18Th Century Rural Architecture ROOTED in SWEDEN Guest Article

Home , 1700s (decade), 1900 in Sweden

no 8 2010-01 ROOTED IN SWEDEN

Living in Swedeland USA

18th Century Rural Architecture

Guest Article

Emigration Conference | SwedGen Tour 2009 contents 18th Century Rural 3 Architecture - Skåne

Emigration Conference - 7 “Letters to Sweden”

Living in Swedeland USA 9 7 16 8

The Digital Race 13

Swedgen Tour 2009 14

Christmas as Celebrated 16 9 in my Childhood

Swedish Genealogical 20 Society of Minnesota 3 firstly... …I would like to talk about the current status of genealogy. A while ago I spoke to a fellow genealogist who experiences problems in getting local government funding for genealogical societies and events. This person felt 20 that the cultural funding tended to favour sports activities for the young, Along with genealogy comes inevita- ter at night long after the rest of the and that it might even be a question of bly a curiosity about how people lived family has gone to bed. At the same age discrimination since genealogy is and a general historical curiosity, not time it can be very social and also a regarded as an “old folks” activity. I about kings and queens and wars and team effort. You can save yourself a don’t know the full specifics or even revolutions, but about the little man. lot of work by connecting with other if this is the typical case, but I still To me, this history is equally excit- genealogists, by exchanging infor- felt like I had taken a blow to the sto- ing and more or less skipped during mation and tips of resources. Sure, mach. I had this naïve conviction that my school years. The genealogy mo- sometimes you feel like doing the family research was up and coming vement provides a wide base of grass digging yourself, but if you get the and that it was spreading like an Aus- root historians. Not necessarily aca- names and dates you can use the en- tralian bush fire across the land and demically trained, but certainly curi- ergy on what’s behind the names and all ages in the wake of the digital re- ous and engaged. And the output of dates. It’s the interaction between ge- volution. these, whether it’s a family tree or it’s nealogists and the spreading of local a book on local history, helps fill the history knowledge that we’re trying Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for sup- gaping holes of the curricular histori- to encourage and provide with Roo- porting sports activities for young cal education. ted in Sweden. And I hope you’ll find people; I am myself a product of the with this issue that we’re on the right mentality of team sports, practically Genealogy is very much a solitary course. being raised in the local soccer club. activity. It’s most strongly felt when But why exclude the one or the other? you’re stuck in front of your compu- Joachim Schönström

2 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 18th Century Rural Architecture - Skåneo text and images: Niclas Kronroth translated by: Northern Skåne bole house (skiftesverk) Joachim Schönström

One of our readers has picked up The preconditions... fertile as in the south. In the north on the opportunity to influence Skåne is a relatively small Swedish the hilly landscape continues and the content of Rooted in Sweden. province of about 4,000 sq miles. crosses over to woodlands, rocky This has resulted in our first re- But despite its small size it is very and barren. quest article. The request topic heterogeneous; the topography va- was Swedish vernacular architecture ries greatly between the different - types of houses in various parts of parts. The prospect of farming va- Sweden at different times. ries accordingly. The nature of the land and the soil has determined With the good will of the writer, where you settle, how you support this article is the first of at least yourself and how you organize so- th two, describing rural 18 century cially and the province can rough- architecture in different parts of ly be divide into the southern plain Sweden. The subject of this ar- area, the woodlands in the north ticle is Skåne, the southernmost and the transition area in between. province. Diverse in culture and landscape as it is, it deserves an chapter of its own. The southern part is characterized by vast plains perfectly suitable for To complete the image of rural li- cultivating of crops. In the central ving and the allmoge culture in 18th part of Skåne the plains turn into a century Skåne, the article starts hilly landscape with large areas of with a description of the precon- deciduous forest. The land is cul- ditions of the landscape, and a tivated, but it is strewn with rocks look on the village structure. and stones and the soil is not as

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 3 Six thousand years ago Skåne was rest areas remain in the southern covered with forest. People hun- part of Skåne. ted and lived off the forest and its swedish class inhabitants. But as migrants arri- In the early 1700s Skåne, which “Allmoge” – ved in the province, bringing the until 1658 belonged to Denmark, rustic culture, peasantry, or skills of cultivation, the landscape, was a badly wounded province ra- common people the forms of living and the culture vished by years of war, destruction The allmoge culture is a common evolved. Early on the inhabitants and epidemics. Well, out of chaos used name, and still, it is not ea- discovered the vast resources of comes order, and this certainly fits sily explained. The word allmoge the fertile land of the south. Be- with the peasantry of the first two has also changed meaning at se- fore, people had followed the mig- decades of the century. It was from veral occasions throughout the ration patterns of the animals, but the chaos of the 17th century that years. The basic meaning of the the introduction of agriculture cre- Skåne leapt into a new era which word is people, or rather, group ated a more stabile existence. And would bring a rise in economy and of people. It was often linked it created the possibility and the the social life in the rustic culture. with rural population, which is need for a permanent settlement. Villages grew stronger and larger, logical since the great majority of The growth of population was a di- innovations in tools and system people lived in the countryside rect effect of this new stability, and helped make the production more until the 18th century. during the following thousands of efficient. th years people practically entirely During the 18 century, the me- cleared the southern part of Skåne How you took advantage of the aning of the word glided as pe- of forests in favour of farm land. land differed greatly between the ople started moving into towns different geographical areas of the and cities, and it was more and The constant disturbances with province. In the south they had more used to describe people in frequent wars in the province long since been growing several general, or the man in the street. during the 15 and 16 hundreds pieces of land at a time, mostly in a strongly contributed to the chan- three rotation manor; they farmed long tradition in the area, but did ging of the landscape; the few two fields and let the third one lie not produce any profit of sort. The woodland areas still remaining in fallow. In the north there was not woodland farmers could however the south were eradicated and the enough nutritious soil to farm the sell or trade products like logs, lumber was used in the production land in that fashion. Stock-farming charcoal and tar. By trading timber of war ships. Today, only few fo- was an equally important means of for seed, they managed the strai- supporting oneself. ned economy. Oak and beech tim- The transition area ber was in excess and the farmers was a mix between would take the logs to the towns the two; stock-far- and sell it. Outside the towns, saw- Woodlands ming was important mills were built to meet the needs and they farmed the for sawn timber. land in a two rotation way. In the transition area, stock-far- Transition area ming had a long tradition, and was In the woodlands in essential for the livelihood of the the north, living was farmers, who had during a long very much based on period of time optimized the bree- Plains the forest. The fields ding of cattle and horses. As a side were very small, and income they let southern farmers’ would only support cattle graze the large enclosures a small household. that were made on the fringe land Stock-farming has a of the villages.

