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Research in America - Personal Documents

Virtually every person has an innate desire to keep personal papers, documents and legal instruments. These should be utilized to the greatest extent possible, in order to determine how much information is available about the family, both in this country and in Sweden. They are of the following types:

1. Flyttningsbetyg (view image)
   This is the official exit permit issued by the pastor of the parish in Sweden from which the immigrant came. It is an important document, since technically Swedes could not leave their home parish without this permit. It provides a person's full name, date of birth, place of birth, character reference and knowledge of the Catechism and the Bible. It probably also gives the name of the parish to which an individual moved or, if an emigrant came directly to North America, the destination is given merely as Norra Amerika, since many did not know precisely where they were going. This type of document is extremely useful in providing the pertinent information from which to proceed directly to Swedish records. Unfortunately, many of these documents have been lost through the years, particularly at times of settling estates, when the documents, written in Swedish, often were destroyed.
   
   
2. The Family Bible (view image)
   For most people the Bible was the most important book and often a treasured possession. Since it was usually handed down from father to son, it was used to record important dates in the history of the family - births, baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials.
   
   
3. Letters to and from Sweden (view image)
   Old letters, extant from earlier days and written in Swedish, can often be discovered among family papers. Though the language may be unintelligible to descendants, the letter or postal card may yield an old address in Sweden, which can be a valuable clue in determining the origin of the family. Sometimes the postmark on a Swedish letter may give a clue. Instances are known where an inquiry to the Swedish post office or the clergyman in the parish has brought results. Letters such as the one shown in this example, reported to loved ones in the old country on conditions in the new land. These came in Sweden to be called Amerikabrev ("America letters").
   
   
4. Diaries 
   Written in Swedish or English, these documents can be of inestimable value in pinpointing vital information.
   
   
5. Certificates of Naturalization (view image)
   Most Swedes who immigrated to America sought American citizenship as soon as possible. Declarations of Intention of becoming U.S. citizens or Certificates of Naturalization are, therefore, important documents. While they may not always give the birthplace, they may give the date of entry into the United States, an important factor in further research. They may also give the name of the vessel on which the immigrant came to the United States. A U.S. Passport could, in some cases, also provide the date when the citizenship was actually granted.
   
   
6. Documents of Vital Statistics 
   Birth, marriage and death certificates in private possession are obviously excellent sources. To this should be added cemetery certificates, last wills and testaments, pension records for veterans, seamen's papers and homesteading documents, as well as land deeds. Letters from Sweden often contained clippings from provincial newspapers calling attention to family events, such as birthdays, weddings and funerals. Such announcements are valuable in tracing the parish or getting the names of relatives who remained behind.
   
   
7. Photographs 
   Properly identified photographs may also be quite valuable since, in most cases, the photographer had his advertising card printed on the reverse side of the photo. If the picture was taken in Sweden, this clue can be of importance.