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The John Ericsson Republican League of Illinois (first named the Swedish-American Republican League of Illinois) was organized and incorporated in 1894 in order to exert a Scandinavian-American influence on American politics. The league held an annual convention and banquet on or around March 9 in celebration of John Ericsson Day. Leading Republicans have attended and addressed League conventions, including President William Howard Taft in 1912. These materials were likely accumulated by George C. Lofgren of Galesburg, IL during his involvement with the League.

The Swedish Colonization Company was founded on June 13, 1884. The company’s main business was to “investigate and acquire possession of…agricultural land in the western and southwestern parts of the United States; and to sell them to, and colonize them with Swedish and other Scandinavians…who immigrate here; thereby harboring hopes to be able to protect them against fraud and to assure them good land fit for agriculture, and social and religious benefits suited to their wants." Collection includes one ledger of minutes of stockholders and Board of Directors meetings.

Subseries 1: Comptroller Carl Glans records, Series IV: Financial Documents from Upsala College (East Orange, N.J.) records.

The Scandinavian American Fraternity, previously known as the Independent Scandinavian Workingmen's Association, was founded in Chicago in the 1880s. The collection includes meeting minutes (in Norwegian until 1917, then English), member addresses, lists of officers and committee members, a treasurer's receipt book, printed ritual book, and printed song cards.