4 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 The village... ter village and the round village, of bole houses and half-timbered In the fertile lands of the south, both pretty similar. The houses house was actually rather similar. the first land reform took place as were gathered around the com- The difference was the material early as in the middle ages. The ef- mon ground, the between the po- fect was a re-allocation of the ara- church or along ”Contrary to previous les: planks in ble land within the boundaries of the village street theories, the prototype the bole houses the village. The idea was to gather in either perfect and clay in the the fields that were cultivated at circles (round vil- for house building half-timbered. the same time within one enclo- lage) or in a more came from the next The bole houses sure. This meant that the fields of random pattern were cold and the farmers were joined together (cluster village). door neighbour and draughty, and in to optimize the farming. not from mansions the north of Skå- In the north the ne the dwelling- From the Middle Ages and up to villages were and castles.” houses would the land reform in 1734, the land small with no more than ten be proper log-cabins, while bole of the village was divided into inä- farms. The farms were scattered houses mostly were used as sta- gor (close land) and utmarker (out- and many times the village boun- bles, barns and lofts. In the transi- lying fringe land). The close land daries were hard to define. In the tion area, however, the dwelling- included fields and meadows adja- south the villages were larger with houses of large four-winged farms cent to the houses, while the fringe twenty farms or more. In size, the were built with the bole house land was a common area outside transition area villages were habi- technique. Half-timbered houses the cultivated fields. The common tually in between. could also be found in the transi- ground was normally used as pas- tion area, with heavier timber and tures for the livestock. The houses... smaller distance between the poles The styles and structurs of houses than in the south. In the villages, the land reforms and farms were strongly influen- could also mean that the houses ced by the qualities and the econo- The plains farmers built their were regulated. A common form mical preconditions of the cultural houses with a large distance bet- was that the farms previously landscape. Above all, two building ween the poles. The poles were were situated alone or scattered in techniques were used, resulting in sometimes erected on wooden or small groups, always connected the half-timbered houses (kors- stone sills, but, more often, the to the grown field or the pasture. virkeshus) and the bole houses poles were erected directly on the With the land reform and the or- (skiftesverkshus). The half-timbe- ground. The distance between the ganization of the rotation growing red houses were introduced from poles could be up to six feet. In the system the farms were moved Germany and Denmark, and as space between twigs were twined and created a larger and stronger these houses required less timber, and smeared with clay. Clay could unit. Most of the villages in south- they became more and more com- be found in abundance on the ern Skåne started like this, with a mon as the forests diminished in plain, and was also used for the group of farms gathered around a the south of Skåne. In central and floors of the houses. The half-tim- central common ground. The gro- north Skåne, accordingly, the bole bered houses were dark, damp and wing fields were gathered outside houses were more widely spread. smoky, which contributed to has- on one side, and the fringe pastu- ten the introduction of windows. res on the other side of the village. The bole house was structured The roof of the half-timbered with a frame work from floor to houses was made of straw that was The villages in Skåne were very roof that was filled with horizon- bunched together and put on ho- different in character, and you can tal planks. The poles of the frame rizontal laths. The technique was hardly speak of the typical Skåne work rested on sills and reached used long into the 19th century. village. There were, however, all theThe way construction up to the roof beams. two general structures: the clus- The load-bearing construction In south and central Skåne the

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 5 four-winged farm dominated. The four wings contained both dwelling-house and stables. The dwelling-house could include kitchen, farm-hand and maid’s cabinets, living room and bed chamber. The all under one roof-principle is typical for Skåne farms. In the rest of Sweden it was more common to build separate houses for different purposes, the bakery, the brewery, the laundry and so on. In addition to the dwelling-house and the ani- mal house, the farm consisted of barns, stables and store rooms.

Not all people lived in farms. From Half-timbered house (korsvirkeshus) the middle of the 17th century a large increase in population occur- building came from the next door red. This is the main reason for the hands and men with food and neighbour and not from mansions re-introduction of land parceling drinks. The wives and daughters and castles. The village commu- (hemmansklyvning). Land parce- were busy in the home, making nity was vital for its inhabitants; ling was a form of re-structuring food baskets as the working crew inclusion in the community meant of properties where you split the should be kept with beer and food survival. No one wanted to be su- property into several independent throughout the work. Directly perior to their neighbours, and risk units to be divided equally among upon the completion, the building exclusion. A typical Swedish atti- several people. The splitting of proprietor would host a “smearing tude, even today. Thus, the farms properties came natural when the party” (klinegille), as a compensa- and houses all had traits from the master of the farm died and the tion for the help. local culture, and the building property was divided between the methods were reliable as they were sons. As farming grew more and This is a typical depiction, not picked up from houses in the vici- more effective, with new techni- only of the building of a house but nity. cal innovations, the farmers could of the social structure of every- also manage with lesser ground day working life. Even if the work In late 18th century writings from than before. The land parceling tasks differed, everyone did their the southern plains we are told also made its mark on the way of important part to fulfill their com- that the whole village, or even the building. The smaller households mon goal. whole parish, participated in the required smaller houses; there was building of a half-timbered house. Niclas Kronroth is a trained no need to build houses with many They used work shifts where the Archaeologist with a history and rooms, so the one room house be- methods and the form of the buil- antropology degree. He has par- came more common. The growing ding were transferred through ticipated in several excavations in lower classes also increased the participation and observation. The the Malmö-Lund area. building of small houses. men cut the trees and erected the Nowadays he works with dist- poles, while the farm-hands dug The collected skills of the vil- ribution at the biggest regional clay-pits and carried the clay to the lage influenced the appearance of newspaper, Sydsvenskan maids who twined the twigs and the house as building was a cul- smeared the clay on the walls. The He lives outside Lund in the tural matter. Contrary to previous sons of the farm served the farm- southern plains area of Skåne. theories, the prototype for house

6 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 text: Joachim Dalsland Schönström folk costumes images: Bertil Landegren

Emigration conference - “Letters to Sweden” 13-15 August 2010

The international emigration con- across the Atlantic. There is so This time around, the conference ference ”Letters to Sweden” will much to gain from this at both has grown to a three day event. take place for the second time ends.” After a proper marketing cam- next summer. The venue is Mel- She was also the driving force be- paign, the hosts are confident that lerud in Dalsland. The event will hind the first conference held two the participants will grow in num- be hosted by Emigration Dalsland, years ago. bers compared to the last time. Vasaorden av America and Släktfors- kare på Dahl. “Last time was a success with a “This time we’ve started well great turn-up on two days of activi- ahead. We’ve been over to the US Anneli Andersson is one of the ties, with a good mix between Swe- several times to spread the mes- hosts who have spent many hours dish and American genealogists.” sage.” organizing the event: It started with a Dalsland outing This autumn’s Swedgen Tour was “The purpose of the conference on Friday, including a visit to the also a good opportunity to pro- is to create the meeting between the herbary in Dals-Rostock. Fri- mote the conference. the Swedish and American genea- day night’s dinner was enjoyed at logist. We want to build a bridge Skötterud’s farm. The three day Emigration Confe- Bernt Blomgren and Bertil Landegren rence starts on Friday with a tour Saturday was spent at Kulturbru- of the beautiful landscape of Dals- ket in Mellerud. More than 200 land. paying visitors spent the day at- ”We will go by train and bus, vi- tending seminars and the two floor sit interesting museums, churches exhibition. The program ended and farms and learn more about with banquet and entertainment the lives of our ancestors.” from Ove Clapson Band, and Ove Clapson performing as Olle i Saturday is the day of seminars at Skratthult. Kulturbruket, Mellerud. You can

