Consulate General of Sweden, Chicago

As early as 1854, the Scandinavian community in Chicago and its environs had burgeoned to such an extent that it necessitated the establishment of a Swedish-Norwegian vice consulate in the area. The initial appointee to this position was Polycarpus von Schneidau, succeeded in 1856 by his close associate, Pastor Gustaf Unonius of the Ansgarins Church. Upon Pastor Unonius' return to Sweden in 1858, Charles J. Sundell assumed the role of vice consul until 1861, when Oscar Malmborg took over. However, Malmborg's tenure was brief as he was called to serve in the Civil War soon after his appointment. The office was then overseen by Gerhard Larson until 1863. P. L. Hawkinson followed Larson for the subsequent seven years. Peter Svanöe, a Norwegian, succeeded him until 1893, when John R. Lindgren assumed the position. When the union between Sweden and Norway dissolved in 1905, Lindgren continued to act as vice consul for Norway until Fredrik Herman Gade was appointed by the Norwegian government.

The vice consulate was converted into a consulate by decision on August 28, 1908, with a district covering the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas.{{cite book |url=https://arkis2dok.riksarkivet.se/ra/231/Konsulathistorik.pdf |last=Almquist |first=Johan Axel |title=Kommerskollegium och Riksens Ständers Manufakturkontor samt konsulsstaten 1651-1910: administrativa och biografiska anteckningar |series=Meddelanden från svenska Riksarkivet, Ny följd. Ser. 2, 99-0506720-5 ; 4 |year=1914 |publisher=Norstedt |location=Stockholm |language=sv |id={{LIBRIS|844316}} |page=348}} After the Swedish government's action to elevate the vice consulate to a consulate, the consulate thereby came into direct connection with the Swedish minister in Washington, D.C.. The vice consulates in seven midwestern states thereafter directly reported to Consul Lindgren instead of Consul Johnson in New York City.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1908-09-29/4/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Svenska konsulatet i Chikago |trans-title=Swedish consulate in Chicago |page=4 |number=265 |date=September 29, 1908 |access-date=February 8, 2024 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

The elevation to consulate took place in December 1908, with Lindgren appointed as consul until January 1914. In February 1909, Henry S. Henschen was appointed vice consul for Sweden, assuming the role of acting consul in May 1909 due to Lindgren's illness, and serving until January 1914. Before 1914, there had been discussions within the Swedish government about appointing a salaried consul of Swedish citizenship, or a consul missus. Particular consideration had been given to the fact that Chicago was considered the center for the inland areas of the United States where Swedes had settled in the largest numbers. It had also been noted the significant importance that a paid Swedish consulate would have considering the multitude of legal issues arising from emigration.{{cite web |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/riksdagsskrivelse/riksdagens-skrivelse-nr-3_DAK03/html/ |publisher=Riksdag |title=Riksdagsskrivelse 1913:3 |location=Stockholm |date=May 28, 1913 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |language=sv}} When Count Albert Ehrensvärd, who had briefly served as Swedish minister at Washington, D.C., became Foreign Minister in Stockholm, he strongly advocated for the establishment of a salaried consulate in Chicago. This plan was approved by the Swedish Riksdag in the spring of 1913. The first consul under this designation was Carl Gösta Puke, who assumed office in January 1914, marking the conclusion of Lindgren's and Henschen's terms. In 1914, G. Bernhard Anderson was appointed an unsalaried vice consul to work alongside Consul Puke.

In the Council on December 10, 1915, the King in Council granted Carl Gösta Puke resignation from January 1, 1916, due to illness. At the same time, the King in Council appointed and commissioned Consul Gylfe Anderberg at the Swedish consulate in Montreal as consul in Chicago from January 1, 1916.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1915-12-12/5/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Svenskt generalkonsulat i Kanada - Dr David Bergström postens förste innehafvare |page=5 |number=338 |date=December 12, 1915 |access-date=February 8, 2024 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

In 1943, the consulate was elevated to consulate general.{{cite web |url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/?postid=ArkisRef+SE%2fRA%2f101010547&type=2&s=Balder |publisher=National Archives of Sweden |title=Generalkonsulatet Chicago (1852 – ) |trans-title=Consulate General Chicago (1852 – ) |access-date=February 8, 2024 |language=sv}}

In late 1992, multiple Swedish embassies and consulates were slated for closure as part of severe budget cuts, with an announcement on January 11, 1993. The consulate general in Chicago, with three staff members, closed, leaving only New York City and Los Angeles with Swedish consulates general in the United States. This move was a result of the SEK 100 million that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs needed to save during the 1993/94 budget year.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1992-12-08/10/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Ambassader läggs ner |first=Mikael |last=Holmström |page=10 |date=December 8, 1992 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

