What did grandfather find in America?
What was Jim Kurle’s grandfather's Swedish immigration experience like? He found that "it included escape from poverty as a homesteader, a complicated and challenging religious odyssey, pacifism and avoidance of military conscription, and an idealistic vision of a new society tempered by homesteading in western North Dakota."
What did grandfather find in America?
Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 10am
Jim Kurle writes, "The story of Swedish immigration to America is dramatically portrayed in novels like Vilhelm Moberg’s The Emigrants and Ola Larsmo’s Swede Hollow. In these novels, emigration to North America is often explained by population pressure in Sweden and the availability of rich agricultural land in America. The Emigrants ends optimistically. Swede Hollow is much darker.
"What was my family’s experience? When I investigated my grandfather's story, I found that it included escape from poverty as a homesteader, a complicated and challenging religious odyssey, pacifism and avoidance of military conscription, and an idealistic vision of a new society tempered by homesteading in western North Dakota."
A Zoom invitation will be sent to all UMRA members one month and again one week before the program. We hope you can join us.
—Lynn C. Anderson and Craig Swan, co-chairs, Family History Interest Group
Upcoming Events
UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on May 12 will feature Megan Walsh from the University of Minnesota Law School for a presentation on efforts to prevent gun violence through lawsuits designed to address unlawful practices in selling, manufacturing, or advertising firearms.
Craig Moody’s Swedish ancestors were among the 60,000 Swedes who chose to emigrate to the U.S. between 1868 and 1871, because of the poor economic conditions in their homeland. He has spent the last nine years investigating their history.
Back problems as we age and how we can treat them will be the discussion topic for the UMRA Breakfast meeting on Thursday, May 14. Paul Schanfield, MD, will be our expert resource person. He is a retired neurologist, a member of UMRA, and has personal experience with back surgery.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 15.
Peter Moe, retired University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Director and UMRA member, will lead this hike.
Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter will discuss her role and offer reflections on her first year at the University of Minnesota as the featured speaker for the UMRA Luncheon Forum on May 19 at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville. The forum will be preceded by UMRA’s 2026 Annual Meeting.
"Third Wednesdays in the West Wing" is a pilot program for spring 2026.
A 1987 classic, cited as the gold standard of modern legal thrillers.
Bev leads at Hyland Lake Park Reserve.
Connect, explore new ideas for what it means to live and age well, and celebrate a community of continuous learning at the fifth annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis on Monday, June 8.
Abandoned and discarded is the theme for the UMRA Photo Club meeting in June. Newcomers are welcome.
Michael leads this hike at Afton State Park.
We will gather in the Waterfall Room for an in-person, summer social and luncheon for UMRA members and guests on June 24th. Our event will include social time; a plated, seated lunch; and the always popular Summer Social Trivia Game with quizmasters Dave Dorman and Mark Jenson.
Kayaking at Lake Bde Maka Ska.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.