McPherson New Gottland Covenant Church Vol:1 (1893-1940) Image 28 / page 4 (AID: v812973.b28.s4) Link.
ArkivDigital is not only photographing records in Sweden but we are also photographing in the United States. Currently, one of our photographers is in Kansas photographing Swedish-American church records for churches no longer in existence as well as for some that are still active.
The above image is from a congregation book for New Gottland Covenant Church in McPherson County in Kansas. In this record we see information for Charles and Bettie Gustafson along with their children. Both the parents were born in Sweden. Charles was born in Karlskoga: Bettie in Leksand and all the children were born in New Gottland, Kansas. The record also notes when the couple arrived in New Gottland as well as their arrival in America.
In addition to the common church books such as birth, marriage, death as well as records showing persons moving in or leaving the parish, we have photographed other types of records such as church accounts and protocols. In the earlier books, many are written in Swedish but around 1900, it is more common for the records to be written in English.
McPherson New Gottland Covenant Church Vol:26 (1893-1993) Image 2 / page 1 (AID: v812999.b2.s1) Link.
For many parishes, you will find printed congregation histories. The image above is from a publication for New Gottland’s centennial celebration in 1993. Here you will find information as to why New Gottland was chosen as the name for the congregation.
In January, 1872, a post office was established in the community, and at the suggestion of a group of settlers it was named ”New Gottland”. The immigrants spoke among themselves of the new good land (nytt gott land) that they were so fortunate to have acquired upon their arrival here.
Our photographing in Kansas continues and today only a small portion of the material is available in the online library. Much more will be added in the coming months.
You can find the Kansas church books in ArkivDigital by doing the following:
- Go to search archive
- Select advanced options
- Select the county archive
- Select the archive “Kansas (USA)”
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