Brobergs and the D.P. Broberg family and Anna and ran towards his cabin; they and Lundborgs went to the Carver area Stina from the A. P. Broberg family. other members of the Lundborg where they had relatives. family hid in the grass nearby their Hiding in the cellar cabin. Johannes Lundborg ran to Many victims Peter Broberg ran to the home of warn Pastor Andrew Jackson who About twenty members of Pastor Sven Öman. He and this family hid was holding afternoon services at the Jackson’s parishes were killed. Ten under the trap door in the floor while home of Thomas Osmundson on the counties in Minnesota were emptied of white people and people in another eight counties were attacked. The refugees headed east; many of the Swedes went to Carver County and Goodhue County and remained there until it was safe to return in about three years. Andreas Lundborg and his wife returned to the West Lake area lat- er; she died there in 1870, and he died in the West Union area in 1899. Their daughter, Johanna, married Erik Paulson and lived in the Nor- way Lake area. Johannes and Sam- uel raised their families in the West Union area. Little Peter Broberg lived with the Lundborgs until after Christmas. Then he lived with John Ahlin in the West Union area until 1865 when Anna Stina Broberg married John Peterson (also a sur- vivor of the massacre) in Carver. They returned to live in the Norway Lake area. Peter Broberg lived with Map of the area where the Massacre took place. From “A Church is planted,” by Emeroy them until he was 14 and then he Johnson, (1948). Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 3 lived with Lars Larsson in the town discovered the family ties, I think Research Center, from the follow- of New London where he made his that I will have to visit these places ing churches: East Union Lu- home for the rest of his life. again and stop at some of the others. theran Church, Carver County, Minnesota; Lebanon Lutheran Monument in their Bibliography Church, New London, Kandiyohi Bishop (McConkey), Harriet E. County, Minnesota; Salem Lu- memory theran Church, Dalbo, Isanti The remains of the 13 people killed Dakota War Whoop: Or, Indian Massacres and War in Minnesota, County, Minnesota; Stockholm at West Lake were removed June 20, Lutheran Church, Wright County, 1891, from the scene of the massacre of 1862-63, Minneapolis, 1970 (Reprint of 1864 edition). Minnesota. and buried in the cemetery at Leba- Swedish church records from the non Lutheran Church in New Lon- Broberg, Peter, Collections, Swenson Swedish Immigration Research following parishes: Södra Härene, don. The State of Minnesota erected Älvsborg län, Kullings-Skövde, a monument at the cemetery August Center Archives, Augustana Col- lege, Rock Island, Illinois. Älvsborg län, Larv, Skaraborg län, 20, 1891, in remembrance of the Tumberg, Älvsborg län, and Herr- massacre. Bryant, Charles S. and Abel B. Murch, A History of the Great ljunga pastorat, Älvsborg län. Massacre by the Sioux Indians in United States Federal Censuses The memory lives Minnesota, Cincinnati 1864. 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, In 1927 the descendents of the Carley, Kenneth, The Dakota War of 1920, and 1930. Ancestry.com and survivors; Peter Broberg, Anna Stina 1862, Minnesota Historical So- NARA – Chicago branch. Broberg Peterson, the two Lundborg ciety Press, 1976. brothers, and their sister Johanna Cemetery records, West Union Lu- Lundborg Paulson, and others who theran Church, Carver County, on- lived in the area of West Lake (now line, Rootsweb. called Monson Lake) formed an Heard, Isaac V. D., History of the organization known as the Monson Sioux War and Massacres of 1862 Lake Memorial Association which and 1863, New York, 1863. met yearly for a number of years at Johnson, Emeroy, A Church is Plant- the site of the massacre. In 1937 a ed, the Story of the Lutheran Min- State Memorial Park was estab- nesota Conference 1851-1876, lished at this place. Lands Press, Inc. Minneapolis, A 1980 meeting included two 1948. Swedish descendents of one of An- Jubel-Album med en kort Historik till ders Petter and Daniel Petter Bro- Minne af Svenska Ev. Luth. West berg’s siblings who had remained in Union-Församlingens i Carver Sweden. The day’s events included Co., Minn. Femtioårs-Fest den 25 visiting the various Kandiyohi Coun- och 26 Juni 1908. Augustana Book ty sites, some of which have been Concern, Rock Island, Illinois. designated historical sites from the 1908. uprising: the Lundborg cabin, the Minne-Skrift öfver Skand. Ev. Luth. site of the Broberg cabins, the mo- East Union Församlingen vid hen- nument at the cemetery, the home of nes Femtioårs-Fest 23-24 Juni Anna Stina Broberg and John Peter- 1908, Augustana Book Concern, son, past the Isle of Refuge, and the Rock Island, Illinois 1908. Guri Endreson Memorial Shrine (an- Schipper, Martin Paul, Dale Rey- other good story). nolds, and Robert Lester, ed., Da- The State of Minnesota and sev- kota Conflict of 1862 Manuscript eral counties have created mon- Collections, Minnesota Historical uments, parks, interpretive centers, Society, Division of Library and and historical markers which tell the Archives, University Publications story of this uprising. Throughout of America, Bethesda, MD. 2001. southwest and west central Minne- Schwandt-Schmidt, Mary. “The Story sota, along the Minnesota River from of Mary Schwandt,” in Minnesota Fort Snelling to Big Stone Lake and Historical Society Collections, V. 6, The monument at New London, MN. some miles north and south of the P. 461-474, St Paul, 1915. (Photo: Earl Leaf.) river are signs of this chapter in Min- Swedish/American Church records, nesota history. I have been to some Swenson Swedish Immigration Helene Leaf lives in Moline, Ill., of these places, but now that I have E-mail:
This story about Nils William goes Our awakening to our Swedish early church documents of the Engle- back many years. The Olsson family heritage came near Christmas of that wood church, Chicago, and my grand- and my wife’s parents met in the year. Karna came down the steps to ma’s entry as a new member and im- early ‘20’s in Pennsylvania. The our place, costumed as St. Lucia, migrant. It was a thrill to see Nils’s family friendship continued for many wearing a crown with candles (real name commemorating him as Swed- years. live ones) and carrying a plate of jule- ish American of the Year. My contact with the family came bullar. We moved out about a year Subsequent visits have been to in 1941 when Nils’s brother Karl was later when veterans’ housing became the Uppsala and Vadstena archives. a Sunday School teacher at the available on campus. Since that time, Nils William was my Englewood Mission Covenant But, Nils had kindled my interest consultant and mentor. He was un- Church in Chicago. in genealogy. All my efforts through selfish in his guidance. We are Fast forward to 1946. After my family contacts had failed. No one saddened by his death but feel an marriage to Iris Swensson in ’46, we knew anything. In the early ‘70’s a everlasting debt to how he helped us were looking for a place to live near cousin found Grandpa Anderson’s im- to reconnect to our families in Swe- the campus of the Univ. of Chicago. migration paper. I sent it to Nils, and den. In ’47 – our first was born in June – he translated the document. I had a Nils and Dagmar offered to rent us a start. Robert P. Anderson one-room basement apartment at Our first visit to Sweden was in Ex. Dir. South Plains Foundation their home on Woodlawn Avenue, two 1978 to visit Iris’s family. We started Prof. Emeritus, blocks from the campus. We jumped our quest. First to the Swedish Emi- Texas Tech University at it. Greg and Chris were infants. grant Institute, Växjö. We found the E-mail: [email protected]
Mariann Tiblin, Eric Lund, and Kerstin Lane are studying Nils William Olsson’s meticulous scrapbooks from the 1948 Swedish Pioneer Centennial, now archived in the Swenson Center. October 2007. Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 5 Your link to your history!
Q: Where can I find the newly scanned church records for Fellingsbro? A: On the SVAR web site, look for the search window for Shortcuts – Scanned documents – Church records.
Q: My great grandfather was an officer in the army around 1870, where can I find a picture of him? A: On the SVAR website, look for the search window for Shortcuts – Data- bases, and then for Image databases – Krigsarkivet.
Q: Where can I buy the 1900 Swedish Census in English on a CD? A: On the SVAR web site, look for the Bookshop.
Q: My ancestors lived in Kisa parish in Östergötland. Where can I find documents before 1700 for that parish? A: The Tax census (mantalslängder) could be a choice. Go to Shortcuts – Scanned documents, and click on Tax census, and then chose Öster- götland county and the year you want. When the document opens you will find a link in the righthand margin with the parish names. Click on Kisa and the document opens at the start of the section for Kisa. www.svar.ra.se
How do I get access to all these resources? By contacting SVAR and getting a subscription. You can subscribe for just a single visit or anything up to a whole year. Contact us at [email protected] SVAR, Box 160, S-880 40 Ramsele, Sweden. Phone + 46-623-725 00. Fax + 46-623-726 05.
