10 Things I Noticed
About a New Book
Sent to my Newspaper
Called:
Norwegians
and Swedes
in the United States:
Friends & Neighbors
I haven't read this 300-plus page book; probably never will, cover to cover (it is very scholarly, err, dull). But from its cover photo of an older Scandanavian couple in traditional garb to the index, I found some fun things to comment on (being a life-long Norwegian/Swede, I feel I can have some fun with it.)
1. It was written by Philip J. Anderson and Dag Blanck, who just happens to be director of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College.
2. The publication of the book was supported through a grant from the Dale Hanson: Swedes in Minnesota Fund.
3. Chapter 3 is subtitled: A Comparison Perspective on Riksforeningen Sverigekontakt and Nordmanns-Forbundet.
4. Chapter 5 is titled, Ar Du Svensk? - Norsk! Norsk! and is about folk humor and cultural differences in Scandanavian America.
5. In that folk humor chapter are references to "Yumpin' Yimminy," the Mighty Ufda Players and the many joke books of Ole and Lena.
6. There's a photo on page 115 of a jam-packed Chicago Stadium in 1948 when it hosted the Swedish Pioneer Centennial Association Festival. President Truman and writer Carl Sandberg spoke.
7. Chapter 10 is a classic scholarly one: "The Sociological Factor is Not to Be Underestimated: Swedes, Norwegians and American Lutheran Merger Negotiations, 1920-60."
8. In the early 1890s, young men at Hope Academy would chant derisively against their rivals from Concordia and their unusual nickname: "Corncobs, Corncobs! What will you have? Lutefisk and lefse - Yah! Yah! Yah!
9. Chapter 15 is devoted to Willmar, Minn. A large chart of 1905 businesses and business owners shows the harness making team of Jorgenson & Swenson.
10. There's ample mention of Decorah, Iowa, but none of Stoughton, Wis. I almost feel compelled to write to Dag to voice my complaint. Ufda, already!
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