R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Sweden
Research Outline
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Swedish Search Strategies
Records At The Family History Library
The Family History Library Catalog
     Maps Of Sweden
Archives And Libraries
Biography
Census
Church Records
Civil Registration
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Encyclopedias And Dictionaries
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Heraldry
History
Language And Languages
Maps
Military Records
Names, Personal
Nobility
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
Schools
Social Life And Customs
Societies
Other Records For Sweden
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESLook this term up in the glossary.

Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches and governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical records and sources for Sweden. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this outline, return to this section to find the address.

If you plan to visit any of these repositories, contact the organization and ask for information about their hours, services, and fees. When writing to an archive in Sweden, you may write in English.

Although the records you need may be in an archive or library in Sweden, the Family History Library and the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College in Illinois may have microfilm copies of them. The Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center sells microform copies of the records. See "Societies" section of this outline for the address.

In Sweden there are several major types of genealogical repositories:

  • National archives and libraries
  • Provincial archives
  • City archives
  • Church parish offices
  • Historical and genealogical societies


National Archive

The Swedish government collects records relating to Swedish history, culture, and people. The National Archive of Sweden, which is open to the public, has a large genealogical and biographical collection as well as government accounts, land records, tax lists, maps, and pictures. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many of the National Archive's records.

The postal address is:

RiksarkivetLook this term up in the glossary.
Box 12541
S-102 29 Stockholm
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-8-737 63 50
Fax: 011-46-8-737 64 74
The street address is:

Fyrverkarbacken 13-17
Stockholm
Sweden
The following is a guide to the National Archive's collection:

Jägerskiöld, Olof. Riksarkivet 1618-1968 (National Archives 1618- 1968). Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt & Söner, 1968. (FHL book 948.5 J5j.)

Svensk Arkivinformation, SVAR (Swedish Archive Information)Look this term up in the glossary. is a division of the National Archive. The goal of SVAR is to make archive material available for research and education. SVAR will copy and distribute archive material and index information. SVAR has a research facility in Ramsele, Sweden. The facility is located at:

Tingsvägen 5. (Gamla Tingshuset)
Ramsele
Sweden
The mailing address is:

SVAR
Box 160
S-880 40 Ramsele
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-623-725 00
Fax: 011-46-623-725 55

Provincial Archives

There are seven regional archives in Sweden. They house records pertaining to their particular area. Most Swedish records of genealogical value are kept at the provincial archives, including church records such as birth, marriage, and death records; census records; land records; emigration records; and court records. Each provincial archive has a large collection of printed material about its area, including local histories, biographies, and other genealogical material. The provincial archives are open to the public. Each archive has different hours of service, so make sure you know days and times before visiting.

For Göteborg och Bohus, Älvsborg, Skaraborg, and Värmland counties, write:

Landsarkivet i Göteborg
Box 3009
S-400 10 Göteborg
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-31-778 68 00
Fax: 011-46-31-778 68 25
For Gävleborg, Västernorrland, Västerbotten, and Norrbotten counties, write:

Landsarkivet i Härnösand
Box 161
S-871 24 Härnösand
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-611-835 00
Fax: 011-46-611-835 28
For Malmöhus, Kristianstad, Halland, and Blekinge counties, write:

Landsarkivet i Lund
Box 2016
S-220 02 Lund
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-19 70 00
Fax: 011-46-19 70 70
For Stockholm, Uppsala, Södermanland, Örebro, Västmanland, and Kopparberg counties, write:

Landsarkivet i Uppsala
Box 135
S-751 04 Uppsala
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-18-65 21 00
Fax: 011-46-18-65 21 03
For Östergötland, Kalmar, Jönköping and Kronoberg counties, write:

Landsarkivet i Vadstena
Box 126
S-592 00 Vadstena
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-143-130 30
Fax: 011-46-143-102 54
For Gotland county, write:

Landsarkivet i Visby
Box 2142
S-621 57 Visby
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-498-21 05 14
Fax: 011-46-498-21 29 55
For Jämtland county, write:

Landsarkivet i Östersund
Arkivvägen 1
S-831 31 Östersund
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-63-10 84 85
Fax: 011-46-63-12 18 24

City Archives

The city archives of Stockholm and Malmö are comparable to the provincial archives. The city archives house records for these cities.

The addresses are:

Stockholms stadsarkiv
Box 22063
S-104 22 Stockholm
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-8-785 83 00
Fax: 011-46-8-785 83 01
Malmö stadsarkiv
Stora Varvsgatan 11 N:4
S-211 19 Malmö
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-40-10 53 00
Fax: 011-46-40-97 51 05

Military Archive

The war archive stores military records. The address is:

Krigsarkivet
S-115 88 Stockholm
Sweden
Telephone: 011-46-8-782 41 00
Fax: 011-46-8-782 69 76
See the “Military Records” section of this outline.


Church Parish Offices

Post-1895 church records are usually kept by the local parish. Parishes may also have earlier records. You can write to local parishes for information. See the “Church Records” section of this outline.


HistoricalLook this term up in the glossary. and GenealogicalLook this term up in the glossary. Societies

In Sweden there are many historical and genealogical societies. Some societies maintain libraries and archives that collect valuable records. For more information, including addresses, see the “Societies” section of this outline.


InventoriesLook this term up in the glossary., RegistersLook this term up in the glossary., CatalogsLook this term up in the glossary.

Some archives have catalogs, inventories, guides, or periodicals that describe their records and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before you visit or use the records of an archive so that you can use your time more effectively. The Family History Library has some of these guides. They are listed in the catalog under: SWEDEN - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS.


Libraries

Kungliga Biblioteket (Royal Library) has a helpful collection of published genealogies, manuscripts, histories, directories, maps, and newspapers.

Kungliga Biblioteket
Box 5039
S-102 41 Stockholm
Sweden

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