Emigration Conference "Letters to Sweden"
13-15 August 2010
Mellerud, Sweden
The 3-day Emigration Conference starts with a tour of Dalsland on Friday, continues with seminars at Kulturbruket Mellerud on Saturday, and concludes with a church service on Sunday. The conference fee includes Friday lunch and supper, Saturday lunch, snacks and banquet, and Sunday church coffee with Swedish sandwiches. A personal one-to-one session with a genealogist is also optionally included. During the conference you will have an English speaking hostess for your service.
Day 1, Friday 13 August
Tour 9am - 6pm, supper 7pm
On Friday, you are invited to tour the beautiful landscape of Dalsland. We will go by train and bus, visit interesting museums, churches and farms and learn more about the lives of our ancestors.
Day 1 of the conference is a journey into the beautiful landscape of Dalsland. The tour takes us on the scenic railway to Bengtsfors and the outdoor museum Gammelgården on top of Majberget, overlooking the village and the lake.
We will get a guided tour and learn about the old houses and how people used to live. We will also visit the unique Straw Art Museum and learn how the art of creating straw hats and other things of straw arrived to Sweden with returning emigrants.
After a nice lunch in a restaurant overlooking the lake, we will visit some old churches and learn about religion at that time and more about those who stayed behind.
The day ends at Mellerud's museum, where we can walk through the exhibitions and enjoy a nice supper among the old cottages in the garden.
Day 2, Saturday 14 August
Opening 9.30am, seminars 10am-4pm, banquet 7pm
Saturday will be the day of seminars at Kulturbruket, Mellerud. We learn more about Swedish history and culture and meet with Swedish people.
Saturday´s seminars will be open to all who are interested in the emigration history and in genealogy. There will be an exhibition about the emigration history made by Swedish school children, another with pictures of Carl Oscar Borg, emigration information, bookstands and coffee. This is a perfect time to make connections between Swedish and American people.
If you have purchased the complete conference package - lunch is included and will be served at the restaurant "Wärdshuset på Dal". The day ends with a banquet with Swedish smorgasbord and entertainment in one of Dalsland´s beautifully situated restaurants in the countryside.
Seminars in English: Conferens Schedule>>
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Carl Oscar Borg |
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Emigration history |
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The historical and cultural uses of plants in Dalsland, for medicine, food etc. |
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In their own words. Letters from America. |
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The emigration seen through emigrant ballads and songs that survived in America. Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor of Theatre |
Seminars in Swedish: Conferens Schedule>>
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Släktforskning i USA |
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Kvinnorna i emigrationen |
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Genline och Bygdeband |
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Folkdräkter och dess historia |
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Carl Oscar Borg |
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Emigrationens historia |
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Presentation om Vasa Orden av Amerika Distriktsmästare DL 19, Einar Savolainen Grön |
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I deras egna ord. Brev från Amerika. Emigrationen genom emigrantvisor och sånger som överlevde i Amerika. Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor of Theatre |
Day 3, Sunday 15 August
Service 2 pm
On Sunday you are invited to participate in a service in Bolstad church, the oldest church in Dalsland.
We will attend the service along with the congregation.
After the service we will have church coffee together in the old vicarage, which now is a museum. There will also be time to visit the museum.
The church in Bolstad was built about 1175, but the oldest parts are from about 1150 according to the archives of the Swedish National Heritage Board. In 1756-1761 the church was transformed into a cross church, “korskyrka”.
The oldest parts of the steeple are medieval. In 1400 the name of the church was Saint Laurent´s church.
There are several legends told about the church bells. The organ was built in 1855 and re-built in 1915 and 1958-59.
The altar painting was made 1675 by Erik Grijs, Gothenburg. The theme is the Resurrection and the Sacrament.
Individual session - work on your family tree
Book a 30 minute individual session with a genealogist to work on your own family tree. The sessions will take place on Saturday.
This optional session is included in the conference fee and can be booked via the conference registration form. You will get your time in your information e-mail about one month before the conference.
Other events and special offers
In connection with the conference a number of events and activities are planned. Some can be booked on the conference registration form (fees will be added to your invoice); Other events must be booked separately.
Also check the home page of this site for the latest special offers from Emigration Dalsland.
Price and registration
Conference fee SEK 2000
plus administration fee SEK 150
Price includes Friday sightseeing and seminars, lunch and snacks, Saturday seminars, lunch, snacks and banquet, Sunday service, church coffee and museum entrance
Your confirmation will arrive in an e-mail. The invoice will be sent in a later e-mail to be paid within 30 days through Paypal. You will also get an information e-mail about one month before the conference.
Accommodation and travel
Each participant has to book their own accommodation and travel. If you need advice on where to stay and how to travel within Sweden please feel free to contact us at info@emigrationdalsland.com or the Swedish Tourist Agency in Dalsland at info@dalsland.com
