ABSOLUTELY DON’T MISS!!
ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP!
1
- As a member of the Swedish Colonial Society:
- You can learn about the early Swedes who landed in Wilmington, DE beginning in 1638
- You can help preserve the legacy of the Colonial Swedes in America
- You can help increase awareness and preservation of monuments at historic sites
- You can help commemorate historic and cultural events and accomplishments relating to the Swedes and Finns in America
- You can attend annual events such as the Annual Forefather Luncheon and meeting, Fall History Conference and Julmiddag Christmas
Event - You will receive biannual copies of the Swedish Colonial Journal including access to back issues
- You will meet others who share your interest in the early Swedes and Finns and Swedish/Finnish culture
- You can gain access to various collections including the Peter S. Craig Collection and the Ronald S. Beatty Collection
- Membership is available for everyone interested in the history of the New Sweden Colony and the early Swedes and Finns of America and learn more about your forefather ancestor and share your interest with others
- There are various types of membership such as active members, forefather members, and institutional membership-see Join Today at the top of the SCS website for details
- Click here for more information!
- Or, click here to download the Membership Application form!!
SAVE THE DATE: NOV 1018th Annual New Sweden History Conference
2The Germans and the Swedes
This is the theme of the 18th Annual New Sweden History Conference to be held on Saturday November 10 at the German Society of Pennsylvania, 611 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA. A series of outstanding scholars are being invited to examine two groups of colonial settlers that stood outside of the mainstream Anglo culture in the Middle-Atlantic area.
A whole day of lectures and discussion is planned beginning with breakfast and including a lunch in the German Society’s fabulous “Rathskeller”, More information will be forthcoming, including the speakers, but the registration is expected to be the same as last year: $60 or $50 if paid in advance to the American Swedish Historical Museum. This annual Fall event is a collaborative effort between the Swedish Colonial Society, the American Swedish Historical Museum, the Delaware Swedish Colonial Society, the New Sweden Centre, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, Old Swedes Historic Site, Trinity Episcopal Church in Swedesboro, NJ and the McNeil center for Early American Studies of the University of Pennsylvania.
EXCITING NEWS!FARMSTEAD MOVING
3There are big undertakings under way for Governor Printz Park in Essington PA.
The New Sweden Company’s intention is to reconstruct and install the entire Farmstead, all 7 cabins, at Printz Park, as part of a New Sweden Theme Park. We will start with one cabin and proceed from there. The process, including the development of educational programs accompanying the Farmstead, will take time. The Swedish Colonial Society is supporting this project.
To contribute to the Farmstead or re-constructing a cabin, you can BUY-A-LOG for $100. Your name or organizations name will be added to a plaque. Any contribution is greatly appreciated.
Contributions can be sent to:
The Swedish Colonial Society
Attn: Linda Alexy, Treasurer
916 Swanson Street
Philadelphia PA 19147
REGISTER NOW!May 4, 2018
43rd Annual Spirits & History
7 pm to 9:30 PM
Location: Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church
Join us for the 3rd Annual Spirits & History, honoring Our Swedish Ancestors and Forefathers.
Featuring Spirited tastings to match the times of our illustrious permanent residents!
Jazz Trio courtesy of The Jazz Sanctuary, Cocktail Party with delectable treats, and Fun in the Graveyard!
Proceeds benefit Historic Preservation efforts at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church. Learn the stories of Peter Gunnarsson Rambo, Amandus Johnson, John Craig Roak, Jehu Curtis Clay, Andreas Rudman, and Olof Stille (Stilley). These were truly fascinating men and trailblazers in the new world!
Tickets available at the door, or Click here to purchase tickets online!
Address: 916 Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Swedish Colonial Society DNA Project
5
DNA Project Update by Rev. Cynthia Forde-Beatty and Becky Griswold at Family Tree DNA.com
So far, the SCS New Sweden DNA Project is going very well, even better than we expected!
For those of you who have tested at Ancestry DNA or 23andMe and want to transfer your results to Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) and join the SCS DNA Project, we have good news! Now it is FREE to transfer your DNA results to FTDNA. After transferring you can unlock all Family Finder Features,which include the Chromosome Browser, myOrigins and ancientOrigins for only $19. Please email Becky Griswold, beckygrizz@yahoo.com for more information.
For more information, click here!
The Peter S. Craig Collection
6CRAIG COLLECTION ONLINE: If you are an SCS member, you can now order a custom package of family group sheets (FGSs) showing all the detail around your earliest Swedish colonial ancestors. You may order FGSs from a known line so you can study your family in detail (e.g., the Mounce Rambo package already posted), or FGSs for heads of family all bearing the same full name so you can confirm which is a suspected ancestor. We plan to add more such packages of FGSs as well as other materials. It is our hope that these resources will facilitate the process by which members of The Swedish Colonial Society apply for forefather status as descendants of Swedish colonists who arrived in the thirteen colonies before the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783.
Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig (1928-2009) was The Swedish Colonial Society’s world-renowned historian and genealogist who specialized in 17th century Swedish and Finnish immigrants to the Delaware River Valley. He researched the colonial experience of the settlers and
their descendants into the late 18th century. He wrote over 100 articles and books on these settlers. As genealogist for the Society, he reviewed over 500 applications of members proving descent from a Swedish colonist who arrived in the thirteen colonies before the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. His work papers and correspondence form the bulk of the Craig Collection.
Link to the online Craig Collection
Please consider making a contribution to our educational programs.
Click here for a list of the CHURCHES OF NEW SWEDEN!