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 7 Dalsland. After the service we will Ove Clapson performing as Olle i have church coffee together in the Skratthult Olle i Skratthult old vicarage, which now is a mu- His given name was Hjalmar seum. Peterson, and he was born in the Swedish province of Värm- The conference fee includes Fri- land. He first arrived in the U.S. day lunch and supper, Saturday in 1906, working as a bricklayer. lunch, snacks and banquet, and After a two year spell back in Sunday church coffee with Swe- Sweden, collecting songs and dish sandwiches. A personal one- stories, he came back to Ameri- to-one session with a genealogist ca in 1911 and adopted the stage is also optionally included. During name Olle i Skratthult (Olle from the conference you will have an Laughtersville. English speaking hostess for your service. He began performing on the Scandinavian-language vaudeville circuit. Olle was a bondkomiker learn more about Swedish history Anneli Andersson concludes: (peasant comic), and he dres- and culture and meet with Swe- “ We’re very happy with the pro- sed the part with a blacked-out dish people. As it will be open to gram, and proud to have been able tooth and straw-colored wig. everyone interested in emigration to attract such distinguished spea- history and genealogy, this will be kers.” For many years Olle was the the perfect opportunity to make most famous performer in Scan- She points out that the seminar connections between Swedish and dinavian vaudeville. During the subjects are very general on ge- American people. 1920s he toured the U.S with a nealogy and emigrant history. large band and was enthusiasti- Berith Blomgren and Patricia ”The conference is in Dalsland, cally greeted by both ethnic and Anderson at lake Ånimmen but it’s not about Dalsland. The mainstream audiences. subjects are chosen to appeal to Read more about Olle i Skratthult everyone.” and listen to some of his ”We can hardly wait till summer!” recordings at: Sign up for the newsletter www.catfish1952.com/Olle.html and read all details about the conference: www.emigrationdalsland.com Veteran Volvo and SAAB at display outside the exhibition hall. Courtesy of It will also be possible to book a Veteran Classic Dalsland 30 minute individual session with a genealogist to work on your own family tree. The day ends with a banquet with entertainment and a Swedish smorgasbord in one of Dalsland´s beautifully situated countryside restaurants.

On Sunday the participants are invited to a church service in Bol- stad church, the oldest church in

8 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 text: Paul Wahlquist images: Washington County Historical Society

Living in Swedeland USA Log jam at Taylors Falls, Minn. on St.Croix River in 1884.

It is easy to see why Swedish aut- Here the immigrants would ar- was ideal for the immigrants be- hor Vilhelm Moberg selected the rive via steam boat, or, later on, cause they worked in the forests area just northeast of St. Paul by train. Before they could afford during the winter, then they could and Minneapolis as the setting to buy a home of their own, they improve their farms during the for his Emigrant Novels. The area usually lived with relatives. For summer. was often jokingly referred to as those used to work in the forests, ”Swedeland USA”. In 1880 there there was plenty of work in the Immigrants who in Sweden never were about 65,000 Swedes living lumbering industry. Millions of owned any land now became ow- in Minnesota. logs floated down the St Croix Ri- ners of very large farms. But how ver each year to the saw mills. So- were these Swedish immigrants to In Rooted in Sweden no 7, Paul metimes there were so many logs buy farmland once they came to Wahlquist started his story about jammed on the river that a person Minnesota? The United States had the Swedish emigrants who ended could walk on logs from one shore paid bonuses to the veterans of the up in Swedeland USA. This is the to other. Revolutionary War, The War of second part of the story. 1812, and the Mexican War. The The immigrants used the money federal government did this by The area started at Stillwater/Ma- they earned lumbering to buy issuing certificates (scrip) which rine on the St. Croix and continued more land for their farms. In the entitled the veteran to claim 40 to north including Scandia, Big Ma- winter the immigrant lumbermen 160 acres of government owned rine Lake, Lindstrom/Center City, would take their horses with them land in Minnesota. In some cases Osceola, Taylors Falls, Almelund, to the forests and earn extra money scrip was used to pay off other go- Kost, Sunrise and finished at Pine pulling the logs from the forest to vernment debts. City. the river’s edge. Being lumbermen

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 9 By a Congressional Act in 1852 to support the common schools, the Church became a meeting the scrip was made negotiable so the state university and railroad place for the immigrants. The ser- it could be sold. Many of the ve- construction. A state was divi- vices were in Swedish using the terans who held ded into counties same hymnals they used in Swe- scrip for Min- ”After the Church and each coun- den. But unlike Sweden the chur- nesota land had ty was divided ches were not controlled by the no intention of Service relatives and into townships. government. Each Parish Church moving there. friends gathered at the When a township was independent and had its own Because the scrip was surveyed it governing council. The governme- could be sold home of one of the fa- would usually nt did not designate a geographical the veterans sold milies, eat dinner and be divided into area that would be called a Parish their land certi- catch up on the news.” 36 sections. One like the Swedish government. The ficates to mer- section wouldFrom be left: immigrantsAnna-Lena, Charlotte, usually went to the chants, bankers and land specula- designated as school land. When Olof,church Anneli closest and to Kathy their home or to tors, often for very small amount the land in this section was sold the church attended by other rela- of money. It was from these ow- the money went into a special tives and friends.