6 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 “The Honorable Exception”: Elder Anders Blomberg
From Janssonist Apostle to Shaker Elder and Recruiter
BY JOHN NORTON
The Shakers were one of the many der, and they do everything for them- between the communities continued. utopian sects that flourished in the selves. They believe the second On 18 July 1864, a Pleasant Hill jour- 1800s. They had in 1807 founded a coming of Christ is manifested in nal entry noted that “Mary Jacobs community in Pleasant Hill, Mercer them, and they believe the whole moved from the North to the West county, Kentucky. world is in darkness, but only they Family, and Louisa Hoard (Lovisa In 1848 they were visited by two have the true light and shall build Hård af Segerstad) left the North of the Janssonists, Anders (Andrew) the New Jerusalem, and can forgive Family to Bishop Hill, IL, from Blomberg and Olof Stoneberg. They sins in Christ’s place… and that they whence she came…” A 28 July entry had journeyed south from Illinois, shall live perfectly holy, like Christ notes “… The remainder of the Swede via New Harmony, Indiana, as part Jesus, for he that is born of God can- Lindeleaf (Lindelöv?) family went to of an organized effort to study Amer- not sin, and all other denominations the world, Anna and Louisa from the ican utopias, and establish rela- in the world they call “antichrist,” Center Family, and their mother tionships where possible. and they say that from the time the Charlotte – from the West Lot. The They wrote back to their leader followers of the apostles took part in Swedes, with few honorable excep- Erik Jansson on 3 April 1848, saying, darkness, the darkness has re- tions, have proved failures.” But the in part “…When we came to Louis- mained, and they receive us like Swedish Shaker experiment was not ville, Kentucky, it was like we had brothers.” yet over. come into another kingdom. There are nearly forty thousand inhabit- A move from Bishop Hill An honorable exception ants. There, we found five men from On 18 June 1855 Anders Blomberg, One of those “honorable exceptions” Sweden and one woman, and they by then the self-taught colony “doc- was former Janssonist apostle and were very hot against us in the tor,” left Bishop Hill, settling in self-taught doctor, now a Shaker beginning, especially since they had Pleasant Hill with his wife and two elder, Anders (Andrew) Blomberg. heard that it was we who were the of their daughters. He was quickly On 28 October 1866, during a ones that had burned books in Swe- followed on 27 July 1855 by six other “bark bread” famine year in Sweden, den…when we gave them our expla- new settlers from Bishop Hill, in- Pleasant Hill journals record a letter nation, they thought it over and cluding the four times-widowed An- from Meyer(?) Olof Olson in Dalarna, (found) we were not crazy. na Sophia Pollock Jansson, last wife Sweden, saying, “Come over and help “One said he would like to live of colony founder Erik Jansson, and us...there was a company there of 53 among us, and we did not deny him, her family. in number – including old and young but we must be of the same faith. The connections between Bishop – who had received faith by their He said he would write you. His Hill and Pleasant Hill remained epistolary correspondence with this name is George H. Collini. He was very good the following years, but in society, and they now want somebody storekeeper with Troline at Ovan- 1858 there was a decided cooling of to come from here and see them and åker in 1837-1838... And now we are relations, probably over the celibacy help them.” That “somebody” became among a colony they call Shakers. controversy in Bishop Hill, where West Lot Elder Andrew (Anders) They are about 300 men and women, the inhabitants had decided to aban- Blomberg, himself a native of Da- and they have all things in common, don that principle. In 1860 the larna, who set out alone a month la- and work as they are able. It is forty Bishop Hill colony was dissolved and ter, on 28 November 1866, after years since they began to settle here, lands and other assets distributed, having been duly commissioned, and and they are very fine people in na- not without many problems, funded with $555.00, of which ture, well-meaning and friendly. between the former colonists. $100.00 came from the Swedish West They have both land and fine build- Despite the Bishop Hill Colony’s Lot family itself. ings and keep everything in fine or- failure and desertions, exchange A 10 February 1867 journal entry
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 7 reported Anders Blomberg had …& began to wage persecution be- as a lay preacher, holding illegal written from Stockholm “… that his fore he left for home.” Four months “conventicles.” These soon came to brother Peter and wife of that City later, on 25 December 1867, Pleasant the unfavorable attention of local had confessed their sins, and the Hill “. . . made a donation to the poor, clergy and sheriffs. He moved to prospect was that many others there and sent $300.00 to the Believers in Alfta, Hälsingland, one of the breed- would follow their example. Good Sweden.” ing grounds of the new Erik Jans- news for Zion.” Thus began the Pleas- sonist movement. By February 1845 ant Hill Shakers’ ambitious foreign Anders Blomberg’s he had become a Janssonist apostle, recruiting effort. returning home to preach in Dalarna. Swedish background The parish vicar at Mora, P.G. Anders Blomberg goes Elder Blomberg had planted Shaker Svedelius brought him before the seeds in Sweden. But they yielded a church council for hearing on his il- to Sweden mixed harvest. A look at his back- legal preaching. He was dismissed as A Pleasant Hill journal entry of 4 ground explains why.1 parish tailor for his religious beliefs. August 1867 noted Blomberg had He was born 6 March 1818 at His case was then turned over to “…returned home from a preaching Myggsjö in Orsa Finnmark. He soon Crown authorities. Crown bailiff tour in Sweden, and brought one lost his father. His mother took him Robsahm felt Blomberg was insane, brother and seven visitors with him, to Västerås, where he was confirmed and summoned him to the Falun and reports about 110, including and became an apprentice tailor. Chancery. He was jailed, and exam- children, who have joined the Sha- After five years, he was apprenticed ined by both the County Governor kers in that land; but most of them to Falun, where he apparently and secretary, then brought to hea- have not the means to pay the developed a bad drinking habit. But, ring before the Mora District Court expenses of emigration to America & he came into contact with the “read- on 8 December 1845, where he hence they remain there for the pre- ers” (läsare) of that region, and joined verbally abused both the clergy and sent. This (Swedish Lutheran) a temperance society. After being Martin Luther. The county attorney Priesthood was bitterly opposed to licensed in his trade in 1840, he was forwarded court minutes to the Royal the doctrine of celibacy & the Second appointed parish tailor at Färnäs Sanity Board (Sundhetskollegium), appearing of Christ in Mother (Ann) near Mora, but also began working which on 3 May 1846, found him
Bishop Hill, Bishop Hill Street, Oct. 2007. 8 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 insane in respect to religion, and Sweden for Pleasant Hill. But Säl Per Footnotes recommended that he be institution- Olsson returned to his home area in 1 See Swedish historian Emil alized as a danger to the public. He the next year, recruiting some 63 Herlenius’s article series “Anders was sent to the Central Mental Hos- emigrants for Pleasant Hill, who Blomberg, Parish Tailor, Preacher pital in Uppsala after attempting to departed in 1868-69, some even il- and Emigrant” in the Swedish news- escape from jail. But by that summer, legally. paper Falu-Kuriren 1932-33, later he was freed on his wife’s appeal, and Initially, the experience of the new republished in the provincial genea- on 20 July 1846, received permission immigrants was positive. One, Tenn logical society’s Dalfolk nr. 2 1994. to emigrate with his family. They Margaret Larsson of Näset, who ar- Local historian Ewert Åhs also joined a large party of 164 Jans- rived in November 1869, wrote about published excerpts of letters from the sonists, including some 25 from Da- it later, after returning home to Swe- Älvdalen emigrants under the title larna, emigrating aboard the Solide den “... The place is well-situated, as “With Älvdal People Among the Sha- of Gävle, arriving New York on 14 its name indicates, on a beautiful kers in America,” in Skansvakten, 2 October 1846. His first visit to height, with a fine view in all direc- Elfdalens hembygdsförenings mid- Pleasant Hill came just 16 months tions. When the party approached, sommartidning, nr. 39 1954. Trans- later, as a Janssonist “apostle.” He Blomberg came out with another of lated manuscript at the Swenson left his post as self-taught Bishop Hill the Elders, George (Runyon?), and Swedish Immigration Research Cen- Colony doctor, and moved to Pleasant rode with us, asking if we were well, ter at Augustana College, Rock Is- Hill on 18 June 1855, followed on 27 after which they rode ahead, proba- land, IL; the Bishop Hill Heritage As- October by his daughter Sofia, Ca- bly to tell of our arrival. When we got sociation Archives, Bishop Hill, IL; therine Donaldson(?) (Carin/Kata- there, we were welcomed, and were Pleasant Hill; and the Illinois His- rina Danielsdotter?) and another treated to fine food in a great room. toric Preservation Agency, Spring- 3 Bishop Hill woman. The colony consisted of five large field, IL. By June of 1856, he felt firm farms, one called North Family, a 2 Nils William Olsson, Swedish enough in his new Shaker faith to West Family, a Center Family, a Passenger Arrivals in New York 1820- author the Shaker song, “Friendly Church Family, and a West Lot. We 1850, Chicago, Swedish Pioneer His- Exhortation,” recorded in Sister were to live at West Lot, where there torical Society, 1967, pp. 108-118. Betsy Spaulding’s book of 320 songs already were many Swedes who had 3 Pleasant Hill chroniclers Thomas written 1855-58 in Pleasant Hill. It’s come from Stockholm at the same D. Clark and F. Gerald Ham, in their second verse asked “... all ye simple time as Blomberg. In Pleasant Hill, book Pleasant Hill and Its Shakers, hearted, Who know your Mother’s it was quite nice, though it was Pleasant Hill, 1996, assume B. Dun- Name, Come praise the great re- winter when we were there, we saw lavy and George Runyon converted deemer, Who made us free from no shortages on the farms, and no one Anders during their 15-27 October shame. Show then to souls distres- needed to work too hard. But ac- 1855 trip from Pleasant Hill to Bish- sed, This new and living way, How cording to Shaker beliefs, they must op Hill. However, Anders had already they may find salvation, That will live as siblings, no one should own moved to Pleasant Hill almost four forever stay.” anything personally, everything was months earlier. He appealed to many “simple owned in common. There were other 4 Three Erik Janssonist families, hearted” in Dalarna during his 1866 colonies in the area of the same sect. a total of 17 persons, emigrated from 5 visit. But others were hostile, remem- One was called Lebanon.” Färnäs in 1846 with a large group bering his Erik Janssonist past. After Anders Blomberg stayed at Pleas- from the Falun-Malung area, bound a series of five meetings at Hemus, ant Hill, as one of the “honorable ex- for Bishop Hill. See Nils William Ols- 4 6 Östnor, Öna, Färnäs , and Garsås, he ceptions.” He made at least one more son, op. cit. pp. 83-85. left for the Älvdalen valley on 15 trip to Bishop Hill, where the Galva 5 Ewert Åhs, op. cit., translated March. There he won constable Säl News of 17 February 1881 reported manuscript pp. 7-8. Per Olsson of Holen, who joined his he had preached at the Old Colony 6 See roster of Swedish immigrants preaching efforts. Local clergyman C. Church the previous Sunday, as a to Pleasant Hill, compiled from Sha- J. Thunman, who had been fore- guest of former colonist Jonas Malm- ker records by archivist L. Curry. warned, called a church council gren. Filed at Pleasant Hill Archives and meeting on 31 March, and forbade In his later years, Elder Anders Bishop Hill Heritage Association “doctor” Blomberg (as he then called became ill. About ten days before his Archives, Bishop Hill, IL 61419. himself) from preaching. The warn- death on 26 December 1889, he was 7 See Emil Herlenius, op. cit. ing was enforced by sheriff C.U. found lying nearly senseless in a field Translated transcription, p. 10. Säfvenström during a meeting at a outside Pleasant Hill. When asked if nearby Baptist chapel. The sheriff he wasn’t afraid of wild hogs, he ordered Blomberg to leave, and his answered that he “…would get to John Norton lives in Moline, IL. host Säl Per drove him south, out of heaven, whether or not the hogs ate E-mail: [email protected] town. Both apparently soon departed him!”7 I suspect he made it!
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 9 Handwriting Example XV
This is a Lysnings-och vigselbok sheet of stamped paper, and collect parties involved had been married (banns and marriages book) from a fee for this. The amount varied before, then there is often a note that Nordmark in Värmland. according to the finances of the the probate of the deceased husband/ A couple usually married in the couple. The banns were read in wife had been shown to the clergy- bride’s home parish. When a couple church for three Sundays in a row, man and all estate matters were wanted to marry they had to go and and if anyone was opposed to this completed. see the local clergyman and he would marriage, this was the time to tell The solution to the handwriting is then write the banns (lysning) on a the clergyman. If one or both of the on p. 22.
