Welcome/Välkommen!

The Swenson Center is a national and international research center for the study of Swedish-American history and relations. 

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We collect, preserve and make available archival and library materials, promote and initiate research, and are a leader in Swedish-American genealogy. 

What do we do?
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Library & Archives

Discover our resources by searching both the library catalog and archives database. 

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Newsletter

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News

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Events

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  • Swedish Advent Stars
    Swedish Advent Stars
    Sat, Dec 03
    Rock Island
    Dec 03, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Rock Island, 3520 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201, USA
    Come learn how to weave Scandinavian advent stars from old book pages. These make great tree toppers, ornaments, or package decorations.
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  • Swedish 2
    Multiple Dates
    Swedish 2
    Sun, Dec 04
    Zoom
    Dec 04, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM CST
    Zoom
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  • Julbord Dinner
    Julbord Dinner
    Mon, Dec 05
    Gävle 3, The Gerber Center
    Dec 05, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM CST
    Gävle 3, The Gerber Center, 3435 9 1/2 Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201, USA
    Enjoy traditional Swedish-American Christmas smörgåsbord fare with the Swenson Center! After dinner, head over to Ascension Chapel for the annual Sankta Lucia Festival.
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  • Nordic Book Club, December
    Nordic Book Club, December
    Tue, Dec 13
    Zoom
    Dec 13, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Zoom
    Children of the Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren (translated by Florence Lamborn)
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  • Nordic Book Club, January
    Nordic Book Club, January
    Tue, Jan 10
    Zoom
    Jan 10, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
    Zoom
    Join us to discuss "Son of Svea: A Tale of the People's Home" by Lena Andersson, 2022.
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  • Genealogy Club, January
    Genealogy Club, January
    Mon, Jan 16
    Zoom
    Jan 16, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
    Zoom
    Research in Skåne Province: learn about different record sources available for Skåne. Share your experiences and research successes.
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  • Nordic Book Club, February
    Nordic Book Club, February
    Mon, Feb 13
    Zoom
    Feb 13, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
    Zoom
    Join us to discuss "So Much Longing In So Little Space: The Art of Edvard Munch" by Karl Ove Knausgaard, 2019. JOINT PROGRAM with the Figge Art Museum (Davenport, IA)
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  • Genealogy Club, February
    Genealogy Club, February
    Mon, Feb 20
    Zoom
    Feb 20, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST
    Zoom
    Swedish Records in FamilySearch: Join us while Savannah Larson, on the Nordic staff of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, shows us about the Swedish research that can be done using FamilySearch.org
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  • Nordic Book Club, March
    Nordic Book Club, March
    Tue, Mar 14
    Zoom
    Mar 14, 2023, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM CDT
    Zoom
    Join us to discuss "Everything I Don't Remember: A Novel" by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, 2016
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Testimonials

Submit Yours
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Anne-Charlotte Harvey

Professor Emerita, San Diego State University

Having twice been a guest scholar at the Center myself, I can testify to its unique holdings, its skilled and dedicated staff, and its welcoming ambience. In SSIRC's focused setting, research can be done more efficiently than at larger institutions. SSIRC is one of the two foremost archives worldwide holding Swedish-American newspapers, currently digitizing this resource to offer increased accessibility.