Trace Your Swedish-Finn Roots

SFHS Genealogy 101

Uncover the stories, migrations, and lives of your Swedish-Finnish ancestors. Led by Dr. David Carlson, this comprehensive course series equips you with essential strategies, key archival sources, and specialized tools to navigate church records, trace emigrant journeys, and break through research brick walls with a collaborative community.

Free for SFHS members | $20 for non-members

Read more below or skip straight to registration.

In this session, Dave will take a deeper dive into two of the unique projects found only on our website, the Documenting Every Emigrant (DEE) database and the Parish Primer. Using these tools, you can search over 10,000 names of Swedish-Finn emigrants and their spouses and children as well as discover and explore the many parishes and farms of Swedish-speaking Finland.

In this session, Dave will also lead you through a “brick wall” research exercise and will offer many ways of breaking through those genealogy challenges.

This series is a free benefit to SFHS members and is offered to non-members for $20.

The deadline for registration is September 30, 2026.

To register and receive the Zoom link, use the button below.

For SFHS Members Only

Catch Up on Previous Sessions

Part 1: Community, Collaboration, and Getting Started

Part 1 covers the essentials of getting started with Swedish-Finnish family research. It explores traditional Finnish naming practices, immigrant name changes, and how to navigate key digital resources on the SFHS website along with essential external databases.

Part 2: Finnish Church Records and Emigration Documents

Part 2 takes a deeper dive into foundational archival sources and documents. It covers the Migration Institute of Finland’s passenger and passport databases, Swedish-language church books (such as communion records and vital registers), and the Genealogical Society of Finland’s HisKi project to help outline your ancestors’ lives.

Members can access the recordings for Part 1 and Part 2 in our archive by logging in. Click the link below and log in using the Log In button in the beginning of the page. Once logged in, you will be redirected straight to the video archive.

Watch the Recordings in the Archive

Pre-register and join via Zoom

The deadline for registration is September 30, 2026

Join us on the Zoom platform from your part of the globe for our Genealogy 101, part 3 on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 9:00 a.m. PDT, 10:00 a.m. Mountain time, 11:00 a.m. CDT, 12:00 EDT, 19.00 EET

Remember to register in advance. After submitting the form, you will receive the Zoom link in an email confirmation. If you can’t find the email in your inbox, please make sure to check your spam or junk folder.

Please note that recordings and images taken during the event will be uploaded to our website. To comply with U.S. and EU privacy laws, participants are required to provide a signed photo/video release authorization as part of the registration.

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SFHS Genealogy 101

Genealogy 101 – Part 3

Catch Up on Previous Sessions

Part 1: Community, Collaboration, and Getting Started

Part 2: Finnish Church Records and Emigration Documents

Pre-register and join via Zoom

Not a member yet but interested in joining us?