SWEDISH ARCHITECTS IN THE U.S.

It has been said that Swedes built Chicago. But it was not only Swedish builders and workmen who put their mark on American cities, great contributions were also made by Swedish architects. Some 140 of them were active during the great Swedish emigration 1846 to 1930. Many of these have been written up by Göran Rygert who eventually hopes to publish a book on the subject.

Rygert himself is a Swedish architect working in Georgia. His interest in historic architects was sparked when he came across some information about the Swedish architect Gottfried Norrman who lived and worked in Georgia during the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Rygert also found three other Swedish-born architects who had been active in Georgia at the same time.

The Swedish immigrant architect did not really follow in his fellow-countrymen's footsteps. After arrival in the United States, he often made his own way. The architect was an individualist and he preferred not to travel in large groups. Furthermore he went to the big cities, where the architects' offices were located. Very few Swedish architects settled down in the countryside or in small towns. Remarkably many, however, went to states with few Swedish immigrants, like South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Hawaii. One explanation for this could be that architects are generally open-minded, curious, keen travellers and a little adventure-loving.
Swedish-born architect Herman Cederschield appears for example to be the very first Swede to settle down in New Mexico.

Many Swedish architects re-emigrated to Sweden full of American ideas. There are several buildings by architects Adolf Emil Melander, Ture Stenberg and Carl Westman all over Sweden that show definite signs of American influence. One of Sweden's greatest architects Ferdinand Boberg, who designed Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde and the Art Nouveauinspired Stockholm main post office, made several trips to the USA.

One of the most important church architects in the USA was Martin G. Hedmark (1896-1980), Newport, RI. His architecture was considered epoch-making. His First Swedish (Trinity) Baptist Church in New York City, designed in late Scandinavian Art Nouveau style, was said to be the incomparably foremost modern church in New York City, with a stunningly beautiful interior. Another of his churches, Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Arlington, NJ, built in the 1920s, was chosen in 1938 to represent modern American building in a traveling exposition in England. A third of Hedmark's churches, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Providence, RI, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Lars G. Hallberg, Chicago IL was one of the most prominent architects in Chicago at the end of the 19th c (fury Hallberg (1844-1915) arrived there in 1871, shortly after the great fire and became one of the men who built the c; -.y from the ground up. He designed the OÍ,I Main in Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. He also designed the South Side Community Art Center and _an apartment building at 1254 North Lake Shore Drive, both registered as Chicago Landmarks.

John A Nyden, Evanston, IL, had a successful architect's office in Chicago. His designs include the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, the Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, and Belmont-Sheffield Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago. The latter is listed in the National Register. In the Ws Nyden (1878-1932) was appointed Supervising Architect for the State of Illinois.

Gottfried L. Norrman, Atlanta, GA, was considered one of the most important architects in the Southeast. His (1846-1909) area of activities was not only limited to Georgia, but included also North and South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. A local historian writes: "No other architect in the South has designed so many handsome public and private buildings". Norrman's designs include Edward C. Peters House, Atlanta and City Hall and Opera House, Newberry, SC - both listed in the National Register.

G. Albin Pehrson (below), Spokane, WA, was honored as one of Spokane's most successful citizens at a banquet in 1941. He was also considered to be one of the foremost architects in Spokane. Pehrson (18871968) devoted more than half a century to creating hundreds of buildings in Spokane, including Paulsen Center, Cronicle Building and the 14-story South East Wing addition to the Davenport Hotel. In 1943 he got the assignment - from Washington DC - to do the complete town-planning and all the building designs required to create the new town of Richland, Wa, the new site of the World War II plutonium production plant. Pehrson's staff now grew to over 350 architects, drafts men and engineers.
Göran Rygert