A Member of Parliament from the Liberal People's Party submitted a motion proposing that Sweden should maintain an official representation in Illinois, specifically in Chicago, despite the proposal to close seven consulates general to save money. The arguments for retaining the representation were that Illinois had a large Swedish-American population with historical significance for Swedish emigration and culture. The proposal also addressed plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the great Swedish emigration in 1996, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic contacts before and during these events. Although a fully staffed consulate general was not deemed necessary, the importance of having a person with a strong interest and sufficient resources to serve as a vital link between Sweden and Illinois was emphasized. The motion also urged the government to plan for continued presence in Chicago before any decisions regarding the closure of the consulate general were made.{{cite web |url=https://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/GG02U301 |publisher=Riksdag |title=Motion till riksdagen 1992/93:U301 av Hans Lindblad (fp): Svensk representation i Illinois |first=Hans |last=Lindblad |location=Stockholm |date=January 11, 1993 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |language=sv}}

The consulate general was replaced by an honorary consulate general on July 1, 1993.{{cite web |url=https://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/GG01UU14 |publisher=Committee on Foreign Affairs |title=Utrikesutskottets betänkande 1992/93:UU14: Vissa anslag m.m. inom Utrikesdepartementets område (prop. 1992/93:100 bil. 4) |first=Daniel |last=Tarschys |author-link=Daniel Tarschys |location=Stockholm |date=April 15, 1993 |access-date=February 7, 2024 |language=sv}}

In 1993, Sweden made the decision to designate honorary consuls general to manage consulate affairs rather than diplomats. Thomas R. Bolling was selected for Illinois and subsequently reappointed twice. At the time of his initial appointment, he had already served in various roles, including as president of the Mid America Swedish America Trade Association in Chicago, presently recognized as the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce-Chicago (SACC). Additionally, he played a pivotal role as the founding director of the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce (SACC-USA) and served as a board director for the Swedish Council of America.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/09/20/thomas-r-bolling-56/ |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |title=THOMAS R. BOLLING, 56 |date=September 20, 2003 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |url-access=subscription}} Since 2019, the executive director of the Swedish American Museum, Karin Moen Abercrombie, serves as the honorary consul of Sweden in Chicago.

One of the most important tasks for the consulate in Chicago was to maintain good contact with the Swedes in Chicago, which hosted more Swedes than any other city in the world apart from Stockholm and Gothenburg.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1959-03-22/21/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=I vimlet |page=A21 |date=March 22, 1959 |access-date=February 8, 2024 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}} The consulate, along with those in New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Minneapolis, and Houston, belonged to the so-called heritage consulates due to the large number of inheritance cases the consulate handled.

The work at the consulate in Chicago consisted almost exclusively of handling inheritance cases until the 1940s. The effort to spread awareness about Sweden and Swedish culture, both spiritual and material, came to play a subordinate role until the autumn of 1940 and depended on the personal initiative and workload of the respective consul.{{cite web |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/31otloner-i-forsta-kammaren-nr-152_e42c152/ |publisher=Riksdag |title=Motion i Första kammaren, nr 152. |first=Rickard |last=Lindström |date=January 24, 1943 |access-date=February 14, 2024 |language=sv}}

When the honorary consulate opened in Chicago in 1908, the consulate's district included the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. From at least 1969 to 1975, the district, in addition to the city of Chicago, included the states of Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wyoming.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65665/gupea_2077_65665_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1969 |year=1969 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682754}} |page=349}}{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59465/gupea_2077_59465_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1975 |year=1975 |publisher=Liber/Allmänna |location=Uppsala |isbn=91-38-02088-2 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682757}} |pages=396–397}} In 1976, responsibility for the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee was transferred from the Consulate General of Sweden, Houston, which was now vacant. At the same time, the states of Colorado and Wyoming were transferred to Consulate General of Sweden, Minneapolis. This situation persisted until 1978.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59622/gupea_2077_59622_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1978 |year=1978 |publisher=Liber/Allmänna |location=Uppsala |isbn=91-38-03894-3 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682759}} |page=433}} In 1979, the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma were returned to the Consulate General of Sweden, Houston.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59641/gupea_2077_59641_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1978 |year=1978 |publisher=Liber/Allmänna |location=Uppsala |isbn=91-38-03894-3 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682759}} |pages=331–332}} In 1982, the Consulate General of Sweden, Houston closed, and from 1983, the Consulate General of Sweden, Chicago also assumed responsibility for the states of Oklahoma and Texas. In 1989, the Consulate General of Sweden, Minneapolis closed, and from 1990, the Consulate General of Sweden, Chicago also assumed responsibility for the states of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin until the Consulate General of Sweden, Chicago closed in 1993.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59828/gupea_2077_59828_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Spiegelberg |editor-first=Christina |title=Sveriges statskalender 1990 |year=1990 |publisher=Allmänna |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=913812291X |id={{SELIBR|3682769}} |page=349}} From 1994, the Consulate General of Sweden, New York City took over all the states that the Consulate General of Sweden, Chicago had previously been responsible for.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59886/gupea_2077_59886_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Almqvist |editor-first=Gerd |title=Sveriges statskalender 1994 |year=1994 |publisher=Fritzes |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9138129485 |id={{SELIBR|3682773}} |page=171}}

From at least 1916, the consulate was located at 108 South Lasalle Street in the Loop community area of Chicago.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/63133/gupea_2077_63133_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1916 |year=1916 |publisher=P.A. Nordstedt & Söner |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=190}} It remained there until 1923.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/62829/gupea_2077_62829_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1923 |year=1923 |publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=204}} From May 1, 1923, the address was 1317 North State Street.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1923-03-16/16/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Svenska konsulatet i Chikago |trans-title=Swedish Consulate in Chicago |page=16 |number=73 |date=1923-03-16 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}} It stayed there until 1926.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/62852/gupea_2077_62852_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1926 |year=1926 |publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=206}} In 1927, the consulate moved to 52 East Cedar Street in what later became the Gold Coast Historic District.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/63404/gupea_2077_63404_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1927 |year=1927 |publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=206}} It remained there until 1931.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/63110/gupea_2077_63110_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1931 |year=1931 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=197}} In 1932, the consulate moved a few streets away to 44 East Bellevue Place in the Gold Coast Historic District.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64197/gupea_2077_64197_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1932 |year=1932 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=198}} It stayed there until 1944.

In 1945, the consulate general moved into the 333 North Michigan skyscraper on 333 North Michigan Avenue in the Loop community area of Chicago.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/63364/gupea_2077_63364_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för året 1945 |year=1945 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=270}} The consulate general remained at this address for over 40 years. In 1965, it was located in Suite 2121, and from 1966 to 1986 in Suite 2301.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/64769/gupea_2077_64769_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender 1966 |year=1966 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=301}}{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59794/gupea_2077_59794_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Spiegelberg |editor-first=Christina |title=Sveriges statskalender 1986 |year=1986 |publisher=Liber Allmänna |location=Stockholm |isbn=91-38-08944-0 |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682765}} |page=345}} In 1987, the consulate general moved to the newly built Crain Communications Building at 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1250, in downtown Chicago.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59795/gupea_2077_59795_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Spiegelberg |editor-first=Christina |title=Sveriges statskalender 1987 |year=1987 |publisher=Allmänna |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-38-09751-6 |id={{SELIBR|3682766}} |page=345}} The consulate general remained there until it closed in 1993.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59883/gupea_2077_59883_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Almqvist |editor-first=Gerd |title=Sveriges statskalender 1993 |year=1993 |publisher=Allmänna |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=9138128098 |id={{SELIBR|3682772}} |page=337}} The honorary consulate that opened instead has operated at the same address until February 2024 when it moved to 5211 North Clark Street and the Swedish American Museum in the Andersonville Commercial Historic District.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHonoraryConsulateofSwedenChicago%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BNj4m5R8EagMFiRyCouB2tuQDNtRPmwMcWP5Qfs88aXzLTscwXjCphdThErWDqyml&show_text=true&width=500 |publisher=Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Chicago |title=We are moving! |via=Facebook |date=February 9, 2014 |access-date=February 14, 2024}}

File:333 North Michigan Avenue Chicago.jpg|333 North Michigan Avenue
(1945–1986)

File:Crain_Communications_Building_in_Chicago,_May_2016_(2).jpg|Crain Communications Building, 150 North Michigan Avenue
(1986–1993; 1993–2024)

File:Swedish_American_Museum.JPG|Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street (2014–present)

From at least 1964 to 1965, the consul general's residence was located at Apartment 7D, 3240 North Lake Shore Drive in the Lake View East neighborhood.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65480/gupea_2077_65480_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1964 |year=1964 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=318}}{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65027/gupea_2077_65027_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender 1965 |year=1965 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=326}} From 1966 to at least 1968, the residence was located at Apartment 7E, 199 East Lake Shore Drive, in the East Lake Shore Drive District overlooking Lake Michigan.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/65026/gupea_2077_65026_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1968 |year=1968 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |page=326}}

File:20140802 54 View from 360 Chicago (21406268882).jpg|199 East Lake Shore Drive, to the left of the yellow building at the bottom of the image.

• Consulate General of Sweden, Houston
• Consulate General of Sweden, New York City
• Consulate General of Sweden, Los Angeles
• Consulate General of Sweden, Minneapolis
• Consulate General of Sweden, San Francisco

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• {{URL|https://www.chicagoconsulateofsweden.org/|Official Facebook page}} of the Honorary Consulate of Sweden, Chicago

{{Diplomatic missions of Sweden}}

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Category:Sweden–United States relations

Category:1913 establishments in Illinois

Category:1993 disestablishments in Illinois