There are about 80,000 members of the Federation of Swedish Genealogical Societies who want to learn more about exploring the branches on their family trees. Many of them, as well as Nordstjernan, visited the annual Släktforskardagarna (the national genealogy conference) in Gävle.

Since its start in 1985, the Genealogy Days (Släktforskardagarna) has every year attracted more than 3,000 people—experienced and new genealogists alike—to learn, exchange information and perhaps meet an unknown cousin. The conference took place at the University of Gävle, which was jammed with people who lined up waiting for workshops and seminars with esteemed speakers.

In 2012, the conference theme was “Travels in space and time," for which the immigration of 1.3 million Swedes to America in the 19th and early 20th centuries was the main focus.
American representatives of FamilySearch.org and Lindsborg Kansas Archives were there as were a few speakers who discussed how to help Swedes find their ancestors in the U.S.

“I have a huge interest in history and I am fascinated with using clues to formulate possible scenarios for answers—very much like a detective,” said the president of the Federation of Swedish Genealogical Societies, Barbro Stålheim, about why genealogy has become a big part of her life.

Hanna Aqvilin