Vasa Order of America
Vasa Order of America
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About this organization
Mission
THE PURPOSE OF THE ARCHIVES THE PURPOSE, AS DESCRIBED IN THE INCORPORATION DOCUMENT, IS FOR "EDUCATIONAL, HISTORICAL AND RESEARCH TO PRESERVE AND DISPLAY AND MAKE AVAILABLE RECORDS, DOCUMENTS, WORKS OF ART, SCIENCE, INVENTIONS AND MANUFACTURE BY PERSONS OF SWEDISH ANCESTRY AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF AN INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF PERSONS OF SCANDINAVIAN AND PARTICULARLY SWEDISH ANCESTRY." THE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PRESERVE THE RECORDS OF THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA AND ITS MEMBERS. WE HAVE SET UP A FAMILY REGISTER WHERE ALL VASA MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE CHRONICLED. THE REGISTER IS AN IMPORTANT PHASE OF OUR ARCHIVAL ACTIVITIES BY ASSISTING RESEARCHERS FIND THEIR ANCESTORS. WE AIM AT MAKING THE CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING INTERESTING TO ALL VISITORS. THEREFORE WE HAVE ACCEPTED A NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS WHICH RELATE TO SWEDISH AND SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRANT HISTORY. THESE ITEMS PROVIDE VISUAL AND PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS TO PAST GENERATIONS.
About
MICROFILMING THE VASA ARCHIVES MICROFILMING THE RECORDS OF ALL VASA LODGES IN U.S. AND CANADA WAS AN ESPECIALLY VALUABLE AND PIONEERING PROJECT CARRIED OUT BY THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA. WE COMPLETED THIS PROJECT IN THE 1990S. COPIES OF THE FILMS, OVER 32,000 FEET OR 500 BOXES, ARE HOUSED IN THE ARCHIVE BUILDING. VASA LODGES AND OTHER RESEARCHERS CAN REQUEST VIEWING THE MICROFILMS DURING NORMAL OPERATING HOURS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O THE BUILDING AFTER A SUCCESSFUL FUND RAISING DRIVE, GROUND BREAKING TOOK PLACE ON NOV. 23, 1973, AND CONSTRUCTION BEGAN. ON JUNE 5, 1974, MANY VISITORS FROM THE US, CANADA AND SWEDEN ATTENDED THE BUILDING DEDICATION. A WIDE EXPANSE OF LAWN AND HUGE MAPLE TREES SURROUND THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING'S DESIGN COMPLEMENTS EXISTING BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE. BY THE MID-1990S, TECHNOLOGY AND AN EVER-GROWING COLLECTION CREATED A DEMAND FOR A 20' X 30' EXTENSION TO THE ORIGINAL 30' X 50' BUILDING. THE EXTENSION BLENDS SEAMLESSLY INTO THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. THE VASA EMBLEM, IN COLOR, HANGS ABOVE THE FRONT DOOR. THE AMERICAN, SWEDISH AND CANADIAN FLAGS FLY IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE MAIN EXHIBIT ROOM FEATURES CHANGING EXHIBITS FOCUSING ON SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES AND SCANDINAVIAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE. CURRENTLY, " A SWEDISH SKETCH" EXHIBIT EXPLORES 19TH CENTURY SWEDEN AND THE CAUSES OF THE FIVE MAIN IMMIGRATION WAVES. OUR OTHER EXHIBIT ROOM FEATURES INFORMATION ON THE VASA ORDER'S FIRST CENTURY, FROM A SELF-HELP SWEDISH ORGANIZATION TO THE MODERN FORMAT. THE VASA ORDER IN SWEDEN AND THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT HAVE APPOINTED PEOPLE TO BE THE SWEDISH AMERICAN OF THE YEAR SINCE 1960. AN ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF THESE HONOREES ENHANCES THE APPEARANCE OF THE ROOM. OUR RECORD ROOMS ARE NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT OUR STAFF WILL GLADLY BRING YOU THE MATERIALS YOU WANT. THE RECORDS INCLUDE MINUTE BOOKS, PROGRAMS, HISTORIES, REGALIA, ART WORKS AND OTHER MATERIALS TRANSFERRED TO OUR CARE BY LOCAL, DISTRICT AND THE GRAND LODGE MATERIAL. A LOT OF OUR MATERIALS CAME FROM INDIVIDUAL DONORS. THE COLLECTIONS INCLUDE BOOKS, NEWSLETTERS, AND OTHER PUBLISHED MATERIALS. OUR COLLECTION OF YEARLY BOUND COPIES OF THE VASA STAR HAS SEVERAL MISSING YEARS. ANYONE OWNING SUCH BOUND COPIES, OR EVEN EARLY SINGLES, OF THE VASA STAR IS URGED TO CONTACT THE ARCHIVES. PLEASE CONTACT US ABOUT TRANSFERRING YOUR RECORDS TO THE ARCHIVES. A LARGE ROOM ON THE LOWER LEVEL SERVES AS A GATHERING PLACE FOR GROUPS OF VISITOR AND THE LOCAL LODGE MEETING. THIS ROOM FEATURES A FULL KITCHEN AND AN OPEN SPACE OF APPROX. 