American Swedish Historical Museum. relief society records collection

Transcription

1 American Swedish Historical Museum relief society records collection 11 Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Last updated on November 09, American Swedish Historical Museum

2 Table of Contents Summary Information...3 Biography/History...3 Scope and Contents... 4 Administrative Information... 5 Related Materials... 5 Controlled Access Headings Page 2 -

3 Summary Information Repository American Swedish Historical Museum Creator American Swedish Historical Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.). Title American Swedish Historical Museum relief society records collection Call number 11 Date [inclusive] Extent 2 linear feet Language English Abstract American Swedish Historical Museum relief society records collection, , includes minute books, a membership register, and other records from several benevolent societies organized by Swedes in America. The societies are: the New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Society in Boston, the Norrsken Swedish-Finnish Sick Beneficial Society in Philadelphia, and The Northstar Society. This collection also features one volume from the a Swedish choral group, the Harmony Choir. Biography/History "[Swedish immigrants] to the United States founded an amazing array of clubs, lodges, benevolent associations, and women's groups for a wide range of cultural, social, educational, and political purposes. These organizations offered collegiality, educational and cultural opportunities, and status. Benevolent societies gave concrete assistance in times of trouble by providing sick benefits and funeral expenses. Because they also offered an alternative for those who objected to the powerful influence of religion and - Page 3 -

4 local churches, these organizations frequently drew the hostility of the Swedish clergy, especially when they sponsored "questionable" entertainments, like dances. Nationally, one of the most important of these organizations was the Vasa Order (est. 1898), which had 72,000 members in over 400 lodges by At their peak in 1910, Swedish American organizations in the United States had at least 100,000 adult members, while there were approximately 365,000 Swedish American church members. The tensions between secular and religious groups broadened over time, however, as elites firmly rejected religious pietism and poorer people found that the societies did not have much to offer them." Bibliography: Quoted text from: Mead, Rebecca J. "Swedish Migration and Settlement in Marquette County." Northern Michigan University: Recorded in Stone, Voices on the Marquette Iron Range. Accessed March 19, Scope and Contents This collection includes minute books, a membership register, and other records from several benevolent societies organized by Swedes in America. The societies are: the New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Society in Boston, the Norrsken Swedish-Finnish Sick Beneficial Society in Philadelphia, and The Northstar Society. This collection also features one volume from the a Swedish choral group, the Harmony Choir. The collection includes: -Seven volumes of minute books, , of the New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Society (commonly Skandinaviska f?reningen, the Scandinavian Society) in Boston. The New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Society was formally incorporated in 1855 and dissolved in Various records including minutes, circa , of Norrsken Svenska-Finska sjukhj?lp f? reningen [Norrsken Swedish-Finnish Sick Beneficial Society, commonly S.F.S.F. Norrsken]. -A membership ledger with information such as occupation, birth date, etc. of the member, , and 3 volumes of minutes, , of F?reningen Nordstjernan [The Northstar Society] of Chicago. -A volume of minutes of S?ngf?reningen "Harmonis" [The Harmony Choir], Page 4 -

5 Administrative Information American Swedish Historical Museum Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Michael Gubicza through the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. Sponsor This preliminary finding aid was created as part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's Hidden Collections Initiative for Pennsylvania Small Archival Repositories. The HCI-PSAR project was made possible by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Access Restrictions Contact American Swedish Historical Museum for information about accessing this collection. Some of the SFSF Norrsken records are currently closed to researchers, due to medical privacy issues. Immediate Source of Acquisition Note Materials collected at various times by the American Swedish Historical Museum. Related Materials Related Archival Materials Note American Swedish Historical Museum: Johannes Hoving papers. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) F?reningen Nordstjernan (Chicago, Ill.). New England Scandinavian Benevolent Relief Association. - Page 5 -

6 Norrsken Svenska-Finska sjukhj?lp f?reningen (Philadelphia, Pa.). S?ngf?reningen Harmonis. Geographic Name(s) Boston (Mass.) Chicago (Ill.) Philadelphia (Pa.) Subject(s) Choral societies Fraternal organizations Swedes--United States Swedish Americans - Page 6 -