IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME WITH THIS CONUNDRUM?
I have been researching my Swedish ancestors that came to the United States in the 1880s. My great grandmother`s death certificate it states she came from Dalsland, Sweden. I know that Dalsland was an old administrative district in Sweden. Both my great grand parents from that side of my family are always listed as from Sweden in every official record I can find.
Recently, I received a family photo album from the late 1870s to early 1900s. Most of the portait photos have the studio listed on them, but here is the catch!--Most are photos studios are in Norway. Studios listed are in the Christianssand (Kristiansand) and
Arendal, both in Norway. Several other photos were taken in Sarpborg, Kristiania (Oslo), Fredriksstad.
I have visited both Norway and Sweden in the past and know, during the era my Great Grandparents immigrated to
Minnesota, Sweden controlled Norway through a Union until 1905.
Can anyone out there tell me more about the social/political interaction of that time between Swedes and Norwegian? Due to the Union, were Swedes encouraged to move into Norwegian areas. Or, was there a separate Swedish "class" within Norwegian communities due to Sweden`s administrative authority? The reason I ask is there are a few photos of men in uniforms--one appears to be a civil uniform (train conductor/police officer/ship officer) form Seffle, Sweden; the other is taken in
Arendal of a soldier with a riffle/bayonet and Prussian-type spiked helmut.
The photos are confusing to me because my grandmother and mother always referred to the
Henderson grandparents as Swedish. My grandmother belonged to the Swedish Center in Minneapolis at one time. All records where my grandparents are listed, even after the Norway became independent, list them as Swedish.
My sense is that Norwegians were/are very proud of their country and would have indicated that difference at some point in their records here in US, that is, if they were indeed of Norwegian decent.
I have been reading up on the Sweden-Norway Union, though the information is helpful, there isn`t much written (in the articles I have seen) on the social divisions during this time between Swedes living in Norway.
All of the photos are studio prints listing the the name and location of each. Is there a listing of Photo Studios for Norway and Sweden from that era anywhere? The
Minnesota Historical Society has a listing of Photo Studios for
Minnesota so I was wondering if there was something similar out there for Norway and Sweden.
Thank you to anyone who may shed light on my questions or guide me towards better research.