Finding Swedish Studies
in
America
In place of the "Swedish American Stories," plans are in the works to create a list of colleges and universities that offer courses in the Swedish language, cultural, and history, which are usually found within college or universities Scandinavian Studies or Germanic Studies.
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" H I G H L I G H T I N G "
Chicago
(a Swedish American story)
" H I G H L I G H T I N G "
Chicago
(a Swedish American story)
With Swedish roots dating back to the 19th century, Chicago was founded in the late 1780s by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. In 1848 statistics show that 40 Swedes lived in Chicago; in 1860 that increased to 816; in 1870 it reached 6,154. In the 1880s, Chicago was noted as having the largest Swedish enclave in America. The 1900 census showed that the number of Swedish born citizens in Chicago exceeded the population of Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city, so at that particular time Chicago had become the "Second City" of Sweden! *
Chicago's Swedish American Museum was opened by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, during the United States Bicentennial Year of 1976. And with the opening, the dream of "preserving Swedish American heritage in Chicago" by Swedish immigrant Kurt Mathiasson (1929-2000), Andersonville leader and original organizer of the Andersonville Midsommarfest, had been realized, and it continues today.
The Swedish American Museum is located in the very heart of Andersonville, the "Little Sweden" of Chicago. Its mission is stated as follows: "Through its arts and educational programs and its permanent collection, the Swedish American Museum interprets the immigrant experience for children and adults and promotes an appreciation of contemporary Swedish-American culture." **
To read about "Lost Communities of Chicago - Swede Town Neighborhood," go HERE.
Immigrant Wall
Chicago's Swedish American Museum was opened by His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, during the United States Bicentennial Year of 1976. And with the opening, the dream of "preserving Swedish American heritage in Chicago" by Swedish immigrant Kurt Mathiasson (1929-2000), Andersonville leader and original organizer of the Andersonville Midsommarfest, had been realized, and it continues today.
The Swedish American Museum is located in the very heart of Andersonville, the "Little Sweden" of Chicago. Its mission is stated as follows: "Through its arts and educational programs and its permanent collection, the Swedish American Museum interprets the immigrant experience for children and adults and promotes an appreciation of contemporary Swedish-American culture." **
To read about "Lost Communities of Chicago - Swede Town Neighborhood," go HERE.
Immigrant Wall
Courtesy of the Swedish American Museum, Chicago
In continuing the dream of Kurt Mathiasson and to honor and recognize him, the Swedish American Museum established "The Kurt Mathiasson Heritage Society." It has also established the "Immigrant Wall" to honor and recognize the pioneer Swedes immigrating to America through Chicago. This "Immigrant Wall" offers Swedish American descendants the opportunity of having their loved ones names and years of immigration inscribed on a brass plaque adhered to a brick and placed in this special wall reflecting the Chicago story of Swedish immigration to America.
To learn more about the Swedish American Museum, the Kurt Mathiasson Heritage Society and the Immigrant Wall, go HERE.
To learn more about the Swedish American Museum, the Kurt Mathiasson Heritage Society and the Immigrant Wall, go HERE.
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These photos were taken in 2010 during "Chicago's North Park University Swedish American Conference," November 5 & 6, on Augustana and Covenant ‘Contact, Conflict and Confluence, 1860-2010’ sponsored by the Swedish American Historical Society.
2010 Chicago's Andersonville on Clark Street
For a fun story of this Swedish Water Tower needing a big repair job in 2014, go HERE.
Chicago's Andersonville's Swedish Dala Horse
The owner and proprietor of the SVEA Restaurant seen in the slide to come was Kurt Mathiasson.
* Sources: -- Swedish American Museum website; Anita Olson Gustafson, the Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago; Leif Carlsson, Kulturparken Smålan of Utvandrarnas Hus,"Swedes in American Cities"
** Swedish American Museum website Mission Statement.
** Swedish American Museum website Mission Statement.
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SwedishAmericana
~ restoring, preserving and promoting Swedish American histories & cultures ~
~ sharing the Swedish American tapestry with all ~
All color photography throughout SwedishAmericana is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since 2015 www.swedishamericana.org All rights reserved.
SwedishAmericana
~ restoring, preserving and promoting Swedish American histories & cultures ~
~ sharing the Swedish American tapestry with all ~
All color photography throughout SwedishAmericana is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright © since 2015 www.swedishamericana.org All rights reserved.
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