Sweden & America

If something is in print, check for an Olsson. Christopher Olsson is the editor of a fresh, bright, attractive quarterly journal that is well worth the $7.50 per year — for the cover and pictures alone. The 24 pages of the journal are filled with excellent articles, news, and photos about Swedes and Americans, specifically those Americans who at some time in their genealogical past came from Sweden.

For example, in the Winter 1993 issue there is an article, “America Discovers Zorn,” by Carin B. Dohlman. The article tells of the impact of Swedish portrait painter Anders Zorn (1861-1920) at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago’s Jackson Park in 1893 and of the portrait painting he subsequently did in America.

In addition to the feature articles, each issue is filled with news items. In the Winter issue the reader learns that Sarah Frisk, a recent North Park graduate, visited Sweden as the winner of the 1992 Glenn Seaborg Nobel Travel Award. The award is given to an outstanding science or mathematics student attending one of the six colleges founded by Swedish immigrants. The six colleges are: Augustana, Bethany, Bethel, Gustavus Adolphus, North Park, and Upsala.

Sweden & America is published by the Swedish Council of America. Editor Chris Olsson can be found in his office on the second floor of the Swedish Institute at Park Avenue and 26th Street in Minneapolis. Besides being an excellent editor, Chris is a very congenial host. Olssons and print are highly correlated. Chris’ father Nils William publishes The Swedish American Genealogist and his Uncle Karl Olsson (KO) has the most words in print of all. It has been my experience that printed words that come in some way from these Olssons are clear and of value. To my knowledge, the best photos and cartoons to accompany Olsson words are in Sweden & America.

Pietisten readers can receive a free sample copy of a current issue upon request. Address your request to Sweden & America, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407. — Ed.