NEWSLETTER # 14 DEC 2006

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As I look back at the year 2006 I see a very fruitful year with a number of impressive accomplishments. We have:

	Published two more booklets
	Initiated research in two new areas
	Made progress on the oral history project
	Reached out with talks and presentations

As many of you know, SRIO is a small research organization dedicated to researching and publishing material dealing with various aspects of Swedish immigration history in Oregon. We are not a membership organization, but cultivate a growing network of contacts in the United States and Sweden. Our website has grown steadily due to the diligent work of our webmaster Herje Wikegård, and traffic has increased as well. We get many interesting letters inquiring about our work or asking for information about Swedes who ended up in the state.

Then, as I turn and look ahead to 2007, I see a number of exciting projects waiting. Stay tuned!

SRIO AT THE BRIDGE CONFERENCE IN SWEDEN

SRIO was represented by Vice-President Laurel Peterson and Secretary Barry Peterson at this summer’s Swedish Bridge Conference, which was held in Karlstad. The conference was organized by the Swedish Council of America and Emigrantregistret in Karlstad, with the purpose of strengthening ties and increasing collaboration between various Swedish and American organizations. If you have never visited Emigrantregistret’s website, just go to: www.emigrantregistret.s.se

SRIO WEBSITE ADDITION

If you have not visited the Swedish Roots in Oregon website recently, you may not have become of aware of the recent addition of Swedish-Oregonian biographies. These thumbnail sketches of Swedish immigrants to Oregon were originally published in Ernst Skarstedt’s hard-to-find volume Oregon och Dess Svenska Befolkning (Oregon and its Swedish population), originally published in Seattle in 1911. These biographies have been translated into English by Britt-Mari Lord and are now being published online as they become ready. Some of these biographies also have photographs (portraits and various buildings) associated with them, and our goal is to include all of them as well. Taken as a whole, these biographies and photos provide a fascinating glimpse of the immigrant experience a century ago.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT UPDATE

Ever since its formation in 1999, SRIO has discussed the need to initiate an oral history project documenting the memories of post-WW II Swedish Americans in Oregon before they are lost, and this spring the project finally became a reality. With initial assistance from Judy Peek, Ross Fogelquist has now started to record experiences of various individuals in the Swedish-American community in Portland. We look forward to sharing these stories as soon as the material has been transcribed, edited and made ready for publication.

SRIO could use help with both transcription and editing, and anyone interested in volunteering in this project, please contact Ross Fogelquist.

PUBLICATIONS

Since our last newsletter, SRIO has published two new booklets, “Trapped in America: Excerpts from Anton Swanson’s Diaries, 1908-1911” and “Winter Crossing: Anna Birchman’s 1890 Emigration Narrative.” Please check them out on the publication page of our website. So far, SRIO has published ten booklets on the Swedish experience in the state of Oregon, and they all belong on the “Required Reading List” of anyone interested in the Swedish history of the state. All are available from Swedish Roots at the nominal cost of $2 per copy. Please check our website for details.

SWEDISH LOGGERS IN OREGON

SRIO is currently researching Swedes in the logging industry in Oregon, and if you have any information on this subject, we would love to hear from you. We are interested in old photographs, newspaper articles, letters, postcards, diaries, drawings … in short, anything that pertains to the early days of logging.

TALKS

If you belong to a group or organization that would like to schedule a Swedish Roots in Oregon presentation, please contact Lars Nordström for further details. You can reach him through the SRIO website, his personal website www.larsnordstrom.com, or at the new mailing address below. SRIO offers these talks for free.

PLEASE SUPPORT SRIO!

There are many ways you can support the study and the dissemination of the Swedish history in the state of Oregon. Buying our booklets is one obvious way to support our work, but you can also make a donation. SRIO is a registered, non-profit organization, any donation is fully tax-deductible. Any financial assistance is greatly appreciated.

Tack så mycket!

AN OPEN INVITATION

Are you interested in the Swedish history of the state of Oregon? Would you like to be part of a small, friendly and dedicated research group? Would you be able to attend meetings about once a month in the Portland metropolitan area?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

SWEDISH ROOTS IN OREGON
An Immigration Research Project
8740 SW Oleson Rd
Portland, OR 97223