10 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 News from the Swenson Center The 2007 Conference and 25th Anniversary
During the middle of October 2007 I buffet lunch and you could hear from scholarly, and also difficult to hear, had the opportunity to visit the the sound level that many found old due to the poor acoustics in Wallen- Swenson Swedish Immigration Re- friends and visited with them. A berg Hall. search Center in Rock Island, Illi- number of people formed a little SAG It would also have been fun if nois. I was able to spend some time corner and talked about old times in someone had given a lecture on the doing research in the Swedish-Amer- Salt Lake City. Ole, Lena, and Sven jokes, as they ican church records and newspapers. The last session of this education- might give another picture on how At the end of the week I was able al day comprised three more lec- Swedes regarded their Norwegian to take part of the seminar “Friends tures. These were held by Philip neighbors, and vice versa. and neighbors? Swedes and Norwe- Anderson of North Park University, It is to be hoped that the lectures gians in the United States,” organ- Chicago, Byron Nordstrom of Gus- will be published in the not too dis- ized by the Swenson Center. This tavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, tant future, so both those in the seminar had attracted a lot of people, Minn., and Ann Legried of Univer- audience and those who could not at- more than 120 individuals had reg- sity of Central Missouri, Warrens- tend, can take part of all this infor- istered for it, many more than for any burg, Missouri. mation. previous seminar. The Swedish- Afterwards concluding comments In the evening buses took the American Historical Society was also were given by Larry E. Scott of Au- conference attendees to Steventon’s one of the organizers. gustana College and by Dag Blanck, Restaurant in LeClaire, Iowa, for the The first part of the seminar was Director of Swenson Center. Anniversary Dinner to celebrate the a lecture on Friday evening, the O. As a member of the audience, I Swenson Center’s 25th year. Frithiof Ander Lecture in Immigra- found many things interesting, like An important part of the evening tion History. Dr. Thomas Tredway, Byron Nordstrom’s talk about the was the very excellent food, and nice President Emeritus of Augustana Swedes and Norwegians in Willmar, companions at the table, some old College, talked about “Pinching Minn., and Ann Legried’s about the friends, and some new ones too. Pennies in the Provinces: The Mid- Orphan Asylums, but some of the Elisabeth Thorsell Century Finances of an Immigrant subjects of the lectures were a bit too College,” which mainly was the story of how Augustana survived during World War II and the 1950s. Early next morning Professor H. Arnold Barton from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., opened the morning session with “Norwe- gians and Swedes in America: Some comparisons,” followed by a number of interesting lectures by Odd Lovoll from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., Terje Leiren from University of Washington, Seattle, and Jørn Brøndal from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, Den- mark. After a coffee break it was time for Mark Granquist, from Luther Semi- nary, St. Paul, Minn., and Ingeborg Kongslien from the University of Oslo, Norway, to give their views on the interaction between Swedes and Norwegians. Dr. Thomas Treadway, president emeritus of Augustana College, was one of the By then it was time for a nice speakers. (Photo by Christina Johansson).
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 11 Find your Swedish roots! over million images of original church records! 99.95 % of all existing Swedish Church Book records from 1600 - 1897 available online. Th e records include: SPECIAL • Birth records OFFER • Marriage records • Death records • Household Census • Moving in and out registers • Church accounts
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12 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Bits & Pieces
Changes at the Genealogy Days 2008 Ancestry.com has a American Swedish The annual Swedish Genealogy Days Swedish site (Släktforskardagarna) in 2008 will During the fall Ancestry has opened Institute take place in the city of Malmö. a Swedish-language site at The American Swedish Institute During the weekend of 30–31st Au- www.ancestry.se where you can (ASI) in Minneapolis is in a process gust there will be exhibitions, lec- search some Swedish databases, like of rethinking its mission. tures, demonstrations of computer the Passenger lists (same as Emig- Some of the results of this was the program and much more, open to the ranten Populär) and church records closure on 1 September 2007 of the public and free entrance. for Värmland. The list says Värm- library and archives. The archivist If you are planning a trip to Swe- land but it also contains records from Marita Karlisch left her job at the den at that time, do plan to join the Älvsborg, Skaraborg, and Göteborg same time. many genealogists that are coming och Bohus län, which makes your The local Swedish-American gene- to Malmö. SAG editor a bit doubtful about their alogists are not happy about this, www.malmo2008.se/enindex.htm and are considering moving their competence to handle Swedish rec- meetings elsewhere. ords. I have not been able to see the Cook County records to quality of the pictures of the church go online records as you have to have a World The Kinship Center in In an article in the Chicago Tribune Deluxe subscription to see them, Karlstad is moving the Cook County clerk David Orr is which I don’t have. The Kinship Center (Emigrantregist- cited as saying that at some time in Swedish Council of ret) in Karlstad, Sweden, has for January 2008 genealogists will be some years been housed in the same able to search online for copies of America has a new logo building as the Värmland Regional birth and death certificates and mar- and a new slogan Archives (Värmlandsarkiv) in a not riage licences. so central area of the city, which has The web site will be the home for made it difficult for many to find the the county’s 24 million vital records. Center. Now they will be moving to Records date back as far as 1871, as larger and very central facilities in earlier records were destroyed in the the county governor’s mansion by the big Chicago fire that year. Stortorget (Main Square) in Karlstad. The scanning and indexing of all The Kinship Center is also function- the records was completed in June, Your Swedish-American Connection ing as the Swedish office for Swedish and the county is uploading about a Council of America. million records each week, a process At the top is the three Swedish The director, Erik Gustavson, says that should be finished by the end of crowns and the three diamonds at that the move also will enhance the the year. the bottom symbolize the United possibilities for research, as many The web site will allow serches by States, Canada, and Sweden. collections that have been in boxes name, and once a proper person is for years now can be unpacked and found, the reseacher will have to pay Scandinavian Seminar used more easily. a fee to download the document and works with SCA The move will take place during print it out on their own computer. Scandinavian Seminar is an organ- the spring of 2008. It is not mentioned how much that ization that offers educational travel (The Bridge 2007/3) fee is going to be. Certified copies will not be available online. for everyone, regardless of age. Their The records will be birth certi- trips are a mixture of adventure and ficates 75 years or older, death cer- discovery and an introduction to tificates 20 years or older, and mar- Scandinavian culture. They have riage certificates 50 years or older. now become a formal partner of the (Chicago Tribune 7 Sep. 2007) Swedish Council of America. It is Lussekatt time! www.scandinavianseminar.org
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 13 A Family from Östra Husby, Östergötland
The Sven Alfred Anderson family of Lund, Evansville, Douglas County, Minnesota. From left, standing: Alma (b. 1896), Phoebe (b. 1895), Ester, (b. 1888), Frida (b. 1893), and Ernst (b. 1889). Sitting: Sven Alfred, Elizabeth (b. 1892), and Mathilda Andersdotter. Photo from about 1905.
On 19 May 1855 a daughter was born they immigrated to North America. bought a house in Evansville, where on the farm Ormestad in Östra Sven Alfred had visited the U.S. they lived with their other daughter Husby. Her name was Mathilda He- some years before, and had found a Elizabeth. Sven Alfred died in 1921 lena and her parents were the farm farm that he could rent. This farm and Mathilda Helena in 1936. In her owner Anders Olofsson and his wife was situated in Douglas County, obituary one can read “The Lord has Inga Stina Nilsdotter. Her family was Minn. After a few years the Svens- demanded it profitable to call home quite well-to-do, the descendants of sons bought some land near Evans- one of his loved ones, Mrs. Mathilda a long line of farm owners. ville, also in Douglas County, where Swenson, who passed to the great On her 32nd birthday, 19 May 1887, they lived until 1920, when daughter beyond Saturday morning, July 18, she married Sven Alfred Svensson, Ester and her family took over the at the age of 81 years and two a former farmhand at a neighboring farm. months. She was born in Östergöt- farm. Two weeks after their marriage Sven Alfred and Mathilda then land, Sweden, where she grew to 14 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 womanhood. After her marriage to S. Mathilda and Sven’s daughter Eli- Editor’s addition: A. Swenson they immigrated to zabeth was trained as a teacher, and Mathilda Helena emigrated 27 May America and settled in this com- started her career in a one-room 1887 from Oklunda in Östra Husby, munity, which always remained her school in the rural area and retired where she had lived with her par- home.” At her funeral they sang as the principal of Evansville High ents. Her groom, Sven Alfred Svens- Tryggare kan ingen vara (Children School. son, born 17 October 1855 in Jons- of the heavenly father), one of One of Mathilda and Sven Alfred’s berg, (Östg.), was at home for a visit Mathilda’s favorites.” descendants is Dr. Ross Anderson, to get married, as he had emigrated The family story says that Mathil- who lives in Minnesota with his already on 17 March 1882, also from rd da’s mother took the emigration of family. He is my father’s 3 cousin, Oklunda village. Mathilda Helena’s her daughter so hard that she died and came here in 1993 with his wife parents were Anders Olofsson, born in a year. The farms owned by Math- Carol and visited me. We could then 23 March 1807 in Östra Husby, died ilda’s family are still owned by rela- show them Mathilda’s home in Or- at Oklunda 7 June 1882, and his wife tives. mestad and the area where she had Inga Stina Nilsdotter, born 18 Octo- lived prior to her immigration. ber 1815 in Östra Husby, died 11 April 1888 at Oklunda. The Swenson family was enumer- ated in the 1900 Federal Census on 6 June 1900 in the township of Lund in Douglas County, Minnesota. The father is indexed as Swan Swenson. In 1920 they had moved to Evans- ville and still had three daughters at home: Elizabeth, a teacher in a rural school; Freda [Frida], a dressmaker, and Phoebe, who had no occupation listed. In 1930 Elizabeth has rented a room in Evansville. Her mother and sister Phoebe lived in a little house there.
