EXPLORE THE ARCHIVES
Sample Class Assignments
One man's quest for citizenship, 1901-1916
MSS P:218 Wislander family papers
What can you determine from the documents alone?
What can you learn from other sources?
How has immigration changed since 1900?
Emigrant Contract, White Star Lines from
Gothenburg, Sweden to Galesburg, Wisconsin, 1901
Deposition of friend and neighbor in Nebraska to support Soloman Wislander's naturalization, 1908.
Letter from the American Consulate stating Soloman will be presumed to have expatriated because he went back to Sweden over 2 years ago to care for his ailing mother, and the steps he can take to retain his U.S. citizenship, 1912
Soloman is still in Sweden, and again has to renew his wish to remain a U.S. citizen, 1914
Soloman's cemetery monument order for Rosedale Cemetery in Cambridge, Illinois, 1916
Swedish-American History
through Postal Stamps
John Ericsson Memorial
5 cents
Issued May 29, 1926
First Cities:
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Washington, D.C.,
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New York, NY,
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Chicago, IL,
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Minneapolis, MN
1. Who was this Swedish-American and why did he have a stamp issued in his honor?​
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2. List 5 resources the Augustana Library has regarding John Ericsson
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3. What is in the Tredway Library Special Collections "John Ericsson papers, 1853-1879" archival collection?
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4. Why were these cities chosen to release the stamp?
New Sweden 1638
44 cents US Airmail
Issued March 29, 1988
First City: Wilmington, Delaware
1. What was this stamp meant to commemorate?
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​2. What was a related stamp issued in 1938?
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3. This stamp has two "firsts". What were they? (Hint: Mystic Stamps has a good summary)
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4.Read and summarize one article from the Augustana Library about the "New Sweden" stamp
Treaty of Amity and Commerce between USA and Sweden, 1783
20 cents
Issued March 24, 1983
First US joint issue with Sweden
1. How would you describe the stamp to someone who can't see it. Why do you think the images chosen are important?
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​2. Summarize the events around the treaty.​
Swedish Pioneer Centennial
5 cents
Issued June 4, 1948
First City: Chicago, Illinois
1. Why was the Swedish Pioneer Centennial celebrated in 1948? What are some other possible dates it could be celebrated?
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​2. What do the 12 stars on the stamp represent?​
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3. What Library resource (book or article) did you find most useful when answering these questions?
Marketing
Analyze ads from Swedish-American magazines or newspapers
to determine how marketing has changed over time.
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Digitized Newspapers from a joint effort between the Swenson Center, American Swedish Institute, Minnesota Historical Society, and the National Library of Sweden.
November 1, 1870
Gamla och nya hemlandet, Chicago, IL
November 19, 1920
Nordstjernan, New York, NY
November 27, 1980
Vestkusten. San Francisco and Oakland, CA
Sheet Music
Analyze sheet music from the American Union of Swedish Singers
and other collections.
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Who sang this music? Who was the audience?
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What does the music tell us about this moment in history?
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How does this edition differ from earlier or later arrangements?
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Can you perform the music?
Ulla min Ulla, Fredmans Epistel no. 71, 1790
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Carl Michael Bellman, arranged by I. Hallstrom
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"Ulla! min Ulla! säj, får jag dig bjuda"
Bort allt vad oro gör
Ur "Bacchi tempel"​
Bacchi Ordenskapitel XIV No. 17,
arranged by J. A. Ahlström​
