NEWSLETTER # 9 JUNE 2004

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It is often said that change is the only thing that never changes, and this has certainly been true for Swedish Roots in Oregon this year. After putting in five years of hard, dedicated work to the organization, both founding members President Stig Annestrand and Vice-President Bertil Sundvall resigned from their positions on the Board of Directors early this spring. During his five years at the helm, Stig Annestrand has done an excellent job in keeping Swedish Roots focused on its core objectives, pursued a number of potential funding sources and made sure that all the official paperwork has been taken care of. From the formation of Swedish Roots in 1999, Bertil Sundvall has worked long and hard to help create an efficient database program for the many Swedish immigrants he has researched. As a result of his determination and persistence, SRIO now has an excellent genealogical computer program at its disposal. The new Board of Directors of SRIO thank both Stig and Bertil for their years of service, and wish them the very best in their future endeavors in the Swedish-American community!

BOARD REORGANIZATION

Due to the recent resignations of two of our members, and the subsequent need to re-organize the Board of Directors, the following members were nominated and unanimously elected to the offices of President, Treasurer and Secretary of SRIO:

Dr. Lars Nordström was elected new President. Lars will also remain Publications Editor.

Ross Fogelquist was re-elected Treasurer. Ross will also remain in charge of the Historical Archives and lead the work in the planned Library Exhibit.

Barry Peterson was elected the new Secretary, and Barry will also take an active part in the Library Exhibit.

Laurel Peterson was elected Member-at-Large, and Laurel will also work on the Library Exhibit."

FUTURE SRIO PLANS

Looking ahead we find that SRIO have many new and exciting projects under way. Our plan for a new and independent website under the name Swedish Roots in Oregon is moving forward, and we hope to go "live" on the internet within the next six months. The new design should make it much easier to follow the work of SRIO and to reach and communicate with the members of the Board. Please stay tuned for an update in our December Newsletter.

Ross Fogelquist has begun selecting and preparing items from the SRIO archive for a traveling library exhibit. The idea is to exhibit a number of interesting immigrant items from the peak of Swedish immigration – things such as textiles, personal items (e.g. snuff cans and copper coffee pots), photographs, postcards and letters, publications and much, much more. The Swedish Roots in Oregon publication series would be part of the exhibit too, of course. In conjunction with the opening of each library exhibit we intend to offer a free talk about the Swedish history of Oregon.

Would your local library be interested in hosting such an exhibit? If so, please let us know!

PUBLICATIONS

The new SRIO publication "Samuel Magnus Hill: Swedish Educator, Poet and Minister" was finally published early 2004. It tells the inspiring story of Swedish-born educator, minister, and poet Samuel Magnus Hill, who passed away in the Swedish colony of Carlsborg in Colton, Oregon, in 1921. Hill holds the distinction of being the only person to have ever published a book of poems in Swedish in the state of Oregon, and he deserves to be much more widely known.

So far SRIO has published six 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.

OUTREACH

In its ongoing efforts to share the history of the Swedish experience in Oregon with local communities, Lars Nordström visited the Nordic Study Circle in Gig Harbor, Washington, and spoke to members of the Astor Lodge from Astoria. Afterwards, the audience asked questions and shared many interesting family stories, and a good time was had by all.

If you are interested in having Swedish Roots in Oregon come and give a talk on any of the Swedish Roots publications, or on any of its other activities, please contact Lars Nordström at the new SRIO address below, or through his personal website: www.larsnordstrom.com

WANT TO HELP?

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? Would you like to know more? If so, we would love to hear from you.

NEW ADDRESS

Please note that Swedish Roots in Oregon now has a new mailing address:

SWEDISH ROOTS IN OREGON

An Immigration Research Project

8740 SW Oleson Rd

Portland, OR 97223