Pennsylvania: Swedish American

Background
The first Swedes in Pennsylvania came up the Delaware River from the early Swedish settlement called New Sweden. The Swedes from this settlement came in the 1600's from Sweden and settled first in Delaware and then spread to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For more information on the history of New Sweden in America see: http://www.phila.gov/phils/carchive.htm

Repositories for Pennsylvania Genealogy
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA Regional Archives Region 7: For all synods except Metropolitan New York and the Slovak-Zion Synod John E. Peterson Lutheran Archives Center Northeast Region Archives ELCA 7301 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119-1794 Phone: 215-248-4616, Ext. 34 Fax: 215-248-4577 Email: mtairyarchives@ltsp.edu

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA Regional Archives Region 8: For Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Western Maryland Sarah (Sally) Roth Tri-Synod Archives Thiel College College Avenue Greenville, PA 16125 Phone: 724-589-2131

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA Regional Archives Region 8: General Synod for Central Pennsylvania, Delaware-Maryland and Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Elwood W. Christ A.R. Wentz Library Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone: 717-334-6286, Ext. 2131 Email: echrist@ltsg.edu Website: http://www.abs.net/~lhs/

Free Library of Philadelphia 1901 Vine St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: (215) 686-5322. Map Collection (215) 686-5396 Newspaper Center (215) 686-5431 Website: http://www.library.phila.gov/

The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust St., 2nd Fl. Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699. Phone: (215) 545-0391 Website: http://www.genpa.org/ Church and cemetery records for most Pennsylvania counties, microfilms of early Philadelphia Orphans' Court estate papers, many county records, including deeds and probate on microfilm; CD-ROM collection. Partial catalog on-line plus indices to some collections.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust St. Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: (215) 732-6200 Website: http://www.hsp.org/ Library houses the Genealogical Collection that was compiled mainly by GSP volunteers, plus the library of the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies. Four card catalogs serve as a guide to their holdings: published materials catalog, published books prior to 1952, manuscript collections, and microfilm collection. Strong in all areas of genealogical and historical research. Online catalog includes most GSP holdings for churches and cemeteries.

National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Region 900 Market St. (entrance on Chestnut Street between 9th and 10th) Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone:(215) 606-0100 Website: http://www.archives.gov/midatlantic/public/index.html Research center with U.S. census, military – WWI and WWII draft cards, ship passenger lists, federal court records, including naturalizations, 1798 U.S. Direct Tax – Pennsylvania (window pane tax). Access to Ancestry.com.

Philadelphia City Archives 3101 Market St., 1st Floor Philadelphia, PA 19104-2807 Phone: (215) 685-9400 Website: http://www.phila.gov/phils/carchive.htm Vital records from 1860 to 1915, deeds before 1952, naturalization records from Philadelphia county courts, early Philadelphia tax records. City directories.

Clearfield County
Old Swedish Cemetery Jordan Township http://www.pa-roots.com/clearfield/townships/jordan/oldswedish.html

Lawrence County
Bessemer Swedish Cemetery Bessemer, PA Census of the Bessemer Cemetery in Lawrence County, PA, includes the Bessemer Finnish, Bessemer Swedish, Bessemer Jugo-Slav and Saint Anthony Catholic Cemeteries. http://stores.homestead.com/mechlingbooks2/-strse-448/Bessemer-Cemetery%2C-Bessemer%2C-Lawrence/Detail.bok

Warren County
New Scandia Cemetery in Elk Township

Old Scandia Cemetery in Elk Township

Swede Hill Cemetery in Pine Grove Township

Swedish Cemetery in Sugar Grove (See: Mission Covenant Church Cemetery)

Swedish Lutheran Cemetery in Brokenstraw Township

Swedish Lutheran Cemetery in Youngsville

Swedish Union Church Cemetery in Tidioute

Triumph Swedish Union Cemetery in Tidioute

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.