Author: Anders Köhler, Svart- torp, S-616 90 Åby, Sweden. E-mail: In 1993, Ross Anderson, a descendant of Sven Alfred and Mathilda came to
Every year the John Ericsson Day is lic entertainment in a park near the Monitor and the Merrimac. This celebrated in the town of Filipstad in lake Daglösen in the middle of the takes place on the Daglösen, as can eastern Värmland. The reason is that town, which attracts a crowd, both be seen on the cover of this issue of the inventor was born in the village local people and some prominent SAG. of Långban, which these days belongs public figures. This year one could With the help of the Swedish Army to the Filipstad kommun. The date see both the present Swedish-Ame- there are many faked cannon shots, for this event is always on the Sun- rican of the Year, E. Jan Hartman, water is cascading over the audience, day closest to 31 July, his birthday. and a former one, Agneta Nilsson. and every one has a good time. Final- The day usually start with a cere- Elise Peters of Swedish American ly Monitor wins the battle, and Mer- mony at his mausoleum in the cem- Council could also be found watching rimac tries to escape, but is appre- etery, when wreaths are placed there the big bang that came after speeches hended and put in storage for next and traditional songs sung. and music: the yearly re-enactment year. Then in the afternoon there is pub- of the historic battle between the Elisabeth Thorsell
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 15 Swedes in Hollywood before World War II
Greta Garbo was not the only Swedish film actress who felt the lure of Hollywood
BY AGNIESZKA STASIEWICZ
The history of the early American This article refers to the period cinema cannot be separated from the before World War II. It cannot be for- history of immigration to the U.S. gotten, though, that after the war What would American film have been Swedes did not disappear from the like without Charlie Chaplin, Mar- American screen. It is enough to lene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, or Pola recall such movie stars as Ingrid Negri? Many actors and directors Bergman, Max von Sydow, Bibi An- came to the U.S. looking for fame and dersson, or Peter Stormare to re- fortune and the best of them were assure us that the immigrants of the offered profitable contracts. Step by first decades of the twentieth century step the brightest cinema stars of the found many remarkable successors. world concentrated in Hollywood. The five biggest movie companies, Pioneers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Twentieth Swedes came to Hollywood early Century Fox, RKO, Warner Bros, and enough to take part in the process of Paramount were created there. In the American film industry’s creation the 1920s, 75,000 people – actors, practically from the time of its birth. Anna Q. Nilsson (1888–1974). directors, producers, technicians, The first actress of Swedish origin contained lots of valuable, although critics, fashion designers, and many who appeared there at the dawn of not always objective, information. others – were employed there. The the twentieth century was Linda The significant presence of Swedes greatest scenes of the world were Johnson Arvidson Griffith (1884– in American cinema began in 1911 recorded there as well. Moreover, in 1949), born in the U.S. Her first steps when Anna Q. Nilsson (1888 – 1974) the first years of the twentieth in the film industry were guided by starred in Molly Pitcher. From then century the U.S. imported a signi- the famous American Biograph Com- on she was regarded as one of the ficant number of foreign films, many pany. In 1906 she married the well- leading actresses in the silent cin- of which were from Sweden. known director David Wark Griffith. ema. Nilsson came to America as a After 1923 Hollywood entered a Beginning in 1907 Arvidsson played teenager in 1907. At first she worked period of uninterrupted prosperity. in over 150 productions. Her most as a nurse, but soon became a pop- New, astonishing phenomena ap- recognized role was Hester in The ular model. Then her beauty was peared: uncommonly high salaries Scarlet Letter (1913), which was noticed by film producers. Already in for movie stars, enormous sums described by the English magazine her first movie, Nilsson revealed spent on construction of sceneries, The Bioscope as “extraordinary sub- herself not only as a beautiful woman etc. Considering all this, it is hardly tle and deeply moving.” Linda Arvid- but also as a very gifted actress and surprising that America attracted son contributed to the movie industry she soon became famous, mostly for both beginners and the most bril- also as an author. Her memoir about her roles in westerns and melodra- liant actors of the time. Many of them the people of Hollywood of that time, mas. were of Swedish origin. When the Movies Were Young (1925),
16 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Unfortunately, her career was in the U.S. but also in China and In The Wind Seastrom was faithful seriously shaken by a one-year pause Japan. The films starring Oland as to his principle of simplicity of plot she had to take after a serious horse Chan are considered an important and characters. Delicate idealist Let- accident. After treatment in Sweden step in cinema history as the longest ty, righteous Lige and cunning Roddy, and Austria, Nilsson came back on and most popular series of feature- strong Cora and cordial Beverly the screen in Babe Comes Home length films of those times. mesh into a sugestive and clear com- (1927). But with the dawn of the Before creating the character of position. The end of the film, though, sound film Nilsson’s fame faded. She Chan, Oland performed in the well- is not convincing. The main character was offered only minor parts such as known The Jazz Singer (1927). In the suddenly declares love to her hus- a very short scene in Sunset Boule- thirties he played in Shanghai Ex- band whom she previously despised vard (1950) when she played herself press (1932) and The Painted Veil and decides to stay in the land of as the movie star of yesterday. She (1934) with, respectively, Marlene winds, although she has hated it retired in California. Dietrich and Greta Garbo. In 1937 until then. Moreover, she claims not In her finest days Nilsson per- Oland unexpectedly resigned from to be afraid of the storm anymore formed in, among the others, Seven his work, returned to Sweden, and when a moment before she was close Keys to Baldpate (1917), The Luck of died a year later. to death with fear. the Irish (1920), The Lotus Eater Seastrom himself didn’t plan this (1921), The Top of the World (1925), Victor Sjöström – the banal and inconsistent ending. In the and Babe Comes Home. She also original version Letty, in the claws played a minor role in An American Swedish film school in of madness, runs outside into the in Paris (1951). Anna Q. Nilsson was Hollywood. sandstorm and dies. Such an ending, the first Swedish actress in Holly- Victor Sjöström (1879 – 1960) was a though, didn’t seem attractive e- wood who achieved real stardom and highly talented director and one of nough for an American audience, so whose name appears on the Holly- the creators of Swedish movie indus- Seastrom was made to change his wood Walk of Fame. try; in America he is known as Victor vision and introduce a classic Holly- Among the Swedish pioneer actors Seastrom. wood happy ending. Such incidents in American film industry one of the In the first decades of the twenti- were not uncommon. brightest stars was Warner Oland eth century Scandinavian films were Despite this incident, the Ameri- (1879–1938). He became an expert very popular in the U.S. American can experience left a remarkable in playing characters from the audiences were thrilled to experience mark on the works of Victor Sea- Orient, obtaining the desired look by their melancholic atmosphere, exot- strom. Under its influence he di- contracting eyelid muscles and icism, spellbinding folklore, and the rected, among the others, A Scarlet brushing the ends of his eyebrows up subtle play of light and semitones. Letter with Lilian Gish and Lars and his moustache down. To that These features were clearly visible in Hanson, giving one of the best-known ability he owed the role of a Chinese the works of Victor Seastrom. He masterpieces of American literature detective, Charlie Chan, which was treated film as a branch of culture a place on the screen. Gish praised offered to him by Twentieth Century close to poetry and in this spirit he highly Seastrom’s vision in this film: Fox. This role brought him fame and created them, making nature one of “I felt that this film should be a large group of admirers, not only the most important “characters” and directed by a Swede. Swedes are passionately introducing mystical and supernatural phenomena into his works. These features, typical for Swedish film of that time, are also visible in his American works. In 1923, already a successful director in Sweden, Seastrom came to America. Between 1924 and 1930 he directed nine films with the most famous stars of the time, among them Lillian Gish (A Scarlet Letter, 1926, The Wind, 1928), Greta Garbo (The Divine Woman, 1927), Lon Chaney, and Edward G. Robinson. Seastrom’s first American work was He who gets slapped, but the most significant one was The Wind star- ring Lilian Gish and a very popular Warner Oland (1879–1938). Swedish actor, Lars Hanson. Victor Sjöström/Seastrom (1879–1960). Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 17 spiritually closer to our Fathers’ melodramas. Still, she managed to Pilgrims . . . than contemporary create fascinating characters even in Americans . . . . He perfectly under- the most banal and unimaginative stood the soul of this story and . . . stories. turned out to be an excellent actor, At first, finding herself in a com- the best I have ever worked with.” pletely new environment, she felt In an interview from 1924 Char- intimidated and lost. She didn’t know lie Chaplin described Seastrom as the language and the media showed “the most outstanding director of the no interest in a taciturn Swedish girl. world.” And indeed, he achieved In her next movie, The Temptress immortal fame as a master of silent (1926), she appeared as a femme fa- cinema. Yet, in the era of sound films, tale and this image was received his style started to be considered enthusiastically by American audi- anachronistic. In 1930 he returned ences. While in Sweden her movies to Sweden where he played in the were seen as awkward, in the U.S. films of other directors (including in they were admired for their intrigu- Wild Strawberries (Smultronstället) ing “refined animalism.” by Ingmar Bergman). Her next role, in Flesh and the Devil (1927), was still close to this Greta Garbo (1905–1990). The Divine Greta. image. Yet, in contrast to the banal realistic. Mystery was Greta’s com- “What, when drunk, one sees in other Temptress, this movie was filled with pany also in her private life: she women, one sees in Garbo sober” – mature eroticism. This was a com- neglected all the Hollywood rules by Kenneth Tynan. pletely new phenomenon in Ameri- travelling incognito, avoiding inter- 1925 was a turning point for the can cinematography and it became views, photographers, and autograph Swedish-American film. That year a symbol of the Swedish actress for seekers. “I want to be alone” – she 20-year-old Greta Lovisa Gustafsson many years. Although the simple plot repeated in most of her films and it (1905-1990) left her Swedish home- of The Temptress was far from bril- seemed to be true also for her private land on the steamship named, pro- liant, and Garbo’s acting style had life. phetically, Drottningholm (“The not yet achieved its highest level, this In the beginning of the thirties Queen’s Isle”). In Sweden Greta ap- film was the beginning of her un- Garbo performed in three films: Mata peared on the screen in the role of believable career in the U.S. Also, the Hari (1931), As You Desire Me (1932), Countess Elizabeth Dohna in Gösta next productions starring Garbo, and Grand Hotel (1932). The latter Berling’s Saga directed by Mauritz Love (1927) (based on Anna Karen- was awarded an Academy Award for Stiller. Several months had passed, ina by Leo Tolstoy) and Wild Orchids Best Film and Garbo herself was though, before the actress, now (1929), were very successful. It is acclaimed as “the best actress who recognized all over the world as worth mentioning that the first of played in this concert of stars.” After Greta Garbo, found a job in America. these movies had two endings: tragic Grand Hotel she suddenly left for her For after seeing Gösta Berling’s Saga – for Europe and parts of America, old homeland without prolonging her Louis B. Mayer from Metro-Gold- and happy – for other American contract with MGM. wyn-Mayer offered a contract only to areas and for all distributors who During her stay in Sweden Garbo Stiller and only reluctantly invited prefered it. read the biography of the seven- the latter’s young protégé. With the growing popularity of teenth century queen of Sweden, Garbo’s first American part was in sound films came also the anxiety Christina, which was recommended The Torrent, a banal melodrama, about Garbo’s future on the screen. to her as perfect material for a movie. which nevertheless could not hide She spoke with a low, husky voice She laid down precise conditions: she her extraordinary talent. Although at with a foreign accent making many would sign a new contract with MGM first the “Swedish colony in Holly- mistakes. But The Divine Garbo only if they created a film about wood” considered the film a disaster, triumphed also in this field. Her first Christina starring Greta Garbo. media and audience appreciated the “speaking character,” in Anna Chris- What is more, she wanted to be debut of a beginning actress. The tie (1930), was as a former prostitute guaranteed the right to participate Torrent created the image of Garbo whose Swedish origin built a proper in no more than two productions per and the type of roles she was offered excuse for the actress’s accent. After year and for each of them she de- for many years. They were usually the success of Anna Christie Garbo manded $250,000. When all her love stories with a tragic end. The was famous enough to pick and conditions were accepted, the Swed- actress herself was not satisfied with choose her roles. ish star began the second phase of this cliché. She said she could not For sound films she developed a Hollywood life with the main role in notice anything interesting in silly new style of acting which was called Queen Christina (1933), directed by somnambulic or enigmatic and un- Rouben Mamoulian.
