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The Sveas Söner Singing Society of Rockford, Illinois was organized on January 23, 1890 and joined the American Union of Swedish Singers as a charter member in 1892. Its initial purpose was to perpetuate Swedish music. In 1965, to celebrate their 75th anniversary, the chorus made a singing tour of Scandinavian countries, including a pre-tour performance at the World’s Fair in New York City. Items were collected and saved by chorus manager Bernard Bishop. 

The trustees of the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation established this scholarship at Augustana College for students from the state of Ohio.

Elsie Rebecca Ahlwén Sundeen was an evangelist, musician, and composer. Born in Sweden, she immigrated to America around 1925. She was an active evangelist and traveled widely preaching and singing to various churches and groups. She wrote and recorded her own music, and is credited with “He the Pearly Gates Will Open.” 

The Andover Children’s Home was located in Andover, Illinois from 1868 until 1970. The mission of the Home was to care for orphans and endangered youths. The materials in this collection came from Doris Brodd, a former housemother. Collection consists of anniversary and ceremony pamphlets, general historical information, “The Andover Home News,” newsletter, and newspaper articles.

Letters from Peter Froeberg (Augustana Theological Seminary graduate and president emeritus of Upsala College) to his brother, Sven Froeberg, after immigrating to the United States. Letters describe their experience as immigrants trying to find employment, education, pastoral work, and familial matters. Peter serves as a mentor to his younger brother. Collection also contains background information on the brothers, Peter Froeberg’s autobiography, and audio recordings of Peter and photographs of Peter’s family. 

The American Union of Swedish Singers (AUSS) was organized in 1892 to serve as a national umbrella organization for individual Swedish choirs in the United States. The Union’s first festival was during the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Over the years, the Union has performed for kings and presidents and sung in significant performance halls.

The Scandinavian American Fraternity, previously known as the Independent Scandinavian Workingmen's Association, was founded in Chicago in the 1880s. The collection includes meeting minutes (in Norwegian until 1917, then English), member addresses, lists of officers and committee members, a treasurer's receipt book, printed ritual book, and printed song cards.

Collection of materials from Euphemia Peterson’s nursing career. Peterson graduated from Augustana Hospital Training School in Chicago in 1911 and received additional training in public health nursing at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She was a registered nurse in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska.

This collection includes materials related to the artists Charles and Sofia Haag. Charles Haag was a Swedish-American sculptor and woodcarver best known for his carvings that expressed the struggle of labor and immigration as well as his whimsical woodcarvings that paid homage to nature. Some of his better-known works include The Immigrants, The Strike, The Watchman, and Labor Union (later known as In Union There is Strength). His best-known woodcarvings come from his Spirits of the Forest series. Sofia was a Swedish-American weaver and textile artist who invented her own loom.