Loading of logs

ners of the certificates, usually fund for building schools. These Because the farms were large and speculators, that the immigrants schools were called Land Grant isolated, Sunday would be a day of acquired good, cheap farm land. schools and universities. Most of meeting with other people. After the immigrant’s children recei- the Church Service relatives and Another source of land was the ved their education in Land Grant friends gathered at the home of State of Minnesota. The States did schools. one of the families, eat dinner and not usually have land to sell but catch up on the news. the federal government granted Because most of the Swedish im- land to a state which it could sell migrants were raised as Lutherans, The emigrants wanted their child-

10 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 ren to be educated. So they would The son of immigrants described munity to gather and socialize. On receive money from the govern- living in Swedeland in his me- a Saturday evening they would ment to organize a school district moirs: bring food to the school and have and build one room school hous- a smorgasbord. After eating they We lived in a little two room ca- es within walking distance of would sing. They loved the songs bin in the wilderness. There were the farms. Sometimes they built they brought with them from Swe- ten in the family sleeping in one schools with their own money. Of- den. They would sing Hälsa Dem room and the other room was used ten four or more schools were lo- Där Hemma and Nikolina. Then for the kitchen, dining and living. cated in a township. they would practice their English We walked two and one half miles by singing American favorites, to school, rain or shine. I missed The children in the schools would Home on the Range and Oh! Su- much time in school because I had range in age from 5 years to 17 sanna. They also loved to act in to stay at home and help with the years old. Usually the older stu- plays using English. This way the harvest work in the Fall and see- dents attended school to learn community learned to communi- ding time in the Spring. Everyth- English since most of the people cate with those people who didn’t ing was hard work at the time. in Swedeland spoke Swedish in speak Swedish. But there were their homes. Although the school It was quite a trip to church and immigrants who refused to learn year started in September many too far for regular Sunday School English.

One Room School House in 1906 of the students did not start clas- so most of the time we had Sunday Another important part of the ses until late October because they School in our one room school community was the General Store were helping to harvest the crops. house. which was usually located in the Some of the school teachers spoke same area as the school. Since Swedish but the lessons were con- The one room school houses were most of the farms were quite far ducted in English. not only used to educate the child- from a town, the general store ren, they were a place for the com- was convenient when the people

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 11 needed necessities for everyday li- between the immigrants and the In Sweden they ate sill (herring), ving. The store would sell food, Indians appeared to be peaceful. salmon and cod. But Swedeland clothing, tools and hardware like was over a thousand miles from nails, bolts and screws. Almost al- One incident is recorded as fol- the nearest ocean so they missed ways the store owner spoke Swe- lows: these foods. The grocery stores dish. had barrels of pickled herring or Time and again an Indian chief smoked dried herring. If the im- The general store also bought pro- would knock at the log cabin and migrants wanted fresh fish they duce from the farmers like eggs, show a quarter of a butchered deer would catch them in the lakes and cream, vegetables and fruit. The and would do a few grunts and rivers of Swedeland. cream would be made into but- motions and Grandma understood ter to be sold or ”Christmas was a and brought a big The immigrant’s son remembered: the store owner loaf of her bread would sell it to the happy time. Dad usu- and they thanked Christmas was a happy time. Dad nearest creamery. ally butchered a cow and the trade was usually butchered a cow and a pig. Once a week done until next Mother made Swedish sausage. the store owner and a pig. Mother time. We had a big dinner on Christmas would load up made Swedish sau- Eve. There was Lutefisk and flat his wagon with In 1857 the In- bread and many other good things. the produce he sage...There was Lu- dians suddenly The first presents I remember were purchased from tefisk and flat bread disappeared from socks and mittens which Mother the farmers and Swedeland and had knit from her homespun yarn. drive to the nea- and many other good moved north and In later years I remember we got rest large town things.” west. So by the small trinkets from the dimestore. or city. He would 1860’s when the I can remember getting a little sell the produce and buy items to immigrants started arriving in wooden goat, which broke shortly, restock his inventory. much larger numbers, they rarely and my brother got a porcelain cat The owner usually kept his store encountered Indians. which he had for many years. At 5 open from early morning to late AM Christmas morning Pa would in the evening seven days a week. Famines were one of the reasons load us up in the sleigh and we But because so many of the people why the Swedes decided to im- would go to “Julotta” at church in stopped by the store it also became migrate. Poor rural Swedes knew Scandia. a place where they found out the what it was like to eat bark bread latest information about the com- when no rains fell so almost no rye But Swedeland changed as the years munity, who was sick, who had a and barley crops survived. The pe- passed. Most of the immigrant’s new baby or who had died. ople already living in Swedeland children born in America could wrote letters back telling how speak and read Swedish but few Swedeland, early in the 1800’s, abundant food was in America. of the grandchildren learned Swe- had been inhabited by the Chip- They wrote about the big farms dish. Up until the 1930’s the Chur- pewa and Sioux Indian Tribes. The they had developed. They told ches would have two services, one area had been claimed by both tri- about their big gardens, how they in English and one in Swedish. But bes and there had been wars over butchered pigs and beef cattle each after that time the services would who controlled the area. Although fall to feed themselves over the only be in English. there were newspaper reports winter. The Swedes sold almost that the Indians would burn the everything they owned to buy a The only time the grandchildren settler’s wood and haystacks and ticket to Swedeland. thought about their Swedish heri- steal their furs and traps, no one The immigrants did have all the tage was at Christmas when dinner in Swedeland remembered this food they needed when they settled would include lutefisk, meatballs, happening. Most of the encounters in Swedeland but it was different. rice pudding and boiled potatoes.

12 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 They might receive a Christmas card from a relative in Sweden Margareta Jacobs that said “God Jul” but that was about the only Swedish words they Our member, Margareta A. Ja- Margareta was a devout genea- recognized. Once the immigrants cobs, Washington D.C. has pas- logist, and I am sure many of our left Sweden they, their children sed away and left $10,000 to the members have been in touch or their grandchildren almost ne- DIS Society. with her. Last year while parti- cipating in the Swedgen work- ver returned to visit the places in I got to know Margareta in 1995, shop at the Swedish embassy in Sweden that the family had called when I visited Washington D.C. Washington, I had the opportu- home. on a genealogy tour. We went nity to speak to her again. Born and raised in the Big Lake for a visit to the magnificent Area outside of Minneapolis, Library of Congress, and were My hopes are that DIS, with this Paul Wahlquist now lives in Los guided through the section for generous gift, will be able to Angeles, CA. local history by Margareta and a further the Swedish-American colleague of hers. bonds even more. Paul has published several local history articles and with Dick Olof Cronberg Johnson a book called Pioneers of the Big Lake Community. the digital race Update on Swedish Online Resources SVAR Genline Ancestry ArkivDigital Church records Örebro, Uppsala, Södermanland, Complete Värmland’s Complete - Blekinge, Dalarna, -1860 Halland, Kopparberg, Västman- län and partly Gävleborg, Göteborgs och Bo- land, Östergötland, Kronoberg, Älvsborg’s län. hus, Halland, Jönköping, Kalmar, Jönköping, Kalmar, Gävleborg, Kronoberg, Skaraborg, Söder- Västernorrland, Norrbotten, manland, Uppsala, Värmland, Västerbotten, Jämtland and Västmanland, Älvsborg, Örebro Värmland’s län. Skaraborg’s län and and Östergötland’s län. Stockholm’s stad in production. The rest are in progress. Church records Same as above. Complete vital records Same as above Same as above 1860-95 Complete vital records (SCB (SCB extracts). extracts). Complete for husför- hörslängder Church records Partly - - - 1895-1905 Vital records Complete SCB extracts Complete to 1920. - In production 1898-1937 1920-1937 in production Taxation records Complete - - Partly 1642-1820 Census indexes 1860,1870 partly - - - 1880, 1890,1900 complete 1910 in production. Other records Convicts, military records - Emihamn passenger Court records, probate Indexes of seamen, villages and lists. US census. records, military records, farms, ... school records, prison records, name registers Fee - lowest fee 50 kr (7,- USD) for 3 75 kr (10,- USD) for 24 Free to try, but 30,- 135 kr (19,- USD) for a hours hours USD for a month month Fee - annual fee 995 kr (137,- USD) 1395 kr (192,- USD) 300,- USD 1045 kr (144,- USD) (DIS Members offer) (DIS Members offer) Web site www.svar.ra.se www.genline.com www.ancestry.com www.arkivdigital.se