18 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Garbo’s most important val in Venice, and Garbo received the award for the best female role of the film year from the New York Film Critics Queen Christina is one of the most Circle. After Camille (1936) with a important films in the history of Swe- famous death scene, the king of dish-American cinema. The Holly- Sweden, Gustav V, called her “ingen- wood production about the Swedish ious Garbo.” For this role Garbo was queen with one of the most famous nominated for an Academy Award Swedes of all times in the main role and received the award Litteris et was a fascinating enterprise, al- Artibus from the king of Sweden. In though it was far from a financial Camille Garbo’s acting achieved success. extraordinary maturity. Moreover, In Queen Christina we see an in- her English accent improved a lot teresting summary of the Swedish without losing any of its exotic tim- social and political situation. In the bre. first moments of the film the audi- In 1939 the Swedish star played ence’s attention is drawn to the pres- in her first comedy Ninotschka, ence of the peasants and the middle directed by Ernst Lubitsch and class in the Riksdag. In the seven- advertized with the slogan “Garbo teenth century these two groups, be- laughs.” In 1941 she performed in sides the noblemen, and clergy, were Two-Faced Woman. This film, an Olga Celeste (1887–1969). represented in the parliament, and attempt “to Americanize” the Swed- their position was relatively high ish actress and to adapt her acting learned how to handle wild beasts against the background of Europe of style to the changing tastes of the and soon was known as the “Leopard that time. The dominant role in the American audience, turned out to be Woman” as she became famous for country belonged, though, to the a complete disaster. This ended training leopards. In the beginning, aristocracy which is clearly visible in Garbo’s career. Fearing another she and her cats performed together this film. Their powerful position was failure, the Swedish goddess of ci- in Vaudeville. Then she entered the established after Gustav Adolf’s nema never again appeared on the film industry, above all as a tamer tragic death. Christina feels un- screen. and a stand-in. bearably limited by the noblemen This early “retirement” became a Olga Celeste was the first woman around her, who try to control her significant element in the emergence to train and control the leopards every step. She can resist them only of the Garbo legend. At the age of 36 which performed in films, and she by abdication. she joined the circle of immortal cin- herself performed in the most dan- Most fascinating is the psycho- ema stars. Never before had any ac- gerous parts. The best known pro- logical portrait of the queen. Raised tress gained such fame. She was one ductions “starring” her cats were like a boy, wearing men’s clothes even of the few who played equally with Tarzan and the Leopard Woman and in the parliament, deeply devoted to grace and artism in both silent and Bringing up Baby. In the latter one, her homeland and people, at the sound films. She became one of the one of Celeste’s leopards played with same time she longs for something greatest stars in the history of cin- Katherine Hepburn, who got on with unknown: for Spain – the homeland ema and the most famous Swede in the cat very well. In contrast, Hep- of art, sun, and light, for love and Hollywood. burn’s film partner, the famous Cary freedom. She feels torn between a Grant, feared it. Hepburn’s secret senset of duty, the spiritual inheri- The “Leopard Woman” was a special perfume with a scent tance from her hero-father, and the that calmed the beast. During the Directing and acting was by no desire to be happy herself. After she film production, the well-trained leo- means the only contribution Swedish met Antonio, she has been seen pard wandered freely among people immigrants made to the history of wearing dresses, but above all, she until it “attacked” its partner, Hep- American cinematography. There begins to wonder if it is worthwhile burn, annoyed with her rustling were also many technicians, instruc- to sacrifice (or maybe waste) her life dress. Yet, just behind the cameras tors, cameramen, costume designers, for others. She doesn’t let misfortune waited the Swedish tamer who inventors, and others. One of the discourage her and after Antonio’s calmed her “pet” at once. death she sets off for Spain alone. most original Swedish contributors to the development of Hollywood was Garbo’s next roles brought her Conclusion immense success. The second screen- Olga Celeste (1887–1969), whose real The presence of the Swedish im- ing of Anna Karenina (1935) was name was Knutson. She came to the migrants in American cinemato- announced to be the best foreign film U.S. as a young girl to start her graphy in the beginning of the during the International Film Festi- career as a circus rider. There she
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 19 twentieth century made an extra- like Shirley Grey or Jean Rogers, 1949, New York: Oxford Univer- ordinary contribution to the develop- ought to be mentioned here. More- sity Press, 1998. ment of its leading position in the over, Hollywood appreciated not only 6. Slide Anthony, The Griffith Act- world. Not only did many of them Swedish actors and directors, but resses. South Brunswick: A. S. create original film styles and images also screenwriters, cameramen, in- Barnes, 1973. but they also transplated many ventors, and many other specialists. 7. Slide Anthony, The International achievements of Swedish film onto The remarkable position of Swed- Film Industry: A Historical Dic- American screens. ish people in Hollywood not only tionary. New York: Greenwood Victor Seastrom introduced the played an important role for Ameri- Press, 1989. exotic Scandinavian features into his can culture, but also for their com- Hollywood productions but also used patriots in the U.S. Moreover, thanks The full version of this article was many elements of culture, land- to their achievements, Sweden and published before in Politeja. Pismo scapes, and tradition typical of Amer- Swedes were more recognizable and Wydzialu Studiów Miedzynarod- ican reality. He devoted his talent respected in American society. owych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu and experience to convince American Jagiellon'skiego, Nr 2 (6), Kraków, audience that film is a real art. Greta Poland 2006. Garbo brought on the Hollywood Selected screens the new, brilliant style of bibliography The author Agnieszka Stasie- acting, exceptional individualism, wicz lives in Poland, and is a the mystery of the great star, and former recipient of the Dagmar also a piece of Swedish history. Linda Literature: and Nils William Olsson Schol- Griffith, Anna Q. Nilsson, and War- 1. Bardeche Maurice, Barry Iris, arship at the Swenson Center. ner Oland, although nowadays Brasillach Robert, The History of Her e-mail is largely unknown, achieved in their Motion Pictures, New York: W.W.
Picture from “Svenskarne Chicago i Illinois” by Peterson in 1833. & Johnson. 1880.
20 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 The Old Picture
On this page we publish old pictures sent in by our SAG readers. If you have a picture you want to see on this page, either send a digital copy, scanned in at no less than 300 dpi and saved as a jpg or tif file, or send a good paper copy to the editor at the address shown on the inside cover. Do not send any originals, as we can not accept responsibility for them. Neither can we promise to publish all pictures.
This picture, from about 1900, has verting flax from the plant to linen machine is pulled down with force been sent in by Olle Andersson, a yarn for weaving. At this stage they upon the flax, so that every portion member of the Nyed Local Heritage were “breaking” the flax. of it is broken.” Evidently Swedish Association (Nyeds Hembygdsfören- As one American author writes women were as strong as men in the ing). Olle is very active in working “then comes that part of the work old days, as the preparing of flax was with the association’s collection of old which only strong men can perform, women’s work. When the work was pictures, which he scans and makes called breaking the flax, to get from done, the women often relaxed with available on the web site of the asso- the center of the stalks the hard, a little party, and then the men were ciation. http://hembygd.nyed.se/ wood-like "bun," which is of no value. welcome. (no English!). This is done [125] with a machine A link to a web site on preparing Nyed is a parish in southern Värm- made of wood, as if you were to set flax is found on page 29. land, mostly farming country but three or four broad knives on a bench, there was also iron manufacture in at a certain distance apart, with as the old days. many more on a lever to come from The women in this picture are busy above, fitting; closely between the working with the many steps in con- lower blades. The upper part of the
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 21 The Solution to the Handwriting Example XV
Transcription 1782 d. 27 jan: lystes första gången för Carl Jonsson Car[l] från Horsjön och Maria Andersdotter från Dalkarssjön wigdes d. 31 martii d. 14 Julii lystes första gången för Bruks Patron And[ers] Herr Anders Svensson wid Normarkshyttan och jum- fru Eva Lena Brattström wid Storbron wigdes den 1 Augusti i Philipstad d. 28 Julii lystes första gången för grufdrängen Olof Olof Nilsson wid Normarks grufwor och än- kan Lena Segelsdotter wid Normarkshyttan wigdes d. 19 Novemb: d. 25 Augustii Lystes första gången för drän- Lars gen Lars Jonsson från Philipstad och pigan Margareta Larsdotter wid Normarkshyttan Wigdes i Philipstad d. 27 Octob: lystes första gången för grufdr[ängen] Lars Lars Svensson och Lisa Olofsdotter wid Normarksgrufwor wigdes d. 26 Jan. 1783
Transcription 1782
27 Jan. the banns were read the first time for Carl Jonsson Car[l] from Horsjön and Maria Andersdotter from Dalkarssjön were married 31 March
14 July the banns were read the first time for the Iron Works owner And[ers] Mr. Anders Svensson of Normarkshyttan and Miss Eva Lena Brattström of Storbron The marriage ceremony took place in Philipstad
28 July the banns were read the first time for the mine laborer Olof Olof Nilsson at the Nordmark mines and the wid- ow Lena Segelsdsotter of Normarkshyttan. were married 10 November
25 August the Banns were read the first time for the la- Lars borer Lars Jonsson of Philipstad and the servant girl Margareta Larsdotter of Normarkshyttan The marriage ceremony took place in Philipstad
27 October the banns were read the first time for the mine laborer Lars Lars Svensson and Lisa Olofsdotter of the Normark mines were married 26 jan. 1783
22 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 The dream came true
BY LOIS HARALDSEN
Most of our ancestors had a dream gust 1908, she married Carl E. baby, Walter, about 6 weeks old and of a better life in America. My Danielson in Chicago. Linda died 17 John were unconscious. They sur- Lindstrom ancestors where among March 1909, of complications of a vived. Helga was charged with mur- the dreamers. pregnancy. Carl died about eighteen der and later the charge was dis- Johannes Svensson Lind- months later. missed. The Swenson Center re- ström was the first to come. Johan- 2. Carl Edward Martin was born searched the incident for us and nes was born 26 July 1857, in Miste- 6 October 1882, in Mistelås. He ar- found two articles in Svenska Ameri- lås, Kronoberg, Sweden. He was the rived in Chicago in April of 1901. He kanaren from 1914. We also found an son of Sven Petersson and Maria worked in a piano factory and as a article in the Chicago Tribune. Petersdotter. On 12 March 1880, he guard in a bank. He served as a cook By 1920 the family was living in married Mathilda Justina Niko- in World War I. He married and had Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They laidotter in Slätthög, Kronoberg, no children. He died 28 May 1969, in had two more boys, Stanley and Sweden. She was born 13 January Chicago. John, and a daughter Edith. Before 1856, in Grönby, Gällaryd, Krono- 3. Justina Maria (our mormor) 1930 the parents were both dead and berg, to Lisa Jonsdotter. Her father was born 22 August 1884, in Mistel- the children were in an orphanage. is unknown. ås. She immigrated to Chicago in We have often wondered what Johannes left his family in Mistel- May of 1904. She worked as a house- happened to the children of John and ås in 1888 to work in the mines in maid. On 24 September 1910, she Helga. Just recently we found an the Denver, Colorado, area. The work married Alexander John Julian. Alex obituary for their son John Lind- was too difficult for him and he tur- was born Jöns Jönsson on 31 Janu- strom on the internet. As a result we ned back to Sweden. We have often ary 1881, in Vånga, (Krist.), Sweden. have had some contact with his child- wondered how Mathilda and her The marriage was not a happy one. ren. young children lived while he was They separated many times and for 5. Ernst Gunnar was born 21 gone. good in the 1930’s. They had 6 child- January 1892, in Mistelås. He arri- ren. Alex died 5 May 1955, in Chi- ved in Chicago in April of 1910. He Johannes and Mathilda cago and Justina 15 April 1976, also died of TB 16 October 1916, in Chi- in Chicago. cago. had six children: 4. Johan Ferdinand was born 3 6. Klas Edvin Herman was born 1. Teodolinda Elise born 22 De- April 1887, in Mistelås. He arrived 9 May 1895, in Mistelås, and died 26 cember 1880, in Mistelås. She ar- in Chicago in April of 1906. He was a May 1987, in Ljungsätra, Berga rived in January 1901 in Chicago, Il- carpenter. Sometime around 1910 he parish, in Kronoberg län, Sweden. linois, using the name Svenson. She married Helga Svenson. By 1914 Herman, as he was known, tried to became known as Linda Lindstrom. they had had their third child. Helga, immigrate but was turned back She worked as a housemaid. Her trying to commit suicide, turned on when they found his confirmation mother was ill and Linda returned the gas jets. As we now know, she was Bible that gave his real age. He to nurse her. After Mathilda died, suffering from postpartum depres- decided to stay in Sweden. He never Linda returned with her brother Jo- sion. The two little girls, Linda, age married. han to Chicago in 1906. On 15 Au- 4, and Mabel, age 2, died. Helga and We are grateful to the Lindstroms who immigrated. While they had many trials and tribulations, the ensuing years have been beneficial to their descendants.
