WEAVING THE ETHNIC FABRIC Social Networks Among Swedish-American Radicals in Chicago 1890-1940 Per Nordahl ALMQVIST & WIKSELL INTERNATIONAL, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN WEAVING THE ETHNIC FABRIC Social Networks Among Swedish-American Radicals in Chicago 1890 - 1940 AKADEMISK AVHANDLING som med tillstånd av Rektorsämbetet vid Umeå universitet för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen kommer att offentligen försvaras i Humanisthuset, hörsal G, lördagen den 12 november 1994, kl. 10.15 av Per Nordahl Per Nordahl, Weaving the Ethnic Fabric. Social Networks Among Swedish-American Radicals in Chicago, 1890 - 1940. Department of History, Umeå University Umeå 1994,245 pp. Monograph Acta Universitatis Umensis, Umeå Studies in Humanities 122 ISSN 0345-0155 ISBN 91-7174-955-1 Distributed by Almqvist & Wikseil International Box 4627, 116 91 Stockholm Sweden. Abstract The present dissertation deals with how a segment of the Swedish immigrant group mobilized to be included in American society. Three Swedish-American working class organizations have been studied as to how they interacted to promote their interests in Chicago and the Lake View district during the first decades of this century. Reflecting political, cultural and economic aspects of the immigrant workers' lives the case studies indicate that Swedish immigrant workers constructed an organizational network parallel to the one they had left in the old country known as "folkrörelsesamverkan" (popular movement cooperation). Like in Sweden this network was constructed as a haven for social mobilization, with the exception that in the American context an ethnic aspect was added. In the formative phase of their haven, historical retrospect and the defence of organized labor in the old country were important aspects of their activities. Through the educational and cultural programs that were organized, the group articulated and consolidated its position for interaction with American society including other ethnic groups. Political radicalism, including a pro-labor temperance movement, distinguished the group both within the Swedish enclave and the American labor movement. Nevertheless, in constant conflict and cooperation with other groups, new bonds of solidarity were developed which gradually enabled a re-definition of the group to include fewer ethnic and more class aspects. Once a wider definition of the group was implemented, the need for separate Swedish-American organizations decreased. Hence in the 1930s, by which time the Swedish immigrants had been included in the American labor movement, the Swedish-American labor movement also withered. Keywords: ethnicity, class, labor movement, immigrant radicalism, social networks, international migration. Weaving The Ethnic Fabric Per Nordahl, Weaving the Ethnic Fabric. Social Networks Among Swedish-American Radicals in Chicago, 1890 - 1940. Department of History, Umeå University Umeå 1994, 245 pp. Monograph Acta Universitatis Umensis, Umeå Studies in Humanities 122 ISSN 0345-0155 ISBN 91-7174-955-1 Distributed by Almqvist & Wiksell International Box 4627, 116 91 Stockholm Sweden. Abstract The present dissertation deals with how a segment of the Swedish immigrant group mobilized to be included in American society. Three Swedish-American working class organizations have been studied as to how they interacted to promote their interests in Chicago and the Lake View district during the first decades of this century. Reflecting political, cultural and economic aspects of the immigrant workers' lives the case studies indicate that Swedish immigrant workers constructed an organizational network parallel to the one they had left in the old country known as "folkrörelsesamverkan" (popular movement cooperation). Like in Sweden this network was constructed as a haven for social mobilization, with the exception that in the American context an ethnic aspect was added. In the formative phase of their haven, historical retrospect and the defence of organized labor in the old country were important aspects of their activities. Through the educational and cultural programs that were organized, the group articulated and consolidated its position for interaction with American society including other ethnic groups. Political radicalism, including a pro-labor temperance movement, distinguished the group both within the Swedish enclave and the American labor movement. Nevertheless, in constant conflict and cooperation with other groups, new bonds of solidarity were developed which gradually enabled a re-definition of the group to include fewer ethnic and more class aspects. Once a wider definition of the group was implemented, the need for separate Swedish-American organizations decreased. Hence in the 1930s, by which time the Swedish immigrants had been included in the American labor movement, the Swedish-American labor movement also withered. Keywords: ethnicity, class, labor movement, immigrant radicalism, social networks, international migration. II ACTA UNIVERSITATIS UMENSIS UMEA STUDIES IN HUMANITIES 122 Per Nordahl WEAVING THE ETHNIC FABRIC Social Networks Among