The Swedish Historical Society of America (SHSA) was founded in Chicago on July 22, 1905. The name of the organization was then the Swedish-American Historical Society. It was discovered, however, that an earlier, but at the time defunct, society founded in 1889 was still officially listed among the Illinois corporations as the Swedish-American Historical Society. This led the later organization to change its name to the Swedish Historical Society of America, and it was so incorporated on April 10, 1908. In 1921 the organization moved its headquarters to St. Paul, Minnesota.
The objects of the society, as stated in its constitution of 1905, were to promote the study of the history of the Swedes in America and of their descendants; to collect a library and a museum along these lines; to issue publications relating to their history; and to encourage the study of Swedish history and literature. Although the Society's membership was national in scope, it never exceeded 500.
The history of the society can be divided into two periods: the Chicago period (1905-1920) and the Minnesota period (1921-1934). Since the members of the society were spread all over the United States, a core group carried out many of its functions and activities. During the Chicago period these members were drawn mainly from the Chicago area, and during the later Minnesota period several very active members were from Minnesota. The annual meeting was always the society's main event. The affair included a business meeting, a program, and a banquet. The papers that were read at the annual meeting were generally printed in the society's yearbook. The library collection and the yearbook publication were the society's principal activities during the rest of the year.
The society received donations from authors, publishers, newspapers, and other sources for its library. The material consisted of books, newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and manuscripts. Since the society did not have a permanent library, the collection was kept in storage until 1907, after which it was housed in the Swedish Methodist Seminary at Evanston, Illinois. In 1918 it was transferred to the Denkman Library of Augustana College at Rock Island, Illinois, where it remained until its final transfer to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1921.
During the Chicago period six yearbooks were issued over a period of ten years. Volume seven, the issue published in Minnesota, appeared in 1922. It was then published annually in Minnesota until 1928, when it was replaced by Swedish-American Historical Bulletin, issued quarterly through 1932.
In 1920 representatives from the Swedish Historical Society of America conferred about affiliation with the Minnesota Historical Society. At the last meeting held in Chicago (April 9, 1920) the articles of agreement were accepted, and in January 1921, a contract was signed for the permanent deposit of the library at the Minnesota Historical Society. The headquarters of the society was also moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1934 the Swedish Historical Society of America held its last annual meeting; it became defunct soon thereafter. The society's book and periodical collection was dispersed and is now at different repositories, with books relating to the Swedes in Minnesota being kept at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Historical information was obtained from the records and from: Conrad Peterson, "Twenty five years of the Swedish Historical Society of America. A Retrospect," Swedish American Bulletin 3:1 (1950), pp.1-23; Gustaf N. Swan, "En �terblick" (address delivered at the 10th anniversary, 1915); and Roy Swanson, "Our Predecessors," Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly, 1:1 (1950), pp. 12-21.
From the guide to the Society records and collected papers., 1854-1962 (bulk 1905-1951)., (Minnesota Historical Society)
