Dalkullan Publishing and Importing Company, Inc. Records
Scope and Contents
The collection contains financial records - in the form of ledgers and receipts - as well as merchandise, songbooks, and greeting cards.
Dates
- 1902 - 1953
Creator
- Dalkullan Publishing and Importing Company (1890?-1972) (Organization)
Language of Materials
English and Swedish.
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
Dalkullan Publishing and Importing Company, Inc., was founded by Captain Anders L. Lofstrom ca. the late 1890's in Chicago. Lofstrom, an immigrant from Skåne, originally started Dalkullan selling tobacco and newspapers, but later operated it as a steamship agency, imported gifts store, and a publishing house specializing in "pirate copies" of books, plays, and song titles from Sweden. The origin of the name Dalkullan is not noted, but is probably derived from the Swedish slang for "Dalarna girl". The girl on the cover of the Dalkullan Sångbok is wearing the provincial costume of Dalarna, and Lofstrom sold cigars handrolled by women in this province.
The business was first located at 113 (West?) Oak Street. As the Swedes moved their settlement north along Clark Street, Lofstrom also moved Dalkullan, first to 1727 North Clark Street (ca. 1906), and finally to 3252 North Clark (ca. 1910). After Anders Lofstrom died (ca. 1931), Dalkullan and a few different owners before closing in 1972.
Extent
3.7 Linear Feet (8 containers)
Arrangement
Arranged by topic and then chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These records of Dalkullan Publishing and Importing Company, Inc., were rescued from the basement of the 3252 N. Clark Street address by Selma Jacobson, just prior to the demolition of the store site in 1972.
Processing Information
Eric K. Lundberg, March, 1985.
Creator
- Dalkullan Publishing and Importing Company (1890?-1972) (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