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 13 quickly find Emiweb) where you can find most the solutions. of the emigrants from Sweden; Some visitors Swedish population 1890,1900, wanted help 1970 and 1980, where you can find with everyth- those who stayed in Sweden; Swe- ing, while oth- dish Death Records 1947-2003 and ers just wanted Buried in Sweden (info about five i n for mat ion million tombs in Sweden). about how to proceed and I talked about the Disbyt databa- wanted to do se, which now has passed 21 mil- the research lion records and also about Dispos themselves. to easier find the records in the church books. Anneli Andersson For each tour, talked about the emigration from it’s apparent Sweden, why they left, how they that it’s get- lived in Sweden, which occupa- ting more and tions they had and so on. more easy to find the roots The new lecture for this tour was in Sweden. We about Historical maps, which tried to keep Anna-Lena Hultman held. The track of the National Land Surveyor Office in SwedGen Tour 2009 results, and Sweden has digitized all historical about 90% of maps, and they are available at the the problems website of Lantmäteriet. The ea- text: Olof Cronberg were possible siest way to access them, however, images: Charlotte Börjesson to solve. is to go through our Dispos pages. In October 2009, it was time for In some cases, the information a new Swedgen Tour visiting Mas- on the US side was too limited On the tour, Genline was repre- schusetts, Connecticut and Min- to make a solid match with Swe- sented by Kathy Meade (from US) nesota. During the trip, 72 new dish data. For example, if you only and Jan Eurenius (from Sweden). members joined the Dis Society, know that your ancestors name Kathy did a presentation of Genli- which is a new record. Perhaps was Nils Andersson and you don’t ne and the Swedish church records you that are reading this article know birth year or immigration on-line and Jan helped us out with are a new member. year, and he died to early to be in the one-on-ones. When we were the census 1900. In Sweden, Nils not lecturing, we all had one-on- During the five stops we met many Andersson is simply a too com- ones where we during 30 minutes genealogists. Some were young and mon name. In other cases, the pro- tried to answer questions and solve some were old. Some started doing blem was in the 1700s when the problems. genealogy that very day, while oth- information in Swedish records is ers had been researching the fami- more limited. The two most common questions ly history for years. The visitors at were how to do research in Swe- the workshops were all very happy This year, some of the lectures dish records and why did they to discuss their problems with real were new and some were old. change their name and who did it? Swedish genealogists, exchange Charlotte Börjesson talked about In Sweden, family history research experiences and get help with pro- CDs to get started with Swedish is easy because of good sources. blem solving. It is great fun for genealogy, such as the Emibas CD We have something called house- us to try to be the wizards who (now replaced by a web site called hold examination rolls or clerical

14 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 surveys, which only exist in Swe- people deci- den and Finland. These records ded themsel- cover 5-10 years for each volume ves, which and contain everyone that lived in surname they every farm and village, with infor- wanted to use mation about births, migrations, and adopted it. marriages and deaths that occur- red during this time period. The soldiers names have We have thus a contemporary in- a special his- dex to the church records, and tory, which you don’t lose people who move is too long to The Tour Participants from one place to another, because describe here. go. We took a lot of photos of the that’s also noted in the records. The Swedish tradition of surnames tombstones with Swedish names, Look out for more thorough infor- (including some soldiers names) is and Anna-Lena and Anneli will mation about this in future issues that the name consists of two parts try to identify the people and also of Rooted in Sweden. where one part has a connection to publish the photos in the future. the place, farm, village or parish, The second question about why and the other part is just an ad- Another stop was the Godfrey li- they changed their names, I think dition. For example, my surname brary in Middletown, Connecti- is interesting, because we get the Cronberg could be derived from a cut, which I assume is one of the same question in Sweden. Until the place called something with “cron” largest genealogical libraries in beginning of the 1900s in Sweden, as Landskrona or Karlskrona, and the New England area. We found we didn’t have any special rules then – berg is just an addition. some records of interest with Swe- about adopting or changing surna- dish immigrants. It was records of mes, but you could almost do as you Many changed their surnames af- local funeral homes and tombs at pleased. I assume that the situation ter arriving in the US simply be- cemeteries in the area. The library was the same in the US. Common cause it wasn’t convenient with has a lot of useful information on situations when you changed your to many Swanson’s, Nelson’s and their web site, which has been des- name were when you moved to a Johnson’s. Many of the new names cribed earlier in Rooted in Sweden. town or if you were a soldier. Of- were very Swedish sounding like ten the tradition is that somebody Bjorkstrand, Lundberg or Rehn- It was three very intensive weeks, else in higher position should have lund. Even here I think that most but very fun and vitalizing. We decided the new surname, and that people decided themselves, which wish to say a big thank you to all the receiver just had to accept the name to use. I don’t believe that the local organizations that helped name. However, I think that most the name changed because some- us in the US and also to the spon- body couldn’t write the name cor- sors of the trip, the Dis Society, rectly when arriving in the US at Genline and Lantmäteriet). Ellis Island.

During the tour, we made seve- Read all about the tour at: ral stops at Swedish cemeteries. www.swedgentour.blogg.se I was surprised to find that there were so many cemeteries in Mas- Other websites mentioned: sachusetts, Rhode Island and Con- www.emiweb.se necticut. You don’t hear about www.lantmateriet.se those states as Swedish-American www.genline.se states in Sweden. But Anna-Lena and Anneli knew exactly where to www.godfrey.org

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 15 images: Courtesy of Christmas as Celebrated Swedish American Genealogist in My Childhood

As told by Nils William Olsson to his grandchildren and other listeners

A kitchen in the Österlen area of Skåne, late 1800s. Painted by Frans Lindberg.

