Swedish Americans in Texas

Background

Svenskarne i Texas i Ord och Bild 1838-1918
A historical and biographical book by Ernest Severin of the Swedes who settled in Texas 1838-1918. The text is in Swedish.
This book is available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its Centers with the call # FHL US/CAN Film 1035808 Items 4-5.

Swedes in Texas in Words and Pictures 1838-1918
An English translation of the book by Ernest Severin (Svenskarne i Texas i ord och bild 1838-1918) was completed by Christine Andreason and is available on line at: http://www.swedesintexas.com/SIT%20Web.htm

Swedes in Texas Data base
An on-line data base of many people who emigrated from Sweden to Texas between 1850 and 1930. Go to http://www.swedesintexas.com/

Pionjärerna från Värmland: De okända svenskarna på Texas prärie
A bibliography of the pioneers from Värmland, the unknown Swedes on the Texas prairie. The author of the book is Tommy Hellström. The book contains an index of persons. Written in Swedish. The book is available at the Family History Library with the call number 976.4 F2.

Demographics

Societies

Texas State Genealogical Society

c/o Scott Fitzgerald, Treasurer
PO Box 7308
Tyler, TX 75711-7308
Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txsgs/

Texas State Historical Association

2/306 Sid Richardson Hall
Austin, TX 78712
Website: http://www.tshaonline.org/

Texas Historical Commission

http://www.thc.state.tx.us/

Central Texas Genealogical Society, Inc

(Counties covered: McLennan, Limestone, Hill, Falls, Milam, Coryell, Bosque)
c/o Waco-McLennan County Library
1717 Austin Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txctgs/

East Texas Genealogical Society

(Counties Covered: Anderson, Henderson, Smith, Rusk, Gregg, Panola)
P.O. Box 6967
Tyler, TX 75711-6967
Website

East Texas Historical Association

P.O. Box 6223 SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6223
Phone: 936-468-2407
Fax: 936-468-2190
Website: http://www.easttexashistorical.org/index.html

North Texas Genealogical Association

P.O. Box 4602
University Park Station
Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Genealogical Society of Northeast Texas

P.O. Box 187
Paris, TX 75460
Website:

South East Texas Genealogical & Historical Society

(Counties covered: Jefferson, Tyler, San Jacinto, Polk, Chambers, Newton, Hardin, Liberty, Orange, Jasper)
c/o Tyrrell Historical Library
P.O. Box 3827,
Beaumont, TX 77704-3827
Website: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txsetghs/index.htm

Southwest Genealogical Society

1300 San Pedro Ave,
San Antonio, TX 78212

Southwest Texas Genealogical Society

P.O. Box 295
Uvalde, TX 78802

South Texas Genealogical Society, Inc.

(Counties covered: Bee, Goliad, Karnes, Live Oak, Refugio and San Patricio)
P.O. box 754
Beeville, TX 78104-0754
Phone: 512-358-1135

South Texas Genealogical Society

PO Box 768
Gonzales TX 78269

Local genealogical societies of Texas

Links to various county and local genealogical and historical societies
http://www.texasgenealogy.org/societies.htm

Local County and Area Genealogical and Historical Societies

Website: http://www.txgenweb.org/tx/society.htm

Archives in Texas with Swedish Collections

The University of Texas at Austin
The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
Arno Nowotny Building
1 University Station D 1100
Austin, TX 78712-0335
Phone: 512-495-4684
Fax: 512-475-9468
Website: http://www.cah.utexas.edu/services/subject_guides/subject_guide_swedes.php

Archives and Manuscripts
Texas State Library
Website: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/index.html

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
ELCA Regional Archives
Region 4 – South Archives: Texas and Louisiana
The Rev. Luther W. Oelke
1090 Oestreich Dr.
Seguin, TX 78155
Phone: 830-379-9900
Email: loelke@tlu.edu

Cemeteries

Texas Cemeteries http://www.texasgenealogy.org/cem.htm

Churches

The Swedish American churches listed below have microfilmed records in the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at the Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. These microfilms are not available via interlibrary loan but may be searched in person or a search may be requested for a fee. See http://www.augustana.edu/x13917.xml for years of availability, guidelines, and research request forms.

