Coming Soon! Collection Updates thoughout 2025
About this collection
The purpose of this project is to shine a light on and celebrate the rich tradition of Swedish folk music in the Upper Midwest, with a particular focus on first-generation Swedish immigrant musicians.
In the late 1800s, numerous settlements in the Upper Midwest flourished into culturally vibrant Scandinavian communities, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of immigrants who called this region home, among them were gifted musicians whose melodies still echo in Sweden. These folk musicians arrived before sound recordings and sheet music became widely available, so our knowledge of their tunes comes from oral histories passed down from musician to musician in Sweden.
If you have any information to share about these musicians, please email me (email button below). I would love to start a conversation and learn more.
Enjoy meeting the Nordic Newcomers!
Renee
www.reneevaughan.com
In the late 1800s, numerous settlements in the Upper Midwest flourished into culturally vibrant Scandinavian communities, thanks to the hard work and perseverance of immigrants who called this region home, among them were gifted musicians whose melodies still echo in Sweden. These folk musicians arrived before sound recordings and sheet music became widely available, so our knowledge of their tunes comes from oral histories passed down from musician to musician in Sweden.
If you have any information to share about these musicians, please email me (email button below). I would love to start a conversation and learn more.
Enjoy meeting the Nordic Newcomers!
Renee
www.reneevaughan.com
This collection is made possible through the Artist-in-Residency Program at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nordic Folklife and Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures
Thank you to
Cajsa Ekstav for your mentorship, Verf Lena Eghardt and Christina Frohm for lighting the spark of immigrant interest and for your ongoing support. Per-Ulf Allmo has provided a large amount of research and support, as did Gören Mendys, Olle Gällmo, Jan Winter, Paul Dahlin, Keith Engstrom, and Paul Tyler. Thank you to the American Swedish Institute, Kyrkhults Hembygdsförening, Isanti County Historical Society, Clearwater County Historical Society, Wright County Historical Society, Boone County Historical Society, National Music Museum, and all the family descendants of the Swedish immigrants for your help with research and and details. Special thanks to all folks at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures, and the Mills Music Library. The deepest appreciation for Dr Pepper Hot Stepper Carrie Danielson for all you do building folk music and dance communities wherever you are. Big hearts and donuts to all the folks I've played with along the way.
Photo credits above
Photo on left of Hård Lars Larsson found in "Spelmän, låtar och musik i Älvdalen" by Ragnar Forslund (1926-) Elfdalens hembygdsförening. 2006. Used with permission
Photo in center of Edwin Johnson (1979) Photographer Lewis Koch, 1949. Mills Music Library Digital Collections
Photo on right of Ivar Andersson playing button box accordion. Kyrkhults Hembygdsförening.