Swedish Cultural Society Records

The Swedish Cultural Society (Riksföreningen för Svenskhetens Bevarande i Utlandet) was organized in the United States in 1910. In 1923 it was reorganized on a broader basis and a new constitution was adopted in 1946.

Riksföreningen för Svenskhetens Bevarande i Utlandet (The Swedish Cultural Society) was founded in Sweden in 1908. Its purpose was to keep in contact with Swedes abroad and those of Swedish descent in foreign countries. The background for the founding of this organization was the emigration over the Atlantic.

The chief purpose of the Society is to work for the preservation of the Swedish language and the Swedish culture among Americans of Swedish birth or descent. Another important aim is to acquaint other Americans with Sweden and Swedish life and culture.

The local chapters of the Society are located in Chicago, Duluth, Rockford, Minneapolis, Cleveland, New York, Buffalo, North California, Los Angeles, Seattle, East Orange, N.J., and until 1972, Oak Park, Illinois.

Most of the local chapters have public meetings every month or every other month, providing suitable programs including: lectures, addresses, and films or slides of an informative nature.

The Society's official journal is entitled "Kultur‑arvet" (The Cultural Heritage), which is published quarterly. Through the Society's connection with Riksföreningen for Svenskhetens Bevarande i Utlandet members receive the magazine "Allsvensk Samling" now entitled "Sverigekontact."