Calhoun County

Eden Lutheran Church
Olivia, Texas

Dallas County

Emanuel Lutheran Church
Dallas, Texas

Galveston County

Zion Lutheran Church
Galveston, Texas

Jones County

Bethel Lutheran Church
Avoca, Texas

Karnes County

Elim Lutheran Church
Kenedy, Texas

Tarrant County

Grace Lutheran Church
Fort Worth, Texas

Travis County

Central Methodist Episcopal Church
Austin, Texas

Gethsemane Lutheran Church
Austin, Texas

Memorial United Methodist
Austin, Texas

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Austin, Texas

Texas Sc. Free Mission Soc.
Decker, Texas

Elroy Free Evangelical Church
Elroy, Texas

Moline Lutheran Church
Elroy, Texas

Kimbro Free Evangelical Church
Kimbro, Texas

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Lund, Texas

Decker Methodist Church
Manor, Texas

Emanus Lutheran Church
Manor, Texas

New Sweden Lutheran Church
New Sweden, Texas

Wharton County

First Lutheran Church
El Campo, Texas

Willacy County

Evangelical Covenant Church
Lyford, Texas

Williamson County

Free Evangelical Church
Georgetown, Texas

Swedish Lutheran Church
Georgetown, Texas

Hutto Lutheran Church
Hutto, Texas

Palm Valley Lutheran Church
Round Rock, Texas

History

Svenskarne i Texas i Ord och Bild 1838-1918

A historical and biographical book by Ernest Severin of the Swedes who settled in Texas 1838-1918. The text is in Swedish.
This book is available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its Centers with the call # FHL US/CAN Film 1035808 Items 4-5.

Swedes in Texas in Words and Pictures 1838-1918
An English translation of the book by Ernest Severin (Svenskarne i Texas i ord och bild 1838-1918) was completed by Christine Andreason and is available on line at: http://www.swedesintexas.com/SIT%20Web.htm

Swedes in Texas Data base
An on-line data base of many people who emigrated from Sweden to Texas between 1850 and 1930. Go to http://www.swedesintexas.com/

Swedes in Texas – Brief History and Timeline of the Swedish Immigration to Texas

Written by Jean Sellstrom. Begins with the early arrival of S.M. Swenson in 1838 plus other family and friends who came in the 1840’s and 1850’s. The significant immigration of the 1860’s and later followed.
http://www.swedesintexas.com/showmedia.php?mediaID=524&albumlinkID=49

For the early beginnings of Swedes in Texas, see also http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Swedes/Lutherans_and_Swedes_in_Williamson_County.htm

“The Swedish Immigrant – a question of choice”

by James Pat. http://www.swedesintexas.com/readingroom/rr0001.htm

1865-1871 Listing of Barkeryd Parish, Småland, Sweden – Emigrants to Texas
http://www.swedesintexas.com/showmedia.php?mediaID=521&albumlinkID=46

1867 Barkeryd Emigrants to Texas
http://www.swedesintexas.com/showmedia.php?mediaID=522&albumlinkID=47

“The emigrants from Småland, Sweden. The American Dream” by Ken Sawyer, Halifax, England http://www.swedesintexas.com/readingroom/rr0002.htm

Pionjärerna Från Värmland: De Okända Svenskarna på Texas Prärie
A bibliography of the pioneers from Värmland, the unknown Swedes on the Texas prairie. The author of the book is Tommy Hellström. The book contains an index of persons. Written in Swedish. The book is available at the Family History Library with the call number 976.4 F2.

"Where did the Swedes Go? The Causes of Swedish Immigration and Settlement Patterns in America" by Rickie Lazzerini http://www.kindredtrails.com/Where-Did-The-Swedes-Go-3.html

Newspapers

Swedish-American Newspapers in Texas

Title of Newspaper and City of Publication

Texas Posten in Austin
Texas Bladet in Austin/Elgin/Georgetown

Availability
Many Swedish-American newspapers are available on microfilms at the Swenson Center at Augustana College and are available to borrow via interlibrary loan throughout the United States. See http://www.augustana.edu/x14666.xml to see specific newspaper and years you would like to view. Contact your local library if you are interested in placing a request. Supply your library with the following information:

Title of newspaper
The specific years you need for your research

Inform your library that the requests can be sent directly via OCLC (“ICY”), fax 309 794-7230, or via mail to Augustana College Library, 639 38th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201-2296