Allegheny County

Stoneridge Covenant Church Allison Park, Pennsylvania

Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church Braddock, Pennsylvania

Christ Lutheran Church Duquesne, Pennsylvania

Zion Lutheran Church Duquesne, Pennsylvania

Riverview Baptist Church McKeesport, Pennsylvania

Tabor Lutheran Church McKeesport, Pennsylvania

Evaline Evangelical Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Ptttsburgh, Pennsylvania

Swedish Congregational Mission Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem Lutheran Church Wilson, Pennsylvania

Cambria County

Hebron Lutheran Church Patton, Pennsylvania

Clearfield County

Bethany Covenant Church DuBois, Pennsylvania

Christ Lutheran Church DuBois, Pennsylvania

Lebanon Lutheran Church De Bois, Pennsylvania

Grassflat Lutheran Church Grassflat, Pennsylvania

Bethel Lutheran Church Houtzdale, Pennsylvania

Evangelical Covenant Church Lanse, Pennsylvania

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church Lanse, Pennsylvania

Nebo Lutheran Church Peale, Pennsylvania

Emanuel Lutheran Church West Clymer, Pennsylvania

Lebanon Lutheran Church Winburne, Pennsylvania

Svenska Baptist Förs. Winburne, Pennsylvania

Clinton County

St. John Lutheran Church Renovo, Pennsylvania

Crawford County

Emanuel Lutheran Church Titusville, Pennsylvania

Delaware County

Pilgrim Mission Lutheran Church Havertown, Pennsylvania

Resurrection Lutheran Church Havertown, Pennsylvania

Elk County

Maria Lutheran Church Dagus Mines, Pennsylvania

Gustaf Adolfs Församling Instanter, Pennsylvania

Mission Covenant Church Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem Lutheran Church Ridgway, Pennsylvania

Evangelical Covenant Church Ridgway, Pennsylvania

Evangelical Mission Covenant Wilcox, Pennsylvania

Nazareth Lutheran Church Wilcox, Pennsylvania

Erie County

Bethany Lutheran Church Erie, Pennsylvania

Calvary Covenant Church Erie, Pennsylvania

Grace Baptist Church Erie, Pennsylvania

Svenska Evan. Luth. Church Brookston, Pennsylvania

Svenska Kristna Friförsamling Brookston, Pennsylvania

Jefferson County

Elim Lutheran Church Anita, Pennsylvania

Lawrence County

First Covenant Church Bessemer, Pennsylvania

Zion Lutheran Church New Castle, Pennsylvania

Lycoming County

Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

McKean County

Emanuel Lutheran Church Bradford, Pennsylvania

Mission Covenant Church Bradford, Pennsylvania

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Clermont, Pennsylvania

Emanuel Mission Covenant Church Kane, Pennsylvania

Tabor Lutheran Church Kane, Pennsylvania

Kanesholm Fria Lutheran Church Kanesholm, Pennsylvania

Lebanon Evangelical Lutheran Church Kanesholm, Pennsylvania

Moriah Lutheran Church Ludlow, Pennsylvania

Nebo Lutheran Church Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania

Sion Evangelical Lutheran Church Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania

St. Matthew Lutheran Church Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania

Evangelical Covenant Church Port Allegany, Pennsylvania

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Port Allegany, Pennsylvania

Trinity Lutheran Church Smethport, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

Calvary Lutheran Church Bustleton (Philadelphia), Pennsylvania

Gustav Adolf Lutheran Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Zion Lutheran Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Potter County

St. Paul Lutheran Church Galeton, Pennsylvania

Tioga County

(see Lebanon Luth. Ch., Whitehall, MI) Antrim, Pennsylvania

Lebanon Lutheran Church Antrim, Pennsylvania

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Arnot, Pennsylvania

(see Lebanon Luth. Ch., Whitehall, MI) Morris Run, Pennsylvania

Siloa Lutheran Church Morris Run, Pennsylvania

Venango County

Zion Lutheran Church Oil City, Pennsylvania

Warren County

Hessel Valley Lutheran Church Chandlers Valley, Pennsylvania

Svenska Evang. Luth. Congregation Clarendon, Pennsylvania

Berea Lutheran Church Pittsfiled, Pennsylvania

St. Paul Swedish Lutheran Church Pittsfield, Pennsylvania

Bethany Lutheran Church Sheffield, Pennsylvania

Evangelical Mission Covenant Church Sheffield, Pennsylvania

Mission Covenant Church Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania

Sugar Grove Lutheran Church Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem Covenant Church Warren, Pennsylvania

Calvary Baptist Church Warren, Pennsylvania

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Warren, Pennsylvania

Saron Lutheran Church Youngsville, Pennsylvania

Westmoreland County

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Salem Lutheran Church Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Immanuel Lutheran Church Irwin, Pennsylvania