Lois Haraldsen lives at 1460 Stonebridge Trail 1-4, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. E-mail:
Marriage of Johannes and Mathilda in Slätthög. Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 23 Book Reviews Here you will find information about interesting books on the immigration experience, genealogical manuals, books on Swedish customs, and much more. We welcome contacts with SAG readers, suggestions on books to review perhaps. If you want to review a book yourself, please contact the Book Re- view Editor, Dennis L. Johnson, at <[email protected]> or Dennis John- son, 174 Stauffer Road, Bucktown Crossing, Pottstown, PA 19465, so he knows what you are working on.
(Värm.), Sweden, where his father the 1838 ship was named, persuaded The Monitor worked as a mine supervisor and lat- Ericsson to come to the U.S. to pur- er as a director of blasting during the sue his patent for the screw propel- excavations for the Göta Canal. Er- ler and other inventions. In 1839, Man icsson and his brother Nils showed Ericsson moved to New York City extraordinary skills at an early age. with his bride, Amelia. Amelia soon The Man Who Made the Monitor: A At the age of fourteen, Ericsson was found America not to her liking and Biography of John Ericsson, Naval working independently as a surveyor she returned to London after a few Engineer, by Olav Thulesius, Mc- although barely tall enough to reach months. She was to visit Ericsson one Farland & Co., Jefferson, North the instruments used. After a period more time in New York, for less than Carolina, 2007, Softcover, ill., 255 pp., Amazon.com, $35.00 of service in the Swedish Army as a a year in 1842, but they were not to lieutenant doing survey work and see each other again after that. “He was the greatest man of Swedish tinkering with his inventions in his Ericsson continued with his ex- blood who ever came to the U.S.” spare time, these interests led him periments and efforts to promote the These were the words of H. M. King to resign from the army and move to screw propeller and other of his Gustav VI Adolf when he was Crown England in 1826. A love affair with inventions. The book describes in Prince, speaking at the unveiling of Carolina Lillieskiöld and the birth of detail the years in New York and his the John Ericsson Memorial in 1925 a son, Hjalmar Elworth, in 1824 may designs for ironclad ships with in Washington, D.C. Eighty-two have also had a part in this decision, engines below the water line, his years later, few historians would since Carolina’s father fiercely op- development of a caloric engine, and argue with this statement. Many posed their marriage. the development of a caloric-engined very prominent or highly celebrated Ericsson remained in London from ship named the Ericsson. The author Swedes came to this country before 1826 through 1839, working on also mentions Ericsson’s becoming a or since, but none have had the over- several inventions including a steam U.S. citizen in 1848, a meeting with all impact on the modern world of engine, early experiments with the Alfred Nobel and with Jenny Lind in this great inventor and engineer. screw propeller, and other projects. 1850, and the development of plans This new book by Olav Thulesius His steam locomotive, the Novelty, for armored vessels in the next is not the first biography of John Er- narrowly missed beating Watt’s loco- decade. A high point in his career icsson (1803-1889), but offers a fresh motive, the Rocket, in a race. Income came when he was asked to design new look at the man, his work, his was always a problem, and he was an armored ship in 1861 which personal life, and numerous interes- jailed for nine months in a debtors’ became the USS Monitor. This ship ting anecdotes about this enormous- prison in 1832. By 1836, he had made history when it defeated a ly creative man. The author is a for- received a British patent for his confederate armored ship, the Virgi- mer professor at Indiana University, screw propeller and a ship was built nia (formerly the Merrimac) in a the University of Trondheim in which utilized this means of pro- small but world-shaking naval en- Norway, and Kuwait University. pulsion. Another vessel, the Stock- counter in Hampton Roads, Virginia, Thulesius now divides his time ton,was launched in 1838 and be- on May 15, 1862. between the U.S. and Sweden. He is came the first ship to cross the At- After the Civil War, Ericsson the author of several other biogra- lantic using the screw propeller. remained in New York, working in phies, including that of Harriet While this was going on, Ericsson his laboratory on the top floor of his Beecher Stowe (2001), Thomas Ed- also found time to marry Amelia Jane house at 36 Beach Street, Manhat- ison (1997), and Nicholas Culpeper Byam in London. tan, usually with only a single assis- (1992). His ideas were not well received tant. He continued experiments with John Ericsson was born July 31, in London, however, and a friend, the design of armored warships, 1803, in Långbanshyttan, Färnebo Captain Robert Stockton for whom torpedo technology, and the Destroy- 24 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Book Reviews scenes by Swedish artist Olle Hjortz- berg showing the great battle at Hampton Roads, and also Ericsson presenting his design for the Moni- tor to President Lincoln and the war cabinet. A second gallery has many of Ericsson’s models of solar engines on display together with other re- lated exhibits. The Ericsson collec- greatest giant tankers, all are driven tion catalog lists some 250 additional by one or more screw propellers, from items including prints, photos, cor- as little as eight inches in diameter respondence, lithographs, models, to as large as 24 feet. All are de- slides, paintings, medals, and other scended from the experiments of mementos. John Ericsson. Diesel, turbine, and The John Ericsson Society of New even nuclear power drives these John Ericsson. From the Illustrerad York was founded in 1907 to honor Tidning, Stockholm, 1862. ships, but all use the screw propel- and perpetuate the memory of John ler. er, an advanced torpedo boat, a solar Ericsson and the profession of engi- Thulesius’s new biography of John engine, and other projects. In 1876, neering. The group promotes historic Ericsson spells out in detail the he prepared Contributions to the U.S. research and holds events annually experiments, the successes and the Centennial Exhibition in Philadel- to commemorate his life. On 9 March setbacks to this great Swedish-Amer- phia, and also received a visit from a Monitor Day and Annual Dinner is ican’s career. The author includes not his son, Hjalmar Elworth, who was celebrated, and every 31 July the in- only the technical realm of his to die in 1887. John Ericsson received ventor’s birthday is observed at the inventions, but provides much infor- many honors in his lifetime and in John Ericsson Statue in Battery mation about Ericsson’s personal life, the years following his death in 1889 Park, as well as in Filipstad. On 23 his personality, his involvements at the age of 86. He was elected to November, a dinner marks the date with his contemporaries, his roman- the Royal Swedish Academy of Sci- of John Ericsson’s arrival in the U.S. tic life, and his contempt for those ences in 1850, The Royal Swedish While the defeat of the Virginia by who did not understand his work. Academy of War Sciences in 1852, John Ericsson’s ironclad, the Moni- This is surely must reading for all and was given an honorary doctorate tor, is the event for which John Er- who have an interest in Swedish- from Lund University in 1868. Monu- icsson is most remembered in the Americans, the creative genius of ments in his honor have been erected public mind, his impact on the mod- inventors, engineering technology, on the mall in Washington, D.C., ern world is far greater than this one and world history. Battery Park in New York City, at naval battle. This battle, and the pro- Dennis L. Johnson Nybroplan in Stockholm, at Kungs- peller-driven armored warships later portsavenyn in Gothenburg, and the designed by Ericsson, spelled the end John Ericsson Fountain in the Fair- of the age of sailing ships made of mount Park, Philadelphia. Three wood. Armored warships using rota- ships of the U.S. Navy were named ting gun turrets like the Monitor after John Ericsson including a made all wooden ships vulnerable torpedo boat (1897-1912), a destroy- and obsolete, changing naval warfare er (1915-1922), and another destroy- forever. Ericsson’s invention of the er (1941-1946). screw propeller allowed the The American Swedish Historical harnessing of steam engines to Museum in Philadelphia has a valu- oceangoing ships and revolutionized able collection of Ericsson memora- sea travel and transport. Until his bilia and a sizable archive of his cor- invention, the first steamers only had respondence. The John Ericsson stern or side paddle wheels, Room, designed by Martin Hedmark unsuitable for ocean travel and in 1931 in an Art Deco style, has an taking up valuable space above the exhibit and wall murals dedicated to water line. Today, from the smallest John Ericsson’s Mausoleum in Filipstad, the inventor’s memory, including two outboard motor on small boats to the Sweden.
