FINDING AID

Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Swedish Literary Society) (Moline, Ill.) minutes and letters, 1928-1960

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Collection Title:    
Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Swedish Literary Society) (Moline, Ill.) minutes and letters

Collection Number:    
I/O:13

Dates:            
1928-1960

Size:            
1 box (.25 linear feet)

Language:        
Swedish (bulk), English

Creator/Collector:    
Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Moline, Ill.)

Subject Headings:    
Moline (Ill.)
Swedish Americans--History--20th century
Swedish Americans--Illinois
Societies
Swedish literature--Study and teaching.
Swedish literature--United States

Repository:    
Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.

Abstract:    
Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Swedish Literary Society) of Moline, Illinois was founded on February 11, 1928. Society members read and discussed books by Swedish authors in the original language and held monthly meetings in homes of the members. This collection includes monthly meeting minutes with membership records and a twenty-year anniversary report.

RIGHTS AND ACCESS

Conditions Governing Access:    
Collection is open for research.

Reproduction and Use:    
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the Swenson Center and the copyright holder. 

Preferred Citation:    
[item identification], in I/O:13 Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Swedish Literary Society) (Moline, Ill.) minutes and letters, Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.

ACQUISITION AND RELATED MATERIALS

Provenance:    
Transferred by Marjorie Miller of Denkmann Memorial Library, Augustana College, in fall 1981. Original source of acquisition unknown. Likely a member of the society. 

Processed By:    
Processed by Kermit Westerberg, 1980s. Finding aid written by Shelby Jensen, 2018.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Administrative/Biographical History:    
Svenska Litteratursällskapet (Swedish Literary Society) of Moline, Illinois was founded on February 11, 1928. Society members read and discussed books by Swedish authors in the original language and held monthly meetings in homes of the members. By 1938, the society had 40 members. Membership dropped to 20 by 1948. Founding members included Charles A. Carlson and his wife Isedora Maria Ostrom Carlson. Many members of the society were members of First Lutheran Church in Moline, according to Dr. Bergendoff. The group disbanded in 1960.

Scope and Content:    
Collection includes monthly meeting minutes with membership records from 1928 through 1960, a letter of greetings from society member Jenny Ekblad, a twenty-year anniversary report, a receipt for books purchased, and cards of greetings, thanks, and condolences.

System of Arrangement:    
Materials arranged chronologically.

Collection Inventory:    

Box 1

Folder 1: 

• Two pages of membership records including names and addresses, circa 1928, Swedish. 
• Meeting minutes from 12 March 1928 to 6 December 1942, Swedish.

Folder 2:

• Meeting minutes from 2 January 1943 to 9 April 1960, Swedish. Including 20th anniversary report in 1948, Swedish. 
• Letter to the society by member Jenny Ekblad, undated, Swedish.
• Albert Bonnier Publishing House receipt for books sold to society member Mrs. Anny Sandell, 14 September 1934, Swedish and English. 
• Small cards of thanks and condolences, 1950-1958
  • Card decorated with purple flowers to Svenska Litteratursällskapet from Dora and Chas. A Carlson, 16 December 1950, Swedish.
  • Card decorated with yellow flowers from Axel Servine to Mr. and Mrs. Carlson, 10 October 1951, Swedish. 
  • Card with blue and floral border, titled ‘Thank you for the flowers” to Svenska Litteratursällskapet from Hildur Peterson, 10 November 1955, English. 
  • Card from the family of the late Charles A Carlson acknowledging expressions of sympathy, to Mrs. Alvin Sandell, 29 September 1958, English.