Collection Development Policy for the Swenson Center library and archives
Mission Statement
The Swenson Center is a national archives and research library providing resources for the study of Swedish immigration to North America, the communities the immigrants established, and the role immigrants and their descendants have played in American life. This is achieved by promoting and initiating academic research in the field and by collecting, preserving, and promoting access to the Swenson Centers’ archival and library materials. Another major role for the Center is to assist people researching their Swedish-American family history.
Purpose of the Collection Development Policy
to assist in furthering our mission as a national archives and repository for the study of Swedish immigration to North America.
to aid Swenson Center staff in selection of materials (both purchased and gifts)
to inform our patrons of selection principles and encourage donations of materials that support our mission
The Swenson Center strives to provide researchers with a comprehensive and in- depth view of the Swedish immigrant experience in North America. For a more detailed description of the various subject collections at the Center, please see www.augustana.edu/swenson/library.html. The current strength of the library's collection is in the areas of:
histories of Swedish settlements in the U.S. and Canada
Swedish-American literature & fine arts
publications of Swedish-American organizations and institutions
Swedish-American music, both secular and devotional
Swedish travelers and visitors to the North American continent 1840-
Swedish-American religious life, including denominational histories
Swedish-American biography and family history
Swedish local history and genealogy
To broaden and strengthen the current collection, the library seeks to
collect in the areas listed below. Please note that the list does not preclude
purchasing of other material when the staff regards it useful for researchers
and general reference work.
Primary focus
SSIRC will purchase all significant works that are published in the area of Swedish-American studies (e.g. history, ethnicity, sociology, religion, literature, and art). It will include both monographs, serials and journals.
Pamphlets and smaller publications published by private individuals and smaller presses both in Sweden and the United States and Canada pertaining to any aspects of Swedish-American studies.
New scholarly work in the field of Scandinavian-American history.
Secondary coverage
Swedish national history 1800- to present.
Swedish emigration to countries other than the United States and Canada.
Swedish local history from mainly the following areas in Sweden where emigration was significant such as: Dalarna, Gävleborgs län, Hallands län, Kronobergs län, Kalmar län, Skåne, Västra Götalands län, Östergötlands län and from the cities of Göteborg and Stockholm.
The Center currently has a large collection of microfilms, which contains records from Swedish-American churches, Swedish-American newspapers, passenger records from Sweden and Norway, the parish records from Kopparbergs län, and other name indexes from selected Swedish Church records.
The Swenson Center will purchase when available:
Swedish-American church records on microfilm
Swedish-American newspapers on microfilm from other institutions and/or libraries
Multimedia resources that will aid staff and visitors with genealogy research
Periodicals
The Swenson Center will continue to subscribe and collect newspapers and periodicals, which support our mission. A listing is available of purchased material at www.augustana.edu/swenson/library/
Subject files / vertical files
Our main purpose in maintaining subject files is to keep small pamphlets organized and available for reference and research use. Our focus is on the following material:
Pamphlets and off-prints relating to the Augustana Lutheran Church
Swedish-American organizations, both historical and current
Swedish-American life and culture
Selection criteria
The Head of Library has the main responsibility for the selection of material for the library, but all staff members are encouraged to participate in the process. Items selected and purchased must support the general mission of the Center. The following criteria will be considered before a purchase.
Author’s qualification and reputation
Accuracy of content
Quality of the production
Evaluations in review media
Selection tools
Bibliotekstjänst
Svensk Bokförteckning
Libris
Åkerbloms universitetsbokhandel
Amazon.com
University of Minnesota Press
University of Illinois Press
University of Wisconsin Press
Gifts – Swenson Center Library
The Swenson Center welcomes donations of library materials. Gifts from patrons have helped the Center to strengthen and broaden its collections and improve services to the Swedish-American community. All printed material regardless of format or characteristics that documents any sector of the Swedish-American community will be considered. However, the following list is especially vital to our mission.
Publications issued by the Swedish-American press ex. Augustana Book Concern, Rock Island, Illinois and Engberg & Holmberg in Chicago, 1840s to 1930s.
Publications issued by Swedish-American organizations, both current and defunct
Anniversary booklets from Swedish-American congregations (Lutheran, Covenant, Methodist etc.)
Swedish history 1800-to present, in both English and Swedish
Family histories / genealogies are accepted if they are in the format of a book or pamphlet, has a title page with compilers name and date of compilation, includes page numbering, and preferably has a name index. Please see use this link for further ideas on how you can compile a valuable family history.
Any books published in Swedish in North America.
Please note that we cannot accept any bibles or hymnals published in Sweden at this time due to space limitations.
We cannot accept any publication in poor condition (smells musty, is mildew and/or mold infested, has missing and torn pages).
The Swenson Center does not accept the responsibility to notify donors of withdrawals. Gifts may be withdrawn in the same manner as purchased material.
The Swenson Center cannot estimate the dollar value of gifts donated to the Center or of materials held in other collections.
Please contact the
Head of Library
if you have any material that you wish to donate, to discuss and determine if
material is appropriate for the Swenson Center. Note also that the Swenson
Center can only accept donations after consultation with the staff.
Archives
The Swenson Center Archives collects, preserves and promotes the use of
unpublished primary source material that documents the Swedish immigration and
the Swedish-American experience in North America.
The current strengths of the archival material are in the areas of:
Letters to early Augustana Synod pastors
Personal papers of prominent business people
Organizational and institutional records
Misc. autobiographical accounts and family papers
For further details on specific manuscript and/or organizational records please see the listing on www.augustana.edu/swenson.
Donations
The Swenson Center acquires most of its material through donations from individuals and organizations. It is the procedure of the Center to encourage donations as long as the material supports our mission and is considered to be of historical value.
In addition to acquiring records that enhances and strengthen the current holdings, the Center is also seeking materials such as:
Personal papers of Swedish-American individuals, businesses and organizations
Photographs depicting Swedish immigrant life in the cities, e.g. store fronts, people working, photographs of gatherings and festivals.
Diaries and journals (especially of underrepresented groups such as women, professionals, and working class people)
Correspondence between immigrants in North America and between immigrants and family in Sweden
Records from Swedish-American organizations 1840-present
Please contact the Head of Archives if you have any material that you wish to donate, to discuss and determine if material is appropriate for the Swenson Center. Note also that the Swenson Center can only accept donations after consultation with the staff and all donations must be represented on a legal Deed of Gift.
We appreciate your support and ask that you contact us if you have any other question about the Swenson Center’s archival holdings.
Procedures
Photocopying and scanning
The Center promotes the use of its materials and allows for photocopying and scanning of documents except when documents are too frail to be handled or in cases of restrictions set by the donor. The Center will not, however, allow for photocopying or scanning of entire collections.
This document will be revised periodically as necessary, and submitted to the Advisory Committee for approval.