Early Swedes in Pennsylvania
Early Swedish colonists came to the New World in eleven voyages between 1638 and 1656 and some of the settlers were in what is present day Pennsylvania. For more information see the history section of the "Old Swedes' Episcopal Church" http://www.old-swedes.org/History4522.php

The oldest church building in Philadelphia, Gloria Dei was nicknamed Old Swedes because its founding members were Swedish Lutherans who moved from Wilmington, Delaware in 1643. For more about this church see http://www.whyy.org/tv12/HolyPhilly/GloriaDei.html

Newspapers
Swedish-American Newspapers in Pennsylvania

Title of Newspaper and City of Publication


 * Pennsylvania-Posten in McKeesport
 * Svenska Veckobladet in McKeesport

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

Statewide Historical Societies
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 Phone: 215-732-6200 Fax: 215-732-2680 Website: http://www.hsp.org/

Genealogical society of Pennsylvania 1300 Locust St., 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107-5699 Phone:(215) 545-0391 Fax: (215) 545-0936 Website: http://www.genpa.org/index.html

Swedish Colonial Society 916 South Swanson Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147-4332 www.ColonialSwedes.org

The American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19145 Phone: 215-389-1776 Fax: 215-389-7701 Website: http://www.americanswedish.org/

Adams County
Adams County Historical Society P.O. Box 4325 Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone:(717) 334-4723 Website: http://www.achs-pa.org/index.htm

Berks County
Historical Society of Berks County 940 Centre Avenue Phone: 610-375-4375 Henry Janssen Library 160 Spring Street Phone: 610-375-4375 Website: http://www.berkshistory.org/library/

Chester County
Chester County Historical Society The History Center 225 N. High Street West Chester, PA 19380-2691 Phone: 610-692-4800 Website: http://www.cchs-pa.org/index.php

Crawford County
Crawford County Historical Society PO Box 411 Meadville, PA 16335 Phone:(814) 724-6080 Email: [mailto:crawfordhistorical@zoominternet.net crawfordhistorical@zoominternet.net] Research request to: [mailto:cchsresearch@zoominternet.net cchsresearch@zoominternet.net]

Cumberland County
Cumberland County Historical Society 21 N. Pitt Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Website: http://www.historicalsociety.com/

Jefferson County
Jefferson County Historical Society 172-176 Main Street Brookville, PA 15825 Phone: 814-849-0077 Website: http://www.orgsites.com/pa/jeffersoncohistsoc/

Mercer County
Mercer County Historical Society 119 South Pitt Street Mercer, PA 16137 Phone: 724-662-3490 Website: http://www.mchspa.org/

Northampton County
Northampton County Historical &amp; Genealogical Society 107 South Fourth Street, Easton, PA 18042 Phone: (610) 253-1222 Fax: (610) 253-4701 Website: http://www.northamptonctymuseum.org/index.html

Websites

 * See article New Sweden


 * "New Sweden Settlers, 1638-1654" in Sweden Genealogy Links at http://www.genealogia.fi/emi/3d41indexe.htm (accessed 4 November 2008). Originally published in the Swedish American Genealogist vols. 16-19.
 * "List of the Swedish Families Residing in New Sweden in 1693 for Genealogy Research" in Colonial Ancestors at http://colonialancestors.com/de/families.htm (accessed 4 November 2008). 188 families, 932 persons.
 * "List of persons to the Colony of New Amstel, compiled from 'Return of Moneys paid for the Colonie on the Delaware River, November 18, 1659 - November 3, 1662'" in New Netherland and Beyond Delaware River Settlements 1637-1682 at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nycoloni/amsteld1.html (accessed 4 November 2008). 41 names.
 * Swedish Colonial Society - history, churches, and settlers.
 * Peter Stebbins Craig, "1671 Census of Delaware," in Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, 40 (Spring/Summer 1998): 197-231, and continued in Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, 40 (Fall/Winter 1998): 314-60. Biographical sketches of over 175 mostly Swedish and Finnish residents on the west side of the Delaware River from what is now New Castle County, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also includes a few families in Zwaanendael (now Lewes, Sussex, Delaware), and east of the Delaware River in present day New Jersey.