Swedish Americans

Scope and Contents The Fred C. Soderboom Papers represent a modest portion of historical records belonging to Swedish immigrant Klas Fredrick Soderboom, dating 1901 to 1957. Legal documents, business agreements, sale receipts and personal papers such as a marriage license, mortgages and private notes are included. Exceptional records in the collection are the indispensable documents needed for settlement in the United States--a passport, leaving certificate, a baptismal form and immigration papers. Also...

Scope and Contents The Hilmer Borggren Collection contains a variety of materials collected by Borggren between 1932 and 1977. Borggren's role in the Scandinavian Fraternity of America, the Vasa Order of America, along with his experiences during World War II are revealed through the scrapbooks, the correspondence, programs, convention materials, songbooks, and photographs. Since Rockford comprises a large Scandinavian population, these records partially reveal the important social function of American...

Scope and Contents This collection documents the activities of various organizational levels found within the International Organization of Good Templars (I.O.G.T).  The records date from 1865 to 1979.  The materials are arranged in five series: International Lodge; National Lodge; Central States Lodge (Scandinavian Grand Lodge); Local Lodges; and Books and Memorabilia.  All materials related to the same lodge within the organization are housed together.  Included in these materials are constitution/by-laws,...

Scope and Contents The materials in this collection provide extensive documentation of the origins and growth of First Lutheran Church and of Rockford’s Swedish community from 1853 to 1970. The collection is arranged in six series which provide fairly complete information on all aspects of the history of the church. Researchers should note that although much of the pre-1930 material is in the Swedish language, translations of some of the core records are included. The first series contains the church’s...

Scope and Contents The records in this collection document the history of the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1904 to 1978. The collection contains official church records describing the congregation’s origin, growth, and service organizations.  Documents include the original constitution and official advisory board minutes, correspondence, annual reports, membership records, and financial accounts dating from 1904 to 1976.  Also included are records from committees and organizations charged with...

Scope and Contents The Swedish Cultural Society Collection dates from 1951 to 2005, with the majority of the materials dating from 1980 to 2005. These records consist of meeting minutes and agendas, correspondence, program materials, membership lists, bylaws, newspaper clippings, and several photographs relating to the Rockford Chapter of this organization. The annual reports from 1971 to 1975 are written in Swedish. Also located within this collection are items from the Chicago Chapter and National Council...

Scope and Contents The records for the United Methodist Church of Batavia concern the operation of the church in Batavia.  Most of the documents in this collection date before 1950.  Coverage, in most series, is incomplete.  No other historical records are believed to exist.  The first two folders of the collection contain written histories of the church and researcher’s notes. The Quarterly Conference and Minutes series is the largest and most complete series in the collection.  Quarterly Conference Reports...