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Where the memories of Swedes' everyday lives are preserved
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Where the memories of Swedes' everyday lives are preserved

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The Nordic Museum in Stockholm houses an extensive archive documenting everyday Swedish life.
  • Archivists use methods like 'question lists' to systematically collect testimonies about traditions and daily routines.
  • The archive contains millions of photographs and documents, including unique collections on magic and folklore.

Stockholm's Nordic Museum, a landmark institution, preserves more than just grand exhibitions of Nordic life and history. Within its palatial facade lies a vast archive dedicated to the everyday details of Swedish life that might otherwise be forgotten.

Archivist Marie Steinrud describes her workplace as "a quirky archive." As a foundation rather than a government agency, the museum has enjoyed greater freedom in curating its diverse collections. With approximately 5.5 kilometers of documents and 6 million photographs, the archive holds many unexpected items, including a notable collection of books on magic and the occult.

a quirky archive

— Marie SteinrudSteinrud's description of her workplace at the Nordic Museum.

Despite these unique collections, the archive maintains a systematic approach. A key method for gathering information on daily life is the use of 'question lists,' a technique the Nordic Museum pioneered in Sweden. The first lists, sent out in 1905-1906, focused on Christmas traditions, reflecting the early 20th century's national romantic interest in preserving fading customs.

There are few occasions as steeped in folklore and traditions as Christmas.

— Marie SteinrudSteinrud discussing the focus on holiday traditions in the archive's collections.

"There are few occasions as steeped in folklore and traditions as Christmas," Steinrud noted. "Midsummer is also a very popular holiday to investigate, especially since certain parts of Sweden celebrate Midsummer very differently from others." The question list method gained significant traction in the 1920s, providing a systematic way to collect extensive testimonies on specific topics, moving beyond the limitations of earlier, more labor-intensive field collection trips.

Initially, these question lists targeted older individuals to gather information reaching further back in time. However, the scope soon broadened to include contemporary life. Eventually, respondents were asked to write their own answers rather than be interviewed. Since 2016, all data collection has been digitized. Beyond inquiries into superstition, the archive also includes headings like 'tame moose as draft animals' and 'socks on horses.'

Midsummer is also a very popular holiday to investigate, especially since certain parts of Sweden celebrate Midsummer very differently from others.

— Marie SteinrudSteinrud explaining the regional variations in Midsummer celebrations documented in the archive.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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