Karl Aron Emil Brodin

December 15, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

Karl Aron Emil Brodin was born in Kristdala, Kalmar län, on Nov. 2, 1875. When he was 20 years old, in December of 1895, his son Frans Evald was born. At Frans Evald’s birth both of his parents are listed as ‘unknown’. Later his mother came forward, and Frans Evald was somehow also given Brodin as his last name.

Karl Aron Emil Brodin left Sweden for the United States on July 15, 1896. His son is 7 months old.

Emil Brodin died in Los Angeles, Calif. on June 29, 1905. He had contracted tuberculosis in Manila, Philippines, while fighting with the 22nd US infantry in the Philippine – American War. That was “an armed conflict between the First Philippine Republic and the United States that lasted from February 4, 1899, to July 2, 1902.” He had enlisted in the spring of 1898 and was discharged in Manila on Dec. 13, 1901.

Sawtelle Veterans Home in west Los Angeles, Calif. was established in 1887.

On Nov. 9, 1904 he was admitted to the Pacific Branch of the U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, in Sawtelle, Calif. ‘Chas Karlson (uncle), Victoria, Ill.’ was listed as his next of kin.

Emil was buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery, 950 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles. His grave is in section 11, row L, site 8.

Emil was my 4th cousin twice removed.

San Francisco in October of 1911

November 26, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

On Oct. 10, 1911 The San Francisco Call published names of people who had recently applied for marriage licenses in San Francisco. Among them, MAGNISON – HEMMING. That’s Swan Magnuson and and his niece Ebba Nathalia Hemming(sson). They’re in California from Alaska and staying at the Palace Hotel for the occasion.

The Palace Hotel had been severely damaged during the 1906 earthquake, but according to the ad from 1911 it was now ‘entirely rebuilt’.

A perfect day

November 8, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

The first year I lived in the California I thought to myself that every single day could have been a summer’s day in Sweden. Summer’s days in Sweden can be hot and sunny, or cold and rainy. But the trees and lawns will be green, and everything is generally pretty.

A California November day, like today: Sunny, 72F or 22C. Perfect Swedish summer. Guy on skateboard included.

The Mothership

November 5, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

A Swedish-American woman I know always talks about IKEA as The Mothership. IKEA is a place where Swedes living abroad get to reconnect with their roots, stock up on necessities, and feel the joy of being surrounded by your first language. I remember going through the showroom with an American friend once, and she was amazed that 1. all product names are actual Swedish words, and 2. all books they use for props are actual Swedish books. (I asked to buy one of the books because I wanted to read it, but was turned down.) I think she felt my knowledge of Swedish had gained her access to a secret world.

I love the smell right where you enter the warehouse part of the store. The smell of wood mixes with cinnamon from the cinnamon rolls they sell near the exit. In America, even if it’s at The Mothership, the cinnamon rolls are nothing like Swedish cinnamon rolls, tho. They are too large, too sweet, too covered in icing. But the smell of cinnamon seems pretty authentic to me. At that spot it smells of wood shop class (my favorite) and a Swedish bakery all at once.

Pro tip: Visit on a Monday and enjoy zero crowds.

I also like the efficiency, the utilitarian decor, and much of the design. And the meatballs. Also:
– Scent-free candles for us migraines sufferers.
– Spend a little time looking and you’ll find simple furniture that works anywhere. It’s OK to paint stuff if you’re looking for a particular color.
– Sign up for the newsletter and pay attention to limited series of design collaborations.
– Avoid shipping larger items. It’s totally unreliable and extremely frustrating.
– Shipping smaller items is cheap (around $10), and your stuff will arrive via FedEx. No problems there.

If it was 1924 the kid was three years old

October 27, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

This little Swede was my third cousin once removed, born in Standish, Lassen Co., Calif. in 1921. He died in Stockton, Calif. in 2004.

He was of the second generation born in the United States. His great grandfather was Örn Lars Andersson Svedberg, born in Gagnef, Dalarna, in 1844. His grandmother Carolina was born in Stora Tuna, Dalarna, in 1876, and died in Martinez, Calif. in 1960.

These people are relatives on my maternal grandfather’s side. Carolina was his first cousin once removed. My grandfather was a man very proud of his heritage, and one who lived in a constant battle with his curly hair. I can see in online pictures that those same hair genes arrived safe and sound in California.

That could have been you, my dear

October 27, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

I was visiting in Sweden a couple of summers ago, and had to get up early for an appointment. On my way back I passed through a park. It was still early, probably before nine, and the air was cool the way it is in the summer when you know the day is going to be hot.

There were a couple of blonde girls raking leaves in the park. They looked like volleyball players, tall, and strong. I couldn’t figure out what they were doing until I remembered that Swedish high school and college students often have summer jobs filling in during the regular staff’s summer vacation. (Swedish employees have around 6 weeks of paid vacation time, and usually take 4 of those weeks back to back during the summer.) Outdoor summer jobs are the best, because, well, you get to spend all summer outdoors. When I was growing up you’d only get the outdoor jobs through connections.

Right now I’m also remembering an affluent young woman, one of my students in Silicon Valley. She had grown up on a ranch in Morgan Hill, in the south end of the San Francisco Bay Area. As an undergraduate she spent a semester studying abroad in London.

When she came back to school in California I asked her about her time in London. It soon became obvious there was some part of her experience she didn’t want to name. It took some prodding, but finally she told me and her classmates that in London had been the first time she’d seen white people do manual labor. White people, looking just like herself, had cleaned, sold tickets to the Underground, worked in the supermarkets, and swept the streets. She’d never before experienced anything like it.

Spreckels, Calif.

October 27, 2019 by LottaK Leave a comment

Spreckels post office, and the closed store.

A distant relative through long-time missing great grandfather Johan Adolf Abrahamsson moved to Spreckels, Calif. in the 1890s to work on the sugar factory that dominated the town back then.

Spreckels is still agricultural. And Central California is very pretty.

And, as we know, better with Coke.