For this issue Rooted in Sweden and radio were non-existent and middle of November we purcha- has been fortunate to ”borrow” life as a whole was rather primi- sed the Christmas delicacy lutfisk, an article from the quarterly jour- tive, without indoor plumbing. We which consisted of sundried cod, nal Swedish American Genealogist had six miles to the nearest phar- hard as a board. It had to be softe- (SAG). SAG was founded in 1981 macy. If we needed a prescription ned to be edible and was placed in by Nils William Olsson and is still filled we had to send it to Älmhult a pan of water laced with lye. Eve- being published by The Swenson via the mor- ry evening my Swedish Immigration Research ning train and ”Then we all took a parents would Center. This article was published fetch the medi- exchange the wa- in 2005. Many thanks to current cine via the af- slice of rye bread and ter, so as to keep editor Elisabeth Thorsell who ini- ternoon south- dipped it into a pot the water fresh. tiated this loan. bound express. Later in Novem- of boiling ham stock ber and early I have been asked to relate so- Preparations for made from cooking the December mot- mething about the celebration of Christmas be- her would make Christmas of my childhood and I gan early. The Christmas ham. As we preparations for shall try to depict how this holi- first thing was consumed the bread Christmas food. day was celebrated in my village to pick out a of Killeberg in northern Skåne suitable Christ- we wished each other She baked many at the beginning of the 20th cen- mas tree. Since Merry Christmas.” types of coo- tury. Bear in mind that we resided we lived near kies and the high in a rural area, where there was the forest, partly owned by my un- point was when we siblings were no electricity, and where we used cle Anthon, we had his permission all given a slice of dough to make kerosene lamps for lighting. TV to choose our tree early. About the our own pepparkakor and to name

16 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 our creations. I Then we all took a slice of rye have forgotten bread and dipped it into a pot of what I made, but boiling ham stock made from coo- I still remember king the Christmas ham. As we what my sister consumed the bread we wished Lillie named her each other Merry Christmas. Be- cookie vovväx- cause of this annual ritual, Christ- ling. Mother also mas Eve became known as dop- made a special paredan (dipping day). Thus we rye bread for the counted the days before doppare- holidays. dan by reciting as we arose “To- day is the fifth day before dipping Next came the pre- day,” (dan före dan före doppare- paration of meat- dan) counting down each day until balls, pork and po- we awoke on the morning of the tato sausage, the magic day Christmas Eve. fresh Christmas ham, head chee- After having “dipped in the pot” se made from a (dopp i grytan) at noon, we child- bought half pig’s ren became impatient with how head and a spe- slowly the time passed before the cial veal concoc- evening’s event. In desperation tion called kalv- mother went up into the attic and sylta. Herring brought down the Christmas ma- was bought and One of the Christmas magazines. gazines of the previous year which made into all ty- for Christmas. Needless to say I she wisely had saved. This maneu- pes of herring delicacies, such as also made a little pocket money. ver silenced us and restored a cer- ättikssill, kryddsill, etc. tain sense of tranquillity. A specialty of Swedish Christ- As the days of December sped mas was the publishing of special by and we came closer to the ho- At six o’clock we gathered for Christmas magazines, which came liday, we children began a count- the Christmas Eve dinner, when out about the first of December. down, usually All publishing companies, church five days before groups, and many non-profit orga- Christmas Eve. I nizations had their own version of should mention the Christmas publications, jultid- that at noon on ningar, aimed at children, youth, Christmas Eve and adults, usually filled with ori- the holiday was ginal Christmas stories, poems, ushered in by cultural articles, puzzles, and so- all of us gathe- metimes including art reproduc- ring in the kit- tions which ultimately ended up chen, beginning festooning the outhouse. At the the ceremony by age of eleven I became the agent singing “Fröjdas for one of these publishers and vart sinne, julen made the round of the village, ta- är inne,” (All re- king orders, collecting money, and joice, Christmas A traditional Swedish delivering the magazines in time is here). Christmas Coffee table.

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 17 the goodies mother had prepa- had not heard from father, who red over a period of weeks made usually was a good correspondent. their appearance, beginning with Noting mother’s sad face from the smörgåsbord, continuing with worrying, after the distribution of lutfisk served with boiled potatoes the presents, I volunteered to run and melted butter. Then came the down to the post office in the rail- climax: rice porridge (risgryns- road station to check the mailbox. gröt), served with half-and-half Mother objected, saying it was of Klenätter cream, sugar, and cinnamon. Mot- no use, we had already picked up her had hidden a blanched almond the day’s mail. I insisted and don- in the porridge and there was great ning my brand new pullover swea- A recipe for klenätter merriment when we discovered ter I ran down the railroad track, 3 tablespoons butter who was the lucky finder. Finally breathing a prayer “Good God, came the last of the feasting: kle- let there be a letter from father.” 5 egg yolks nor or klenätter served with straw- I opened box Number 76 and lo 4 tablespoons granulated sugar berry jam. These cakes were made the prayer was answered. There Grated rind from half a lemon of the same dough as doughnuts lay a letter from father with the 2-3 cups ordinary wheat flour and fried in hot grease. wellknown U.S. stamps. I literally flew home and we all rejoiced that Melt the butter and let it cool. Then came the main event of the that Christmas Eve had ended on a Mix egg yolks and sugar, and then day, the gathering around the very joyous note. mix in the other ingredients until Christmas tree, which was lit by it makes a firm cookie dough. Notes live candles (we did not worry Let it sit in the fridge overnight. The earliest note of a Christmas about the tree catching fire since Next day roll the dough out thinly. tree in Sweden comes from the it was freshly cut and impervious Then cut it into slanting rectang- noble family of Wrede-Sparre at to flames). Since father was in the les 10 centimeters long and three Stora Lundy in Södermanland in U.S. over two Christmases, at- centimeters wide. tempting to save money for our 1741. Make a slit in the middle of each passage to the United States, it was According to a 1968 survey, only piece, along the middle, and then up to mother to read the Christ- 49% of the participants in the turn the end of the cookie th- mas story from St. Luke. I have survey had lutfisk on their table. to admit that my attention flitted rough the slit. The person who found the al- from mother’s reading the Gospel Then deep-fry a few cookies at a mond in the rice porridge was to the pile of packages beckoning time until golden. under the tree. The reading finally going to get married during the over, we opened the presents. We next year. noted that there were two types – soft and hard – the former consisted usually of mittens, sweaters, socks, underwear, and while ap- preciated, they were put aside in favor of the hard packages, which A quarterly journal devoted to contained such exciting things as Swedish American biography, ge- books, Christmas magazines, and nealogy, and personal history. toys. Founded in 1981. Subscribers are invited to a genea- The Christmas of 1921 is most vi- Subscription $28 per calendar year. logical workshop in Salt Lake City vidly etched in my memory. Most Website: each October. of December had passed and we www.augustana.edu/x13918.xml

18 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 Nils William Olsson - a great scholar

Nils William Olsson (NWO) was born 1909 in Seattle, WA, of Swe- dish parents, and died in 2007 in Winter Park, Fl. His life spanned almost a century, and during that time he had a remarkable career.

