Vasa Order of America Facts for Kids

The Vasa Order of America (called Vasa Orden av Amerika in Swedish) is a special group for people who are Swedish-American. It's a friendly club that helps its members learn about and share Swedish and Scandinavian culture and history.

What the Vasa Order Does

This organization works to share Swedish heritage through fun cultural events and by bringing people together. They want members to connect, learn, and have good times together.

A Look Back in Time

How the Vasa Order Started

The Vasa Order of America began in 1896 in New Haven, Connecticut. This was a time when many Swedes were moving to the United States. The Vasa Order grew from many smaller Swedish groups that helped new immigrants. It was named after the House of Vasa, which was a famous royal family in Sweden's history. It's known as one of the biggest Swedish-American cultural groups.

The Vasa National Archives

For 40 years, the Vasa National Archives has been in Bishop Hill, Illinois. This place keeps important papers from the lodges and some old items. Its main goal is to save and show records, documents, and art made by people with Swedish backgrounds. It also helps people learn about the history of Scandinavian and Swedish people. Most importantly, it keeps the history of the Vasa Order of America and its members safe.

Vasa Star Magazine

The official magazine of the Vasa Order of America is called the Vasa Star (or Vasastjärnan in Swedish). Since 2013, this magazine has been included with Nordstjernan, another Swedish-American publication. Before that, it was its own magazine published several times a year.

How the Organization Works

The Vasa Order has a main group called the Grand Lodge. Below that, there are 18 District Lodges, and almost 200 local groups called lodges. These local lodges are in the United States, Canada, and Sweden. They offer programs about culture, language, and even scholarships. The organization also runs the Vasa National Archives in Bishop Hill, Illinois, and helps members with an Old Age Benefit Fund.

The group is led by a Grand Master, a Vice Grand Master, a Grand Secretary, a Grand Treasurer, and other board members from different regions. These leaders serve for four years. The Grand Lodge holds a big meeting every four years.

The Vasa Order also supports the Vasa National Archives. This archive's only job is to keep the records of the Vasa Order of America and its members safe.

Special Ceremonies

Since it started, the Vasa Order has had special ceremonies. These have been updated a few times over the years. The Order also has three levels, which match the Local, District, and Grand Lodge parts of the organization.

Grand Lodge Leaders

The Grand Lodge officers are in charge of the whole organization and how it runs.

District Lodge Support

The District Lodges help and guide the Local Lodges. They often have meetings every year or on certain years.

Where the District Lodges Are

1-Connecticut
2-Massachusetts
3-Rhode Island
4-New York
6-New Jersey
7-Minnesota
8-Lake Michigan
9-Pennsylvania
10-Superior
12-Golden Gate – San Francisco, CA
13-Pacific Northwest
15-Pacific Southwest No. 15 – Southern California (website)
17-Iowa-Nebraska
19-Vasa Orden av Amerika - Sweden
20-Vasa Orden av Amerika - Sweden
21-Arizona

Regional Districts

Some lodges are part of Region Districts, and they get support and guidance directly from the Grand Lodge.

Central Region
- 248-Facklan - Lee's Summit, MO
- 259-Strindberg - Winnipeg, Canada
- 716-Carl XVI Gustaf - Dallas, Texas
- 743-Carl Widen - Austin, TX
Southeastern Region
- 708-Nordic - Alpharetta, GA
- 739-Carl Larsson - Raleigh, NC

Local Lodges: Your Community Hub

Each local lodge is run by its members in that area. They work to grow membership, plan fun activities, events, and programs, and offer scholarships. Some local lodges also connect with other Swedish and Scandinavian groups. They might offer their own scholarships and health benefits.

Becoming a Member

The rules for joining have changed over time. At first, only men aged 15–50 could join. In 1923, both men and women could join if they were healthy and could speak Swedish or had Swedish family. Today, anyone born in a Nordic country, or with Nordic family, can join. Spouses and widows of members can also join. Anyone else who wants to help promote Swedish and Nordic culture is also welcome.

The Vasa Order had the most members in 1929, with over 72,000 people. The number has gone down since then, with about 35,000 members in 1979 and 1994.

Membership Types

Active – Part of a Local Lodge
Member-At-Large – Part of a District Lodge
Member-At-Large – Part of the Grand Lodge

Member Benefits

Old Age Benefit

The Old Age Benefit Fund (OAB) is for active members and is managed by the Grand Lodge.

Scholarships for Learning

There are many chances for scholarships at different levels of the organization. You can find scholarships for college, exchange programs to Sweden, language camps, Swedish culture camps, and even camps for older members. You can find these scholarships on the Vasa Order of America website, and through District and Local Lodges. To apply for a Grand Lodge scholarship, you usually need to be a member for two years. Rules might be different for District and Local Lodge scholarships.

Grand Lodge: For college, language camps
District Lodge: For college, language camps (rules vary by District)
Local Lodge: Rules vary by lodge

Vasa Star with Membership

As a member, you get four issues of the Vasa Star magazine, which is part of the Nordstjernan publication. Members can also get a lower price to subscribe to all issues of Nordstjernan.

Vasa National Archives Access

When you become a member of the Vasa Order, you automatically become a member of the Vasa National Archives in Bishop Hill, Illinois.

Programs and Clubs

Swedish-American of the Year Award

Since 1960, the Vasa Order of America has chosen a famous American person of Swedish background to be the Swedish-American of the Year. Every year, two District Lodges in Sweden pick this person. The Swedish-American of the Year is honored during Sweden-America Days in different places in Sweden. A special plaque with the names of all award winners is kept at the Swedish Emigrant Institute in Växjö, Sweden.

Fun Clubs and Groups

Activity Clubs
Children's Clubs
Folk Dance Club
Genealogy Club (for family history)
Past District Master Club
Vasa Choir
Youth Club

Vasa Order of America facts for kids

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