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Nordstjernan (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
Nordstjernan is a mostly English-language newspaper for Swedish Americans and Swedes in the USA. It has been published since 1872 and contains news summaries, trends and columnists from Sweden but also covers traditions, trivia, seasonal recipes, and reports on Swedish community activities from all over the USA. The publisher is Swedish News, Inc. of New York.
At noon, Saturday, September 21, 1872, the first issue of America’s Swedish newspaper, Nordstjernan, appeared on newsstands in the Manhattan district of the city of New York. When Nordstjernan published its first issue, Ulysses S. Grant
(1822–1885), the victorious Union military commander from the American Civil War
, was in the last weeks of campaigning for what would be his reelection to a second term as the 18th President of the United States
(1869–1877).
began publishing Nordstjernan. On newsstands each Saturday, at noon, it sold for six cents per copy, or three dollars per annual subscription, postage not included (later reduced to $2.00 per year and five cents per copy after protests from readers).
During the early days of Nordstjernan, the 1870s, stories in publications were composed by hand through movable type
. Images were engraved
by hand as mirror images into metal. Photoengraving
arrived much later.
tradition is still part of the newspaper's vision, contents has increasingly been presented in English, expanding a trait present in the publication from its first issue. The newspaper, now published twice per month or biweekly, is 80% in English reflecting a readership divided between born Swedish Americans and expatriate
Swedes.
In December, 2007, Nordstjernan merged with the similar publication Vestkusten in California. Published under the Nordstjernan name, the paper is printed at two locations simultaneously—outside New York and in northern California. Part of the newspaper and much of its online contents is now user-generated through upload functions.
At noon, Saturday, September 21, 1872, the first issue of America’s Swedish newspaper, Nordstjernan, appeared on newsstands in the Manhattan district of the city of New York. When Nordstjernan published its first issue, Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
(1822–1885), the victorious Union military commander from the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, was in the last weeks of campaigning for what would be his reelection to a second term as the 18th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
(1869–1877).
History
Nordstjernan is one of the oldest publications on or about Sweden abroad. Since its foundation in 1872 it documents the links between Sweden and America but was initially created to supply the growing numbers of immigrants to the area with news from the old country. Svenska Tryckföreningen in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
began publishing Nordstjernan. On newsstands each Saturday, at noon, it sold for six cents per copy, or three dollars per annual subscription, postage not included (later reduced to $2.00 per year and five cents per copy after protests from readers).
During the early days of Nordstjernan, the 1870s, stories in publications were composed by hand through movable type
Movable type
Movable type is the system of printing and typography that uses movable components to reproduce the elements of a document ....
. Images were engraved
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
by hand as mirror images into metal. Photoengraving
Photoengraving
Photoengraving also known as photo-chemical milling is a process of engraving using photographic processing techniques. The full form of photoengraving is photo mechanical process in the graphic arts, used principally for reproducing illustrations. The subject is photographed, and the image is...
arrived much later.
Recent activities
Nordstjernan today covers Swedish America from coast to coast. Some of the organizations, such as the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco/Silicon Valley or the American Union of Swedish Singers appear in the newspaper on a regular, monthly basis. Others, such as the New Sweden Cultural Heritage Society or the American Swedish Historical Museum contribute regularly on people and early or later immigrant stories. While keeping up the Swedish languageSwedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
tradition is still part of the newspaper's vision, contents has increasingly been presented in English, expanding a trait present in the publication from its first issue. The newspaper, now published twice per month or biweekly, is 80% in English reflecting a readership divided between born Swedish Americans and expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
Swedes.
In December, 2007, Nordstjernan merged with the similar publication Vestkusten in California. Published under the Nordstjernan name, the paper is printed at two locations simultaneously—outside New York and in northern California. Part of the newspaper and much of its online contents is now user-generated through upload functions.