When he was very young his mother died and his father brought Nils William Olsson him and his siblings back to the and his wife Dagmar grandparents in Skåne, and they text: Elisabeth Thorsell stayed for about 10 years in Swe- image: Bengt Thorsell den, which is why he spoke Swe- in 1962 he was posted to Oslo, and His proudest achievement, howe- dish without an American accent. returned in1966 to the U.S. and re- ver, was probably his launching in In the early 1920s they moved tired the following year. 1981 of a new quarterly magazine back to the U.S. after his father Swedish American Genealogist, had remarried. In 1967 he was appointed ex- which is still being published by ecutive director of the American The Swenson Swedish Immigra- After graduation from high school Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, tion Research Center, based at Au- he continued his education at Minnesota, a position he held for gustana College, Rock Island, IL. North Park College in Chicago, six years. In 1973 he helped orga- He continued to edit SAG until he and later became a teacher of Swe- nize the new Swedish Council of retired in 1997. dish at the University of Chicago. America, and served as its first ex- In World War II he enlisted in the ecutive secretary from 1973 until NWO received numerous honors navy and was assigned to the U.S. 1984. and awards throughout his life. Legation in Stockholm until 1945. In 1968 he was granted an hono- His interest in Sweden It is at this time that he started his and Scan- rary doctoral degree from Uppsala career as a researcher of Swedish dinavia was prominent throughout University in Uppsala, Sweden, immigration history. his life. Probably his most out- and in 1969 he was named “Swe- standing accomplishment was his dish-American of the Year” by the After the war he returned to the more than twenty years of research Vasa Order of America in Swe- University of Chicago and ob- on Swedish immigration which re- den. In 1994 he received the Victor tained his Ph.D. in 1949. In 1947 sulted in his magnum opus, Swe- Örnberg Memorial Prize from The he was the executive secretary of dish Passenger Arrivals in New Swedish Federation of Genealogi- the Swedish Pioneer Centennial, York, 1820-1850, published by the cal Societies. which later resulted in the start of Royal Library in Stockholm, Swe- the Swedish Pioneer’s Historical den, in 1967, which was enlarged NWO was married in 1940 to Society (now Swedish American and re-published in 1995, written Dagmar Gavert, born in the U.S. Historical Society), where he wro- with the late Erik Wikén. In addi- of Swedish parents, who died in te many articles for their Quarterly. tion, NWO wrote numerous artic- 2008. They had three children, In 1950 he joined the U.S. Infor- les, monographs, and other acade- three grandchildren and five great mation Agency and was posted to mic papers, dealing mostly with grandchildren. Reykjavik and Stockholm. Having Swedish immigration, personal joined the U.S. State department history, and genealogy.

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 19 text and images: Dee Kleinow Swedish Genealogical Society of Minnesota

Second in line in the series of pre- The SGSM Board strongly belie- nected with living relatives and sentations of Swedish American ves having experienced speakers visited their ancestral homes and genalogy socities is the Swedish on subjects aimed at the Society communities. Genealogical Society of Minnesota. goals will grow the organization. Dee Kleinow of the SGSM brings (See a list of recent program topics Membership is open to anyone us this introduction. at the end of this article.) interested in Swedish genealogy, without cost. However, if you The goals of the Society are to Providing the attendees help not wish to receive the newsletter (Tid- assist members in their Swedish- easily obtainable elsewhere will ningen) there is a subscription fee, American genealogical research also do this. A warm, friendly which also gives you free access by: “Team” attitude is encouraged, to the MGS Library. If you wish to 1 - promoting an awareness both within our organization and attend a meeting, there is a fee to of our Swedish-American culture with others where a mutual benefit cover rent, refreshments and spea- and heritage will result, especially in Sweden. ker honorariums. You only pay for 2 - helping members research The picture below from our re- what you use. their ancestry with the use of our cent Fall Research Conference de- databases and online resources monstrates this teamwork where The SGSM “Gurus” are mem- 3 - providing classes, semi- we hosted the four participants of bers that volunteer their time and nars and one-on-one assistance to the SwedGenTour2009: the Swe- talents to analyze, translate, and researchers dish American Genealogist Edi- use their personal computers, da- 4 - providing informative pro- tor, Genline Sweden and Genline tabases and database subscriptions grams on Swedish genealogy, im- North America representatives. at our meetings to help you over- migration and history come your “brick walls” through 5 - publishing materials (pos- Our growing membership shows one-on-one help. Some are usually sibly translated) to aid research in this is working. Some in our socie- available after the speakers on our Swedish genealogy where possible ty are members of Disbyt, etc. and regular meetings, and most are and practical. have been helped that way. Many available for the entire event on members have successfully con- our full day Research Conference

20 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 Our Sales table has the book Your Swedish Roots, various clothing items, pins, patches and our 10 year CD of the past Tidningen issues. Funds from the sale of these items and from events are used to further the goals of the Society and increase our resources.

New subscribers to the Tidningen are given a “Welcome Packet” containing information about SGSM (similar to this article), a brief list of resources – books, microfilms, CDs and subscriptions many of the Gurus have, directions The Swedgen Tour ”passing to access the Genline subscription through” in October, 2009 at MGS, etc. This helps them be- events. Please remember, they are month giving a Swedish genealo- come aware of the resources avai- members of SGSM like you, some gy researcher a very good reason lable as quickly as possible. very knowledgeable and some just to make that day and/or evening getting started. ”Some members are their day to be at Refreshments and door prizes are Some have only a MGS and receive normally available at the mee- few resources and always ready to relax help. tings. Some members are always some have many. and talk about their ready to relax and talk about their Most of the Swe- And last but not favorite subject – genealogy, if dish genealogy favorite subject – least, we have a you do not wish to use the Swe- resource CDs, on- genealogy...” database of our dish resources available. line databases and members and the subscriptions are available with Swedish parishes they are resear- Or perhaps you will go to the MGS one or more of these Gurus. ching. Lookups can be made for a library in the same location where member or a parish. other ethnic and special interest Additional SGSM resources include many books, and one-half (about 150 rolls of the approx- imately 300) Minnesota Swedish American ELCA Lutheran church records on microfilms. SGSM plans to obtain more of these microfilms as funding and availabi- lity permits.