Swedish-American Radicals in Chicago 1890 - 1940 UMEÅ 1994 ALMQVIST & WIKSELL INTERNATIONAL, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN © Per Nordahl Editor of Series: Per Råberg Faculty of Humanities Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå Printed by UmU Tryckeri Umeå University, 1994 Distributed by Almqvist & Wikseil International Box 4627, 116 91 Stockholm, Sweden ISBN 91-7174-955-1 ISSN 0345-0155 To Hanna, Emil, Rikard and my own surprise CONTENTS List of Illustrations X Figures X Maps X Tables X Plates XI Abréviations XII Acknowledgements XVI 1. Introduction 1 Previous Research 1 Ethnicity and Ethnic Leadership 10 The Ethnically Segmented Labor Market 17 The Purpose and Parameters of this Study 20 Notes on Method and Sources 23 The Concept of Havens 23 Sources and Validity 25 2. The Period of Mass Emigration from Sweden 27 Changes in the Social Structure and Regional Distribution of the Emigrants 29 Regional Distribution of Swedes in North America 33 3. The American Labor Movement 35 Knights of Labor 36 The American Federation of Labor Up to the Rise of the CIO .... 38 The Industrial Workers of the World 40 The Socialist Labor Party 42 The Socialist Party of America 43 The Ethnic Language Federations Within the Socialist Party 46 Skandinaviska Socialistiska Arbetareförbundet, SSAF 48 The Scandinavian Socialist Federation, SSF 54 SSF Activities 54 4. The Chicago Scene 57 Swedish-American Political Mobilization in Chicago 62 5. Organized Political Radicalism among the North Side Chicago Swedes 67 The Radical Scandinavians Get Organized 69 VII The Founding of the Lake View Scandinavian Socialist Club, Branch, No. 9 72 Creating an Ethnic of Their Own 74 Defining and Negotiating their Haven 77 Divided Loyalties 79 "Minutes from the Cabinet from the Lake View Club-meeting of January 3rd. 1918 83 The Party Schism 86 The Lean Years and the Search for New Alliances 89 Out on a Limb 94 A New Wave of Immigrants and the Revival of the Club 95 A New Unity: In Defence of the Foreign-Born 97 From the Great Depression to the Popular Front 100 Conclusion 107 6. The Castle by the Lake of Longing (poem) 113 "The Castle by the Lake of Longing": The Cooperative Temperance Café Idrott and the Creation of an Identity 114 Introduction 114 Swedes and their Coffee . 115 The Organizing of Café Idrott: The First Year 116 Influential Roots 119 Traditions Continued 122 A Tool For Social Mobilization 126 Wallentin Wald 129 The Literary Committee and Book-borrowing 132 Festivities, Lectures and Exhibitions 137 The Declining Years 145 Conclusion 153 7. Local Union No. 637 of the International Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America 156 Introduction / 156 The Formation of a Scandinavian Painters' Union in Chicago ... 157 The Swedish Painters' Local No. 637 163 The Year of Changes 168 Politics and Participation 171 Local No.637 as Part of a Multiethnic Trade Union 176 The Landis Award and the Open Shop Movement 183 The End of an Era 186 The Search for a New Identity and Unity 189 VIII Through Radicalization and the Great Depression 190 1935: A Year of Turning Tides 200 The Aftermath 204 Conclusions 208 8. Conclusions 211 Appendix 1 220 Table 3. SSAF: Membership and Regional Distribution, 1910 and 1920 220 Table 4. SSF: Membership and Regional Distribution, 1913-1920 222 Appendix 2 225 Newspapers and Journals at Café Idrott, 19 14-1930 225 References 226 Name Index 242 IX List of Illustrations Figures 1. The Concept of Havens 23 2. Emigration to the US and Immigration to Sweden, 1851-1930 28 3. Vital Statistics for Sweden 1751-1940 31 4. Membership of the Socialsit party of America, 1903-1926 45 5. Membership of the lake View Branch No. 9 of SSF, 1908-1934 73 6. Members of Cooperative Temperance Café Idrott, 1915-1930 118 7. Number of Books Borrowed from Cafe' Idrotts Library, 1916-1931 . 134 8. Swedish Educational League, Lectures 1917-1940 141 9. Financial Turnover For Café Idrott, Idrott Bakery and the Clark St. Brach 1913-1931 146 10. Financial Surplus for Café Idrott and Bakery, 1913-1931 147 11. Financial Surplus for the Clark St. Bransch, 1925-1931 147 12. Country of Origin of Deceased Members of Scandinavian Painters' LU No.194, 1936-1949 158 13. Members of Painters'Local Union No. 637, 1906-1945 166 Maps 1. The Swedish-Born in North America (by Hege Nelson) 34 2. Chicago Community Settlement 1920 ( by Department of Development and Planing, Chicago) 3. Meetingplaces in Lake View, Chicago 66 Tables 1. S SAF Membership, 1905 - 1923 53 2. First- and Second-Generation Swedes in Chicago, 1850-1940 58 3. SSAF: Membership and Regional Distribution (Appendix 1.) 220 4. SSF: Membership and Regional Distribution (Appendix 1.) 222 X Plates Cover, Banner of Scandinavian Painters' Local No. 194 (CHS) 1. "Gubben" Westerberg. David Westerberg, New York, N.Y. from the turn of the centuries 50 2. August Palm 52 3. Einar "Texas" Ljungberg. The temperance people have often been regarded as being dull or stiff, a judgement that might be debated. Here the temperance- and labor organizer Einar "Texas" Ljungberg strikes at strategic pose with SSAF's organ , Arbetaren (The Worker) 80 4.