FINDING AID

“The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois, circa 1900-1925,” 1984

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Collection Title:    
“The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois, circa 1900-1925”

Collection Number:    
SAC P:21

Dates:            
1984 and undated (circa 1975-1983)

Size:            
1 folder

Language:        
English

Creator/Collector:    
Oberg, Elmer, 1907-1993

Subject Headings:    
Neponset (Ill.)
Bureau County (Ill.)
Agriculture--Illinois.
Farms--1900-1930.
Autobiographies.
Oberg, Nils, 1872-1954
Oberg, Elmer, 1907-1993

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

Abstract:    
Collection includes one memoir “The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois circa 1900-1925” by Elmer B. Oberg, undated (circa 1975-1983). Elmer B. Oberg was born in 1907 in Neponset, Illinois. This memoir details his life growing up farming with his family in western Illinois. His father, Nels (or Nils) Oberg, was born in 1872 in Sweden, came to the United States in 1890. This memoir describes his farm work as a frugal and resourceful man. Collection also includes two pages of family genealogical information for Nels (or Nils) Oberg, 1984.

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Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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 SAC P:21 “The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois, circa 1900-1925,” Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. 

ACQUISITION AND RELATED MATERIALS

Source of Acquisition:    
Gift of Elmer B. Oberg of Camarillo, California in 1981 and 1984. 

Appraisal, Destruction, and Scheduling Information:    
A draft of the memoir identical except for a different titled (“Frugal Papa: Heritage of a Thrifty Farm Life”) was discarded in 2018. 

Accruals:    
Two pages of family genealogical information added in 1984. 

Notes:    
Collection number changed from MSS P:21 circa 2006. Collection title changed from “Oberg family papers” by Lisa Huntsha in 2018. 

Processed By:    
Received by Kermit Westerberg in 1981 and 1984. Processed by Christina Johansson. Finding aid written by Lisa Huntsha in 2018. 

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Administrative/Biographical History:    
Elmer B. Oberg was born in 1907 in Neponset, Illinois. This memoir details his life growing up farming with his family in western Illinois. Elmer graduated from Neponset High School in 1924, and Illinois Wesleyan University in 1928. He attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois one summer. He received a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Northwestern University and spent most of his career in the food industry. He married Mildred Goers and had two daughters.  

Elmer’s father, Nels (or Nils) Oberg, was born in 1872 in Dalby, Sweden. He came to the United States in 1890 at the age of 18 and settled in Neponset, Illinois. He was a frugal and resourceful man. He married Johanna Bengtsdaughter in 1899 (born 1880 in Silfakra, Sweden). They had three children, Edwin (1904-1942), Ellen (1901-1974) and Elmer (1907-1993). Johanna passed away in 1915. Nels passed away in 1954.

Scope and Content:    
Includes one memoir “The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois circa 1900-1925” by Elmer B. Oberg, English, undated, written circa 1975-1983. Also includes two pages of family genealogical information for Nels (or Nils) Oberg. 

Collection Inventory:    

• “The Farm Life of a Swedish Immigrant in Illinois circa 1900-1925” by Elmer B. Oberg, English, circa 1975-1983
• Two pages of genealogical information for Nils (or Nels) Oberg family, 1984