Come visit the museum and explore the beautiful historic Erlander Home and the upper galleries that include the new Immigrant Gallery, featuring founding Rockford Swedish families!
Collections Statement: The Erlander House Museum explores the life and cultural heritage of John and Mary Erlander from the years 1872- 1900, and shows the impact of an immigrant family in the Rockford community. The Swedish Historical Society currently collects and documents artifacts that pertain to John Erlander's life and legacy and the lives of the occupants of the Erlander Home Museum. We actively seek materials related to John Erlander, his wives Christine (Stina Cajsa) Pettersdötter Erlander and Inga Stina Pettersdötter Erlander; and his eight children (in particular, Mary Erlander). Material related to business ventures including the Erlander & Johnson tailor shop, Rockford Union Furniture Co., Excelsior Furniture Co., Central Furniture Co., Rockford Brick Company,( etc.) as well as documents related to his political life and the families philanthropic enterprises are of interest to us.
The Swedish Historical Society will not accept artifacts that are mailed or left unattended on the museum campus. Items that are left unattended or mailed to the museum without prior consent of museum staff or board members will be considered property of the Society and may be disposed of in any manner the Society deems fit. If you would like to submit an object/artifact for consideration of the collection committee, please call or email museum@swedishhistorical.org to schedule an appointment with the office.
The Swedish Historical Society also does not currently provide any language translation services.