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 25 Book Reviews through a snowy Christmas, when about two months in July and Au- beloved old traditions blend with gust, she would travel with her moth- delightful new ones. Sandin excels at er to Idaho to her Swedish-born describing the everyday details of grandparents’ farm every year from life: “The cabin smelled of pine 1929 through 1940, missing only two branches, freshly baked wheat years (1933 and 1934) during that bread, rice pudding, and cinnamon. time. ‘It smells like Swedish Christmas,’ Elaine Ostergren had four Swed- A Child Immi- Mamma sighed.” ish grandparents, all of whom had At the beginning of the book, four come to the U.S. about 1890 and met grant Swedish words that will appear in in a boardinghouse in Spokane, the dialogue are defined, with a Washington territory, a community pronunciation guide. This is a mar- in what is now eastern Washington At Home in a New Land, by Joan velous feature for young readers who State near the Idaho border. Her Sandin. HarperCollins, 2007. Hard- are just getting comfortable reading mother’s parents, Jacob Thunborg cover, 64 pages, ISBN 978-0-06- “real books.” They will have fun and Christina Nelson (Nilsdotter), 058077-3. For ages 4-8. $15.99. learning some words in Carl Erik’s were married in November, 1890, language, too. near Spokane and, by 1892, had set- At Home in a New Land, written and Sandin has dedicated her book to tled across the Idaho border on the illustrated by Joan Sandin, settles “all immigrants past and present. east shore of Hayden Lake only 45 young Swedish immigrant Carl Erik May they feel at home in their new miles or so from Spokane, to farm. and his family in their new home in land.” This historically accurate tale In a few years they had five child- Minnesota. The book concludes the – and its two predecessors – are ren, including Elaine Ostergren’s story begun in The Long Way to a highly recommended for introducing mother, their third child, Ruby. Their New Land (1981) and continued in young readers and their families to homestead was then in a remote area The Long Way Westward (1989). (See the Swedish immigrant experience. of northern Idaho on a beautiful lake, March 2006 SAG for a discussion of At Home in a New Land is avail- and they began to farm some 146 these and other children’s books able through Amazon.com and other acres. Within a few years they had a about immigration.) online booksellers, or through book- self-sustaining farm, livestock, and As the story opens, Carl Erik stores with a good selection of new had established crops and orchards. wakes up in his uncle and aunt’s titles for children. After an initial one-room log cabin, cabin. “It was not a dream. The long, Erica Olsen Jacob then built a barn and then a hard journey from Sweden was really larger farmhouse in several stages. over.” In six short episodes, the boy, He also built a one-room schoolhouse his little brother, and his parents for his and his new neighbors’ child- start to make a home in the woods of Another Life ren. Minnesota. Both in words and pic- By 1925, when the author was tures, Sandin is a masterful story- The Healing House, A Memoir, by born, her mother Ruby had married teller. She captures the immigrant Elaine Ostergren Adams, Publish Carl Ostergren and settled in Oak- experience through the eyes of a America, Baltimore, MD, 2007, land, California, where Carl worked young boy, making common, often- Softcover, Ill., 150 pages, Ama- for the railroad. This same year, her told experiences seem fresh and new. zon.com, $19.95 plus shipping. grandfather Thunborg at Hayden The story told in At Home in a New Lake died, her grandmother Chris- Land and the two earlier books is The Healing House is the personal tina was widowed, and the farm was nothing less than an immigrant saga recollection of a woman who grew up now being run by the next genera- for young readers. The challenges in Oakland, CA, in the 1930’s and her tion including Elaine’s Uncle Frank, that Carl Erik and his family face – visits to the farm of her grandfather his wife Frances, her Aunt Marie. learning English, interacting with each summer in northern Idaho. As Grandmother Thunborg lived on at their Native American neighbors, a sickly child who suffered in turn the farm another twenty-five years and surviving while the men go away from tuberculosis, pneumatic fever, and passed away at the age of 91 in for months to work at a logging camp and pneumonia, her parents believed 1950. Eventually, by about 1960, this – are all deftly conjured up. The story that only fresh air in the country second generation, too, became too takes the family from summer days would return her to good health. For old to farm and the land was sold to
26 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Book Reviews developers in what was now fast Also fascinating was her memories becoming a popular resort and of the great Depression when I, too, vacation home locale. The old farm- was a youngster, with fathers who house, as a unique example of hand- were either unemployed or reduced built construction in the Swedish to working only three days a week, style, was then entered on the Na- shortages of food, and making do on tional Register of Historic Places. very little money. Traveling by train This memoir is not, however, so between Oakland and Spokane was how difficult it is to get this young much the story of these early Swed- vividly described, memories of the generation to sit down and read a ish pioneers as it is the recollections days when automobiles were owned book. A history book of a time a little of a young girl who grew up through by very few and train travel was the over one hundred years ago is even the Depression and World War II, norm for most people, if they traveled more difficult to persuade a young and her fond memories of summers at all. The nation entering into the girl to read. It seems their lives cen- spent at the distant farmhouse of her war in 1941 and the attack on Pearl ter around TV, the Internet, text grandmother and other relatives who Harbor are also a part of my own messaging, a personal cell phone, either lived there, or came to visit the memories and had a deep impact on and their social relationships with farm each summer. The title, The all of us who remember that time. their peers. Yet, it is worth a try in Healing House, was chosen because Daily life at the farm and the ex- the case of Britta’s Journey. of the effect these summer visits had periences of a young girl from the city This little paperback is a fictional on Elaine Ostergren, transforming at The Healing House during these account of the journey of a young girl her from a sickly young girl into a summers, however, are the most traveling with her mother, brothers, mature, healthy woman who married moving and enriching parts of this and a sister to America in the year Clifford Adams in 1945 and went on book, a confection to read for those 1903. They are traveling to meet to a distinguished writing career and of her generation and a glimpse of their father, who has preceded them long life as an author, wife, and moth- another time and place for young by four years, in New York City. Their er. She has returned several times people now growing up and coming ultimate destination is a homestead over the years to The Healing House, of age in an entirely different world. in northern Minnesota. Johan Eric and in 1994 Elaine traveled to Swe- Childhood diseases are now mostly and Maria Jacobson, from the Swed- den to meet many cousins and other a distant memory in the age of anti- ish-speaking village of Kvevlax in descendants of her grandparents biotics, vaccinations, and prevention Finland, have decided to immigrate who had remained in Sweden. of many common illnesses of the to America to escape poverty. They The book is organized into chap- 1930’s. But for many, these were fun ters which describe in turn her first times in spite of hardships and bring trip to the Thunborg farm, later trips back many fond memories of family year by year, and then several gatherings, travel, and special mo- chapters relating various experi- ments such as those so richly de- ences as part of her visits and in scribed. growing up in the 1930’s. An epilogue Dennis L. Johnson brings the reader up to date on what has happened in her life since her days at the Thunborg farm and concludes with a recipe for butter- Another Child chip candy, an obviously favorite family treat. Immigrant Fascinating to me as a member of almost the same generation, being Britta’s Journey, An Emigration only a few years younger than the Saga by Ann Marie Mershon, Sing- author, were the ways in which she ing River Publications, Inc., Ely, MN, wove in descriptions of farm life 2004, 210 pp., Ill., softcover, during that period, with no electric- Amazon.com, $12.00 plus shipping. ity, no running water or indoor toil- ets, and few modern comforts or If you, as I, have teenage grand- conveniences to be found at the farm. daughters now in 2007, you know
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 27 Book Reviews the port of Hangö in Finland to Hull, So if you wish your own daughter England, where they travel across or granddaughter to experience the England to Liverpool to await their challenges and adventures involved ship to America. Coping with unfa- in this immigrant girl’s experience of miliar people and another language one hundred years ago, try and causes many frustrations and delays persuade her to read this book, along the way as the mother strug- possibly even by positive reinforce- gles to keep the family together and ment (bribery) if necessary. It is had already lost three of their child- survive on very little money until much briefer and not as formidable ren to illness, and were determined their ultimate arrival in New York to read as Moberg’s masterpiece in to find a better life in Minnesota for and reunion with their father. A very four volumes on the same subject, yet the rest of their family. Traveling convincing and realistic picture of it will provide your youngster who with Britta were her mother Maria, travel in the time of the story (1903) has Swedish roots with a taste of the older brother Johan, and the younger is incorporated into the account of experiences of her ancestors in mak- twins Arvid and Elsa. their travels. Hazards of travel by ing their way to the new world While a work of fiction, this story train and ship are described: getting several generations ago; a difficult was inspired by a family history lost, finding and making friends to journey in a time long before air written by a friend, Eleanor Jacob- share the journey only to be sepa- travel, e-mail, cell phones, com- son Stone. The author, Ann Marie rated from them by circumstances, puters, automobiles, and other mod- Mershon, is an English teacher and the challenges of traveling in steer- ern devices became commonplace outdoor lover living in a wilderness age and surviving contagious child- and inexpensive. home near Grand Marais in the hood diseases, storms at sea, and Dennis L. Johnson arrowhead country of Minnesota on other trials are all portrayed vividly the north shore of Lake Superior. The and realistically through the eyes of book has a number of fine illustra- Britta, barely eleven years old. She tions drawn by a friend, artist Gail struggles hard to learn as many Eng- A helpful book Alden-Henderson, who also lives and lish words as possible during her has a studio near Grand Marais. The journey and keeps her own home- Following the Paper Trail. A Multi- book is historically accurate, al- made dictionary of all the new words lingual Translation Guide, by Jona- though much of the detail in the she encounters. than D. Shea and William F. Hoff- narrative of the story has been added In a brief epilogue, the author adds man. New edition 2007, 241 pages, softcover, published by Avotaynu, by the author. The book is geared to that the Jacobson family on which Inc. $29 from www.avotaynu.com be easily readable by young people, Britta’s Journey is based, settled on the North Shore in Minnesota. The although the story is gripping and This unusual and very helpful book Jacobsons went on to further adven- suspenseful to readers of all ages. lists documents in 13(!) languages tures and all three children who The story centers on Britta and (German, Swedish, French, Italian, survived the journey went on to live therefore may be more attractive to Latin, Portuguese, Romanian, Span- long, full, and happy lives. The young girls as an adventure seen ish, Czech, Polish, Russian, Hungar- Jacobsons had four more children through the eyes of a girl, not a boy. ian, and Lithuanian), and gives after settling on their homestead in Her older brother Johan, 12, is a translations and hints and tips on northern Minnesota. wanderer and unafraid to explore the different languages and their The author also encourages her new places on land or on the ship, alphabets. There are 25 pages on readers to take the time to talk to but is constantly worrying Britta and Swedish, including “selected vocab- their older relations, parents, and her mother by his constant disap- ulary terms” and “selected first grandparents about their memories pearances. His adventurous spirit, names.” The documents are of the and childhoods. Regrettably, by the however, often comes to the aid of the type that an immigrant might save time the young are old enough to family, while Britta is more inclined after his journey: his immigration have a genuine interest in their heri- to follow her mother’s orders and contract, a confirmation certificate, tage, the older generations are often avoid causing any extra worries. The a marriage certificate, and others. no longer living to tell their stories. story is humorous at times and also The translations from Swedish Elders should try and find the time has an element of tragedy as the jour- seems to be correct, so hopefully the to write down the essentials of their ney unfolds. others are too. A useful book. family history before it is too late. The family group takes a ship from Elisabeth Thorsell
28 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 All links tested in November 2007 and Interesting Web Sites should work
Old medical terms: http://www.antiquusmorbus.com/Index.htm About emigration through Hamburg, Germany: http://www.ballinstadt.com/en/index.php Some digitized issues of the San Francisco Call: http://cdnc.ucr.edu/ Online death certificates for Utah before 1956: http://historyresearch.utah.gov/indexes/index.html Digital archives of Washington State: http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/default.aspx If you know an address in Chicago, this might help: http://www.chicagoancestors.org/ Searchable newspaper articles in Oklahoma: http://okhistory.cuadra.com/star/public.html Swedish Council of St. Louis: http://www.swedishcouncilstlouis.org/ Article by Emory Lindquist about the Swedes in Kansas: http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1963/63_1_lindquist.htm Swenson Center’s Genealogical Links: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/Links.html Roots Television (works with I E): http://rootstelevision.com/index.html Index to Skarstedts “California och dess svenska befolkning”: http://www.augustana.edu/swenson/book110.htm Preparing flax: http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=otis&book=boston&story=flax2 Murders in Chicago 1870–1930: http://homicide.northwestern.edu/ Kip Sperry’s Internet links: http://home.byu.net/ks4/?sssdmh=dm13.150380
New and Noteworthy (short notes on interesting books and articles)
One thing that is important in genealogy is to evaluate the sources you are working with. Is this record true or false? Can I believe this family tradition? A useful, but not too serious, way of learning more about this is to read The Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey, first published in 1952. The story in this book is the investigation of the old problem of Richard III, king of England. Did he, or did he not, kill his nephews? The detective is a trained policeman who is not willing to accept history, written long after the event. This book is available on Amazon.com. For those of us who are interested in mining and the history of the miners and their dangerous jobs, it might be valuable to look for Ancestry Magazine, the September/October issue for 2007. This issue has a couple of articles on the miners and some illustrative photos. In a sidebar one can read that in 1848 there were 5,000 miners in California, just two years later the number had grown to 50,000. The mines were often the proverbial melting pot, where Swedes worked with Poles, Czechs, Italians, and many other nationalities. The new Svenska Släktkalendern 2007 (Swedish Family Register 2007) has come from the printers. It contains 79 family genealogies, following the families from ancient times until today. 25 of those have been presented in earlier volumes, and 54 are totally new. The thirty volumes in the series (from 1912- ) now covers a total of 1,992 different families. A list of the families presented can be found at http://www.etgenealogy.se/slkalreg.htm The more one digs into life in the old days, the more one realizes that many things were not so different, even though the geographic areas were far away. Currently I am reading A Little Commonwealth. Family Life in Plymouth Colony, by John Demos, printed by Oxford University Press (2000). Life in Plymouth Colony was in many ways similar to life in Vadstena, Skänninge, Filipstad, and other Swedish small towns in the 1600s.