30 X 40 FEET. WE HAVE TABLES AND FOLDING CHAIRS AVAILABLE FOR USE AS WELL. RESERVATION OF THIS SPACE COSTS 25/DAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE THIS SPACE, PLEASE LET US KNOW. THE UPPER LEVEL CONTAINS OUR LIBRARIES, MEETING ROOM AND A STUDY ROOM. RESEARCHERS ARE WELCOME TO USE THESE REFERENCE BOOKS. THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK MADE AND DONATED BY DR. HENRY LINDQUIST, HARMONY LODGE NO. 465, TOLLS THE PASSING HOURS. WE ALSO HOUSE A COMPUTER CENTER, WHERE VASA HISTORY IS TRANSCRIBED FROM MICROFILM AND ORIGINAL SOURCES TO A DATABASE. MEMORIAL TRIBUTES VASA MEMBERS HONOR OUR DEPARTED SISTERS AND BROTHERS, AND OFFER OUR HELP AND SYMPATHIES TO THE SURVIVORS. WE DO THIS IN MANY WAYS. WE HAVE MEMORIAL SERVICES AT OUR DISTRICT CONVENTION AND ALSO IN MANY LOCAL LODGES. FREQUENTLY FLORAL TRIBUTES ARE SENT. THROUGH THE VASA ORDER OF AMERICA ARCHIVES, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A LASTING MEMORIAL. LODGES, MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTED ONE CAN SEND A CASH MEMORIAL TO THE ARCHIVE IN MEMORY OF A DECEASED PERSON. IN THE ARCHIVE, WE KEEP ATTRACTIVE MEMORIAL CARDS IN A CABINET DONATED BY ROY NELSON AND BERTIL WINSTROM, AND WILL FOREVER PRESERVE THE MEMORY OF A LOVED ONE. THE PERSON MAKING THE DONATION WILL RECEIVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE A MEMORIAL CARD. ANY PERSON OR ORGANIZATION MAY CONVEY A MEMORIAL. THE PERSON SO HONORED NEED NOT NECESSARILY BE A VASA MEMBER. THE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION SHOULD BE SENT TO OUR ARCHIVE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. OUR MEMORIAL CARDS ARE MOST WORTHWHILE AND THOUGHTFUL. WE OFTEN REFER TO THEM IN ASSISTING GENEALOGICAL RESEARCHERS. THE LOCAL LODGE SECRETARIES WILL BE HAPPY TO TRANSMIT THE DONATIONS TO THE ARCHIVE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. REVENUE FROM THE MEMORIAL CARDS HELPS PERPETUATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VASA ARCHIVE.
Interesting data from their 2020 990 filing
The purpose of the non-profit is outlined in the filing as “The purpose of the archives the purpose, as described in the incorporation document, is for "educational, historical and research to preserve and display and make available records, documents, works of art, science, inventions and manufacture by persons of swedish ancestry and to promote public knowledge of an interest in the history of persons of scandinavian and particularly swedish ancestry." the main purpose is to preserve the records of the vasa order of america and its members. we have set up a family register where all vasa members and their families will be chronicled. the register is an important phase of our archival activities by assisting researchers find their ancestors. we aim at making the contents of the building interesting to all visitors. therefore we have accepted a number of artifacts which relate to swedish and scandinavian immigrant history. these items provide visual and physical connections to past generations.”.
When discussing its operations, they were defined as: “The purpose of the archives the purpose, as described in the incorporation document, is for "educational, historical and research to preserve and display and make available records, documents, works of art, science, inventions and manufacture by persons of swedish ancestry and to promote public knowledge of an interest in the history of persons of scandinavian and particularly swedish ancestry." the main purpose is to preserve the records of the vasa order of america and its members. we have set up a family register where all vasa members and their families will be chronicled. the register is an important phase of our archival activities by assisting researchers find their ancestors. we aim at making the contents of the building interesting to all visitors. therefore we have accepted a number of artifacts which relate to swedish and scandinavian immigrant history. these items provide visual and physical connections to past generations.”.
- The state where the non-profit operates has been legally reported as IL.
- The filing indicates that the non-profit's address in 2020 is located at 109 S BISHOP HILL ST, BISHOP HILL, IL, 61419.
- The non-profit has reported 2 employees on their form as of 2020.
- Does not operate a hospital.
- Does not operate a school.
- Does not collect art.
- Does not provide credit counseling.
- Does not have foreign activities.
- Is not a donor-advised fund.
- Is not a private foundation.
- Expenses are between $100,000 and $250,000.
- Revenue is between $100,000 and $250,000.
- Revenue less expenses is $19,828.
- The CEO's remuneration policy within the organization is established through an impartial review and endorsement process.
- The organization elects its board members.
- The organization has 10 independent voting members.
- The organization was formed in 1975.
- The organization has a written policy that addresses conflicts of interest.
- The organization is required to file Schedule B.
- The organization is required to file Schedule O.
- The organization pays $48,573 in salary, compensation, and benefits to its employees.
- The organization pays $9,485 in fundraising expenses.
- The organization provides Form 990 to its governing body.
- The organization has minutes of its meetings.
- The organization has a written whistleblower policy.
- The organization's financial statements were reviewed by an accountant.
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