We can now turn our attention to our upcoming exhibit on Nordic Fairy Tales since the Julgran fundraiser and Lucia are finished here at the Vasa National Archive. We are keeping watch for different Nordic fairy tale items to put on exhibit. One item that will be featured is a printed textile called Skillingtryck, or Chapbook. Chapbooks tell various stories, history, fairy tales and myths in an abbreviated form. Typically, they take the form of a booklet or handbill. Chapbooks date to the 16th century when printing presses made it possible to create cheap little booklets available to the masses. While chapbooks can be found across Europe and America. London, with 500 licensed chapbook pe
Have you ever taken a moment to look at your Lodge Charter and wonder about the people or symbols on the Charter? Some, like the American and Swedish flags are easy to recognize. While we don’t know all the answers and symbolism on the Charters, here’s what we do know about the Charter artwork. The GL Charter was designed by C. W. Malmquist, who also selected the phrasing at the first GL Convention. The early Vasa Charters use the old Swedish spelling that was changed to the modern spelling in 1907. The book in the prelate’s hands shows the Ten Commandments and “Fader Var” (Our Lord’s Prayer). The Symbolism of the Vasa Emblem booklet says the following about C. W. Malmquist, "He was born in
When inventorying some boxes yesterday, we unearthed some of the earliest District Lodge Illinois #8 newsletters. The three newsletters date to October and November 1917 giving brief glimpses into lodge life and Vasa personalities from the early 20th century. Browsing these three newsletters highlighted the value of District and Local Lodge newsletters to researchers. While the type of news is very similar to what we read today, i.e. DM’s messages, officers reports, and LL news. These newsletters contain a wealth of info on local and regional events and personalities. Different views show how multiple lodges located in the same area shared resources at special events. Advertisements from S
The Bill and Susan Sherrard Foundation has given the Vasa National Archives a grant to organize and preserve their library collections. Grant funds will be used to hire a summer intern and purchase supplies to complete the library organization project. This project will make the books more accessible to researchers in Henry County and those interested in Swedish-American/Canadian history. The Vasa Order is an international fraternal Swedish-American organization focused on Nordic heritage, traditions and education with lodges located throughout the US, Canada, and Sweden. The Vasa National Archive houses the collections from the Vasa Order of America from 1896-present. Additional collection
More than ten years ago several ladies got together in Bishop Hill, IL to knit. We continue knitting together adding new knitters (and some crotcheters) through the years. We range in age from middle 20s to middle 80s. We gather at a home in Bishop Hill with our yarn and needles, coffee pot and treats spending the morning knitting, helping each other with projects and visiting. We’ve shared family joys – new babies, birthdays, graduations, and marriages – and sorrows – illnesses, break ups, and deaths. It is a great support group for each of us. Over the years we’ve knit for the benefit of others: socks for a Civil War exhibit in our state’s capital, mittens for school children, hats for new