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 29 Genealogical Queries
Genealogical queries from subscribers to Swedish American Genealogist will be listed here free of charge on a “space available” basis. The editor reserves the right to edit these queries to conform to a general format. The inquirer is responsible for the contents of the query. We would like to hear about your success if you receive useful information as a result of placing a query in this publication. Please send us your feedback, and we will endeavor to report your new discoveries in this section of the journal.
Andersson, Magnusdotter, Jonasson
Jonas Andersson was born 22 Oct 1817 in Grolanda parish, (Skar.). His wife, Maria Lisa Magnusdotter, was born 26 Sep 1819 in Hällestad parish, (Skar.). They were married 22 Nov 1846. The couple had two boys, Pehr August born 6 Sep 1850 and Frans Gustaf born 22 Feb 1853 in Hällestad. On 12 Jun 1854 they left Sweden from Mjäldrunga parish (Älvsb.) bound for the United States. According to the manifest of the ship Humblatt, the family arrived in New York harbor 25 Aug 1854. I have looked for years in Illinois and Minnesota for this family with no results.
Hal Bern, 2341 E. Lynnwood Drive, WA 98632. E-mail:
Maria Matilda Henriksdotter
I am looking for Maria Mathilda Henriksdotter, born 29 December 1865 in Kärnberg, Norra Ny parish, (Värm.). Her parents were Henrik Henriksson and his wife Maria Eriksdotter in Kärnberg, Nyskoga parish (Kärnberg belonged to Nyskoga parish from 1873). Maria seems to have left Nyskoga 15 April 1887 to go to America. I know she is still alive in 1902, when her mother died, because she is named in the inventory after her. I have heard from my father a long time ago (he died in 1980) that Maria visited Sweden one time with her three boys and that they lived in Washington State. Maria is a sister to my farmor (father’s mother).
Lisbet Önegård, Önet 1615, S-830 51 Offerdal, Sweden. E-mail:
Tufvesson, Åkesson, Olsdotter
I am looking for descendants of Mary Kohlver, married to the farmer Wilhelm Kohlver in North America. Her maiden name was Maria Tufvesson, born 4 January 1872 in Källs Nöbbelöv (Malm.). Her parents were Tufve Åkesson and his wife Olu Olsdotter. Maria (Mary) emigrated from Malmö 28 March 1889 with a ticket for Winnipeg. Thank you for all help.
Elvy Fristedt, Säbygatan 7, S-261 33 Landskrona, Sweden. E-mail:
Alexanderson, Karlsdotter, Appelberg
Hulda Josefina Karlsdotter was born 10 October 1865 in Höreda (Jönk.), a daughter of the sharecropper Carl Peter Johansson and his wife Catharina Johansdotter from Bergholm on Västra Näs lands in Höreda. Hulda Josefina left from Höreda in 1886 and travelled from Göteborg 23 April 1886 under the surname Appelberg with a ticket for New York. In the 1900 U.S. Census she is found with her family in Omaha, NE. She is then married to Charles A. Alexanderson, born in June 1864 in New York of Swedish parents. They had the following children: Elsa J. (1892-1909), Hazel K. (1896–1961), and Russell Charles (1898–1954). The latter had a son, Russel Eugene (1925–2002), but it is not known if he had a family. He died in Los Angeles, CA. We are looking for all information on this family. 1280 Tore Sandh, Lyckås 1, S-575 93 Eksjö, Sweden
30 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Larsson, Larson, Jansdotter
The gardener Johan Fredrik Larsson, born 12 December 1856 in Julita (Södm.) and his wife Lovisa Jansdotter, born 11 April 1852 in Linde (Väsm.) left Locknevi (Smål.) 14 October 1890 with their six children, all born in Locknevi: Anna Lovisa (b. 28 August 1880); Signe Christina (b. 12 October 1881); Johan Olof (b. 27 February 1883); Alfrida Maria (b. 3 December 1885), Clara Eleonora (b. 7 January 1889). In the U.S. daughters Lillie was born in Illinois in February 1892, and Mabel in March 1895 in Iowa. In 1900 the Larson family is found in Rock Island, Rock Island County, Ill., and the children at home were Sigrid (Signe), Gustav, Freda (Alfrida), Lillie, and Mabel. In 1910 John, his wife, Gustav, Elfrieda, Lillian, and Mabel are still in Rock Island. But what happened then? I am very grateful for all information.
Dagmar Grieger, Flisvägen 3, S-296 72 Yngsjö, Sweden. E-mail:
Acknowledging the Octogenarian Resource
BY P. R OBERT WILLEY
Frequently an often overlooked or memory that was graciously significant information and resource in researching family shared with me. photographs that led to my genealogy is “The Octogenerian I have found that the octogenarian being able to make additional Resource.” has memories that include informa- connections with our ancestors. My experience in identifying tion previously forgotten or un- Over time I have come to ap- and communicating with individ- recorded in letters, family records, preciate that they are a treas- uals who are eighty years of age and official documents. On the ure of knowledge, are most or more has consistently proven Swanson side of our family a family responsive to questions, and to be a valuable resource in my friend whom I had not communicated eagerly welcome reawakening continuing 36-year ancestral with in years sent old documents that old memories as they connect search. The octogenarians I have brought new information re family the many facets of their family communicated with have not experiences; a church archivist’s, history. My genealogical jour- always been immediate relatives much to my surprise, communicated ney has shown that the octo- nor have we necessarily met. that her grandmother had purchased genarians keenly understand Several, like me, had been con- the home of my grandparents in 1916 the importance of sharing and ducting their own independent and resided there as a child; a dis- documenting family history for genealogical research for years tant relative recalled as a little girl present and future generations. and welcomed the opportunity to visiting our grandparents at Christ- Not many years from now, I, too, make connections with someone mas time and having “glögg”; or will be an octogenarian who interested in learning about their someone related via one of my grand- may be asked similiar ques- life experiences. Over time I dis- father’s sister’s children leading to tions. covered that gently prodding new information recently discovered earlier memories was all that was and shared with a second cousin li- P. Robert Willey resides in needed to focus them on their ving in Sweden. On the Willey side, Bloomington, Illinois recalling past events. Once the there was communication with a dis- E-mail: inquiry was made, they frequent- tant relative, previously unknown to
Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 31 The Last Page
Dear friends, Time passes quickly and now we are So if you have ancestors who be- is e-mailing an Italian “dottoressa”, far into the fall, winter is just around longed slightly higher up on the so- who is researching in the time when the corner and it is a perfect time to cial scale there are good chances to our ancestor lived. spend a couple of hours (or maybe find an immigrant somewhere a- It is fun to see that at least some more) indoors with the computer and mong the distant ancestors. of my own genealogy interest is at the records; online, on microfiche, etc. My maternal grandfather’s (mor- last showing up in the next genera- During the centuries Sweden has far) lines have many persons with tion. had an important history of immigra- interesting surnames, including my A sad thing is that the Swedish tion. Think of the German and Wal- faraway ancestor Blasius Ludovico discussion board “Anbytarforum,” loon smiths that came during the Teppati, an Italian language master where many Swedish-Americans 1600s, the “slash and burn” finns, at Uppsala university around 1670. have been helped to find their roots also during the 1600s, many Scots This summer my family and I is no longer working. It was supposed fought in the Swedish armies. Other spent two weeks in Italy, our first to be upgraded and renewed, but that categories were the surgeons and visit there, and saw many interesting has already taken six weeks, and no apothecaries, mainly from Germany, and beautiful scenes. At home again signs of progress, so we are worried who came with the princesses who I happened to mention old Blasius to about its future. It would be so sad married Swedish kings in the 1600s, one of my sons, a big fan of Italy. This also to lose all the information that the merchants from England that has triggered his interest in that part has been added to the Anbytarforum taught the Swedes in Göteborg how of his ancestors, and he has now during the last eight years. to run successful businesses, etc. started to do research on Blasius, and Yours till next! Elisabeth Thorsell
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32 Swedish American Genealogist 2007:3 Abbreviations
Table 1. Abbreviations for Swedish provinces (landskap) used by Swedish American Genealogist (as of March 2000) and Sveriges Släktforskarförbund (the Federation of Swedish Genealogical Societies, Stockholm [SSF]).
Landskap SAG & SSF Landskap SAG & SSF (Province) Abbr. (Province) Abbr.
Blekinge Blek. Närke Närk. Bohuslän Bohu. Skåne Skån. Dalarna Dala. Småland Smål. Dalsland Dals. Södermanland Södm. Gotland Gotl. Uppland Uppl. Gästrikland Gäst. Värmland Värm. Halland Hall. Västerbotten Väbo. Hälsingland Häls. Västergötland Vägö. Härjedalen Härj. Västmanland Väsm. Jämtland Jämt. Ångermanland Ånge. Lappland Lapp. Öland Öland Medelpad Mede. Östergötland Östg. Norrbotten Nobo.
Table 2. Abbreviations and codes for Swedish counties (län) formerly used by Swedish American Genealogist (1981-1999) and currently used by Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB) (the Central Bureau of Statistics, Stock- holm).
Län SAG SCB SCB Län SAG SCB SCB (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code (County) Abbr. Abbr. Code
Blekinge Blek. Blek. K Stockholm Stock. Sthm. AB Dalarnaa Dlrn. W Södermanland Söd. Södm. D Gotland Gotl. Gotl. I Uppsala Upps. Upps. C Gävleborg Gävl. Gävl. X Värmland Värm. Vrml. S Halland Hall. Hall. N Västerbotten Vbn. Vbtn. AC Jämtland Jämt. Jmtl. Z Västernorrland Vn. Vnrl. Y Jönköping Jön. Jkpg. F Västmanland Väst. Vstm. U Kalmar Kalm. Kalm. H Västra Götalandc Vgöt. O Kronoberg Kron. Kron. G Örebro Öre. Öreb. T Norrbotten Norr. Nbtn. BD Östergötland Ög. Östg. E Skåneb Skån. M a formerly Kopparberg (Kopp.; W) län. b includes the former counties (län) of Malmöhus (Malm.; M) and Kristianstad (Krist.; L). c includes the former counties (län) of Göteborg and Bohus (Göt.; O), Skaraborg (Skar.; R), and Älvsborg (Älvs.; P). BD
Lappland Norrbotten
AC
Västerbotten
Ångermanland Z Jämtland Y
Härjedalen Medelpad
Hälsingland X Dalarna Gästrikland w Uppland C Värmland Västman- S U land T AB Närke Södermanland Bohuslän Dals- D land Östergötland E O R Västergötland P Gotland F Halland Småland H I N G Öland Blekinge Skåne L K M
The counties (län) as they were before 1991. The provinces (landskap).