Comments by Marcus Cederström
Board of Directors Strategic Planning Chair
The Swedish-American Historical Society is turning 75 this year. But 134 years ago, a different Swedish-American Historical Society first appeared. Roy Swanson in the first issue of the journal of the then Swedish Pioneer Historical Society described it as “a ghostly thing which appeared and disappeared without leaving a trace, save the record of its incorporation under the laws of the state of Illinois.” A few years later, in 1905, a group attempted to use the name, only to be rebuffed by the state of Illinois and instead settle on the Swedish Historical Society of America. Roy Swenson traces that history in his article “Our Predecessors” in what was then called the Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly.
From 1948 until 1983 this organization, our organization, the one that is actually turning 75, was called the Swedish Pioneer Historical Society. For the last 40 years, we have been the Swedish-American Historical Society. Unlike our 1889 predecessor, we have left quite a trace. Archival collections, articles and books, awards and scholarships and research grants, not to mention countless events, there is nothing ghostly about the society. Even still, an anniversary forces one to not just look to the past, but to the future. And so it was that the SAHS board created an ad-hoc strategic planning committee to look to the future.
Meeting monthly for a year and a half, the group addressed a wide range of topics central to the Society’s ongoing work of studying, interpreting, and amplifying the history and culture of Swedish immigrants and their descendants, as well the relationships between the United States and Sweden, through publication, preservation, and programs.
This work has ranged in scope from the administrative—reviewing the Constitution and Bylaws for consistency and revising where necessary; to the programmatic—hosting an expanded calendar of events both online and in-person while also planning for the 75th anniversary celebration; to the scholarly—building upon 75 years of research and publication to better meet the needs of established and emerging scholars; and to the strategic—conducting a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) and subsequently identifying short- and long-term goals for the organization.
As we move forward, we’ll be sharing specific takeaways from this process with you, our members, while working to ensure effective governance, create fiscal sustainability, and increase awareness and visibility of the SAHS through outreach and service. As always, if you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out. Our Society is member-driven and accepts nominations to the board, where you can work to make a difference and further our mission of studying and better understanding Swedish emigration to the US, the history and culture of Swedes in North America, and the continued effects of that migration on both sides of the Atlantic.
We’re excited about what we’ve accomplished and recognize that we also have a long way to go. But together, with our current and future members, we look forward to building on the last 75 years, to create an even stronger next 75 years.