SAHSWI’s board member Martha Bergland is the author of “The Birdman of Koshkonong – The Life of Naturalist Thure Kumlien” published by Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2021 receiving numerous awards:
- Wisconsin Library Association Literary Award for Best work of Nonfiction
- Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators Book of Merit Award
- Midwest Independent Publishers Silver Medal of Biography
- Midwest Independent Publishers Gold Medal for Overall Book Design
Martha is also the coauthor, with Paul Hayes, of “Studying Wisconsin the biography of Wisconsin naturalist Increase Lapham”. receiving Milwaukee County Historical Society’s Gambrinus Price
This page of the SAHSWI website is dedicated to short stories written by Martha.
Oscar Lange, A Useful Swedish American
Swede Oscar, sometimes “Olaf”, Gottfried Lange (1811-1893) played a supporting role in the lives of both Gustaf Unonius and Thure Kumlien and doubtless many other early Swedish immigrants to Wisconsin. Was your ancestor one of them?
Two Chance Meetings
Thure Kumlien met Swedish immigrant, Otto Wilhelm Åkerman and Johan Olof Liedberg (Swedish immigrant who first settled in Wisconsin and then joined the goldrush) on the ship Swea in 1843.
Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin 