Swedish American Historical Society

The Swedish-American Historical Society in Chicago, IL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich heritage of Swedish presence in America through comprehensive research, scholarly publications, and public programs. Founded in 1948, the organization maintains extensive archives and produces rigorous academic content that documents Swedish emigration, cultural contributions, and ongoing relations between the United States and Sweden. The Society operates a robust publications program that includes Swedish-American Studies, an annual peer-reviewed journal recognized as the most important continuing source of information about Swedes in North America, along with dozens of books covering diverse historical topics including memoirs, biographies, histories, and reference works. Members and researchers benefit from access to digitized back issues of historical quarterlies and the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago, maintained in partnership with the University of Minnesota Press. The organization sponsors regular academic conferences, dinner meetings, and historical tours throughout Chicago and Swedish-American sites across North America, featuring noted scholars and leading academics. With a mission spanning from the first Swedish settlers on the Delaware in 1638 to contemporary Swedish-American experiences, the Society serves both academic researchers and general audiences interested in understanding this significant chapter of American immigration history.