SGSM partnered with the Minne- sota Genealogical Society (MGS) to provide a Genline subscription on the computers at MGS. SGSM volunteers support the MGS Li- brary on the third Thursday of the The MGS library

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 21 groups/societies may have their 2007 Swedish Genealogical So- resources such as the African- • Early US Research and DAR ciety of Minnesota American, Canadian, Czech, Da- information The first society was organized nish, German, Irish, Norwegian, in March of 1983 as the Swedish Guest speaker: Jan Jordan Lokens- Ostfriesen, Polish, Pommern, and Genealogy Group, a branch of gard Yankee. the Minnesota Genealogical So- • Sweden Before the Vikings ciety (MGS). In March of 1999, These collections total over it adopted its own Constitu- Guest speaker: Richard Williams, 28,000 books not including the tion, becoming the Swedish Ge- (Majors in History and Archeo- map collections, newsletters, and nealogical Society of Minnesota logy), and Program Director for journals. The library is over 7,200 (SGSM) but remain a branch Dakota City Heritage Village square feet of floor space with 10 of MGS. SGSM is also a mem- computer stations having access to 2006 ber of the Swedish Council of Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and America (SCA) and has three Genline: WiFi: microfilm and mi- • What is New in Technology That a Genealogist Needs to members that have received crofiche readers: printers and copi- the SCA Award of Merit. ers, and so on. Know? Meetings: Guest speaker: Ray Kleinow, SGSM member with over 50 years The third Saturdays of January, Brief history of our past events of computer experience March, May and October in 2009 The Minnesota Genealogical • The Local Heritage Movement Society’s auditorium, MGS Li- • Fall Research Conference Guest speaker: Mariann Tiblin, brary, 1185 Concord Street Six different seminars was provi- retired Associate Professor at the North, Suite 218, South St. ded and six guest researchers from University of Minnesota Paul, MN 55075-1150. Sweden helped our Gurus give Look out for schedules, upco- one-on-one help to registered at- ming events and resources at: tendees. www.rootsweb.ancestry. • DNA or Genetic Genealogy com/~mnsgsm Guest speaker - Dan Karvonen, MGS website: www.mngs.org professor at University of Minne- sota 2008 Join the DIS Society! • The Civil War and translation of the Roos diary Are you still not a member of the DIS Society? Guest speaker John LaVine related The DIS Society is the Computer Genealogy Society of Sweden and pro- the story of Company D of the 3rd duces this e-zine Rooted in Sweden. As a member you will also get access Minnesota Infantry composed so- to the DISBYT database with over 21 millon records, which covers a third lely of Swedes and Norwegians of the total population who lived in Sweden before 1907. You will also get access to DISPOS, which is a tool to make it easier to find indexes to • 3rd Annual research meeting sources. It also provides a fast link to the Genline records. Guest speakers: Swedish Genline We are already more than 26,500 members. You are also welcome to representatives presenting up- join the DIS Society. Annual fee: USD 18,- including e-zine Rooted dates. Linda Coffin on “Turning in Sweden. USD 24,- including the Swedish magazine Diskulogen. Your Heirlooms into Stories” www.dis.se/english/

22 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • january 2010 the car, something very unusual at postscript the time. During the 50s and the 60s a number of models were rele- of One of the domestic hot topics ased, including the station wagon the autumn, besides the swine flu version, Saab 95 in 1959. and the forever current discussions on climate issues, is the financial Following a dip in sales during the crisis and eventual shut-down de- 60s, Saab had to modernize their In the autumn of 2008, GM stated cision at Saab Automobile. cars with more modern engines. In that they would try to sell Saab. 1969 the big lift came with the in- The Swedish government decla- For many years Saab has been troduction of Saab 99, which stay- red that they would be unable to one of the proud Swedish exports, ed popular until it was remodeled give financial support in order to and I always feel a sense of pride in the early 80s and became the salvage the company, and specula- whenever I spot a Saab or a Volvo equally popular Saab 900. In 1984, tions surrounding possible buyers in a big production Hollywood SAAB 9000 was launched, and constantly arose in Swedish media movie, always owned by a subur- with the 1986 Cabriolet version of throughout 2009. After a couple of ban family, never by the likes of 900, Saab successfully entered the potential deals fell through, GM James Bond or Batman. ever so important USA market. finally took the decision to shut down on December 18. Saab started as an airplane manu- In the wake of the financial crisis facturer in 1937. After WW II Saab in the early 90s, Saab was sold to During the shut-down process the- was left with an over production of General Motors. With the new more will still be a possibility that the airplanes, and had to change stra- dels 9-5 and 9-3 the Saab sales has whole or part of the operations, or tegy. The first car was developed, fluctuated between 80 and 120,000 even the brand name will be sold. and in 1949 production of Saab cars per year, never reaching the I think this is what every proud 92 began. The engineers adapted goal of 150,000. 1997, when 9-5 Swede will hope for. their knowledge from aviation and was launched was the last year the created good aero dynamics for company declared a profit. Joachim Schönström

DIS Society - Computer Genealogy Society of Sweden The DIS Society was founded in 1980 to ”to investigate methods and develop computer tools to support genealogy research, and in general stimulate Swedish genealogy”. DIS is an abbreviation of Datorhjälp i släktforskningen, which means Computer Aid in Genealogy. The abbreviation DIS is used in the Scandianavian countries, where there are sister societies. The DIS Society is a non-profit organization. There are seven regional DIS Societies working actively throughout Sweden and arranging meetings about several topics in Computer Genealogy. We also have a force of sixty faddrar, which are members that are experts giving support and help in the use of different genealogical softwares.

Since 1980, the DIS SOCIETY has developed a genealogical software called DISGEN, which is the leading software in Sweden. The current version is 8.1e. Currently, the software is only available in Swedish, but print-outs can be made in several languages including English. The software is easy-to-use and has a good support for source registration, producing print-outs and family books. It also has a unique possiblity to link your data to a Swedish map.

Since 1989, the DISBYT database has been used to find connections and exchange data between genealogists. In 1998, the database appeared on the Internet, making it even easier to find relatives. With more than 6000 participants and over 21 million records, the DISBYT database covers half of the total population who lived in Sweden before 1909.

The DIS SOCIETY publishes a quarterly magazine called DISKULOGEN in Swedish. From 2005, we have extended our efforts to also publish a newsletter in English called ROOTED IN SWEDEN, which is published as a pdf newsletter.

At present (January, 2010), the DIS SOCIETY has more than 26,500 members. More than 600 are overseas members. Address: The DIS Society, Gamla Linköping, SE-582 46 LINKÖPING, SWEDEN Phone: Int prefix+ 46 13 14 90 43. Fax: Int prefix +46 13 14 90 91. Email: [email protected] Web address: www.dis.se Annual fee: USD 18,- incl Rooted in Sweden. USD 24,- incl the Swedish magazine Diskulogen.

january 2010 • rooted in Sweden no 8 • 23