John August Carlson papers
Scope and Contents
This three-box collection contains the papers of John A. Carlson. His papers consist of correspondence, missionary papers, blacksmithing records, genealogical information, and a scrapbook. The majority of Carlson's papers concern his mission in Sweden and his blacksmithing business. Some of the items included in this collection are; the letters written between Carlson and his wife while he was serving as a missionary in Sweden, his blacksmithing ledgers which show work preformed and fees, and a scrapbook containing clippings from Utah Korrespondenten, a Swedish Salt Lake City newspaper.
The materials in this collection have been organized topically and then chronologically. The researcher should be aware that some of the material in this collection is written in Swedish, such as some of Carlson's correspondence and blacksmithing records. Some items from this collection were removed and have catalogued separately. These items include; issues of Utah Korrespondenten, an issue of Fyrbaken, and issues of Nordstjaman and Skandinaviens Stjerne.
Note: Researchers interested in the Carlson family should also see the papers of J.A. Carlson's son; Coll Mss 27: The John W. Carlson Papers.
Dates
- Creation: 1890-1909
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in English.
Restrictions
Open to public research.
Copyright
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Utah State University Libraries, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Permission to publish material from the John August Carlson papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Biographical Note
John August Carlson was born June 28, 1859 in Lannaskede, Sweden the son of Carl Gustof Johanson and Anna Marie Jonnasson. During the 1880s John joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and opted to move to the Utah Territory, United States to be among fellow church members. While sailing to the United States he met his future wife Anna Britta Lundstrom, also Swedish and immigrating to the Utah Territory.
After arriving in the Utah Territory, John briefly settled in Smithfield, Utah and opened a blacksmithing shop. A year later John procured land in nearby Logan, Utah and relocated to pursue farming. He also continued to work as a blacksmith. After moving he met Anna B. Lundstrom again, who had moved to Logan to work at her brother's furniture business. Shortly thereafter, John and Anna were married on November 10, 1886 in Logan. They later had ten children together.
In 1894 John was called by his church to serve as a missionary in Sweden, where he proselyted for three years. After completing his missionary duties, he returned to his family in Utah but moved the family to Smithfield. In Smithfield John opened a blacksmithing shop. John lived most of his remaining life in Smithfield. John died January 19, 1944 in Logan.
Source: Parker, Virginia Carlson, "Biography of John Wilford Carlson," 1975.
Extent
3 boxes (1.5 linear ft.)
Abstract
Correspondence (including that which was written back and forth during Carlson's Swedish mission), financial records of Carlson's blacksmithing business and other accounts paid and received by Carlson, genealogical records of both the Carlson and the Lundstrom families. Newspapers written in Swedish are contained in this collection.
Arrangement
Arranged topically and chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections & Archives in 1975 by Virginia Carlson Parker, the granddaughter of John A. Carlson.
- Title
- Guide to the John August Carlson papers 1890-1909
- Author
- Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
- Date
- ©2008
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition )
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
- Sponsor
- Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
Revision Statements
- 2009.: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.
Repository Details
Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)
scweb@usu.edu