Svenska Gillet Records
Scope and Contents
The records of Svenska Gillet include administrative, financial, and membership records, along with history, correspondence, music and photographs. Also included are programs from special events and publications issued by the club.
Dates
- 1951 - 2008
Creator
- Svenska Gillet (1951-2008) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright that may be involved in the use of this collection.
Biographical / Historical
Formed in 1951, Svenska Gillet was the youngest Swedish organization in Chicago. According to Ingrid Bergstrom’s memoir Ingrid : My Swedish-American Life and Adventures, “there was a group of us who decided we should start our own club. Svenska Gillet (The Swedish Friendship Society) grew from nineteen people at first to hundred. There was a need for these clubs because newcomers needed jobs and apartments” (The Swedish-American Historical Society, 2003, p. 51).
Based on these records, the last known date of Svenska Gillet’s activity as an organization was September 2008, which was when they held their annual Crayfish Party at Elks Lodge in Des Plaines. Co-founder Ingrid Bergstrom passed away on April 29, 2012, following the death of her husband, Gösta Bergstrom, on May 13, 2008.
Extent
3.0 Linear Feet (6 containers)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged by topic and then chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Two cubic feet of records from Svenska Gillet were given by Nels Nelson with the accession number of 09-024. Additional items of unknown provenance were likely compiled by Selma Jacobson, or Nancy Kalisch.
Separated Materials
One gavel used by Svenska Gillet was transferred to an artifacts box on May 23, 2013.
Processing Information
Janet Leu, May-June 2013.
Creator
- Svenska Gillet (1951-2008) (Organization)
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Sponsor
- Funding to migrate and update this finding aid was provided by the Swedish Council of America through the 2019 grant "Improving and Expanding Access to the Swedish–American Archives of Greater Chicago."
Repository Details
Part of the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago Repository
3225 W Foster Ave
Box 38
Chicago IL 60625 USA
773-583-5722