History

The Sweden-America Foundation was established in June 1919 at the initiative of a group of prominent scientists, business leaders and public opinion makers. The founders and first board members included the Nobel laureates and professors of chemistry Svante Arrhenius and The Svedberg, the Swedish archbishop and professor of theology Nathan Söderblom, the managing director of ASEA, J. Sigfrid Edström, the industrialist and banker Jacob Wallenberg, the chairman of the Social Democratic Party Hjalmar Branting, the author and Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf, and the artist Anders Zorn. The Sweden-America Foundation administers thirteen permanent scholarship funds of which twelve are used for the Fellowship Program. The first fund was established in 1919, when the Swedish artist Anders Zorn gave a generous donation to the Foundation. This became the ”Zorn Fellowship”, still considered one of the Sweden-America Foundation’s most prestigious awards.

 

Prince Bertil was honorary chairman of the Sweden-America Foundation from 1950 until his death in 1997. The Prince succeeded Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf who had been honorary chairman from 1919, when the Foundation was established. In honor of Prince Bertil’s 70th birthday, ”Prince Bertil’s Fellowship” was established. Since the death of Prince Bertil, his wife Princess Lilian participated in the Foundation’s annual meetings for many years and presented this award, until her passing in 2013.

Crown Princess Victoria succeeded Prince Bertil as honorary chairman and served between 2001 – 2016.

The Sweden-America Foundation fellows have come to serve important roles in Swedish industrial, political, and cultural life. They include scholars who have become professors and Nobel laureates, ambassadors, prime ministers, politicians, leading cultural figures, and CEOs of some of Sweden’s most noted companies.

The Sweden-America Foundation is an institution which has relied on contributions from industry, foundations and individuals. Over the years, many well-known Swedish companies have generously provided means for scholarships and administration of the Foundation.

The First Seventy Years

The first seventy years of the Sweden-America Foundation are described in the book De första sjuttio åren (The First Seventy Years) by Dag Blanck. The book is in Swedish, with a brief English summary. Please contact the Foundation to find out how to acquire the book.

90th Anniversary

The Sweden-America Foundation celebrated its 90th annual meeting on April 28th, 2009 at the Swedish Society of Medicine in Stockholm. To celebrate this special occasion, the honorary Chair HRH Crown Princess Victoria honored the Sweden-America Foundation with her presence. The jubilee seminar ”Challenges and Possibilities: New Perspectives on Swedish-American Academic Relations” called many prominent alumni as well as Professor Arthur Bienenstock from Stanford. Canadian Ambassador Alexandra Volkoff addressed the fellows, and Robert Hilton of the US Embassy read a greeting to The Sweden-America Foundation from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Foundation’s board of directors and trustees, donors, members and other friends of the Sweden-America Foundation attended the award ceremony.

Centennial Anniversary – Gala Dinner and Annual Meeting with Fellowship Awards and Centennia Forum

Never before has the Foundation celebrated as much as in 2019. The Centennial Celebrations began already in the fall of 2018 with a reception at the American Ambassador’s Residence in Stockholm and publication of the book Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen 100 år (Sweden-America Foundation 100 Years). In January 2019, an exclusive guided tour was arranged for alumni and friends at the National Museum’s exhibition of John Singer Sargent and of his relationship with Anders Zorn, the Foundation’s first donor. 

On January 29, a reception was held with the Swedish Consulate General in New York, at the Swedish residence. The evening was started by Consul General Annika Rembe, followed by Foundation executive director Anna Rosvall Stuart, and speeches from two research fellows at Columbia University. Also in January, the Foundation was portrayed in business daily  Dagens industri.

In March, H.M. King Carl the XVI Gustaf, Patron of the Sweden-America Foundation,  held an audience for Executive Director Anna Rosvall Stuart and Board member Olle Wästberg. 

On November 7, US Ambassador Ken Howery was accredited by H.M. King Carl the XVI Gustaf, after which Ambassador Howery held a reception at the American residence

The Centennial  Celebrations culminated on April 10 and April 11, 2019 with a gala dinner as well as a Centennial  Forum with the annual meeting and fellowship awards at Stockholm’s Grand Hôtel, where the Foundation once was formed in 1919.

The anniversary finale took place on September 25-26 in collaboration with the US Embassy at the Emigrants’ House in Gothenburg. Ambassador Lisa Emelia Svensson, 2007 Fellow for Studies at John Hopkins University, spoke.

The Foundation was also represented at the Gothenburg Book Fair, with the book Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen 100 år (Sweden-America Foundation 100 Years)

Cooperation with ASF and TTS

  • The Sweden-America Foundation has from the start enjoyed a close relationship with the American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF). The foundations’ cooperation through the years has enabled many Swedes to acquire valuable experience as trainees at American companies and organizations.
  • Thanks to Scandinavia, Inc. (TTS) was founded in 1963 by Victor Borge and Richard Netter in gratitude toward the Scandinavian countries for rescuing Jews during World War II. The Danish-born entertainer Victor Borge, who fled to Sweden to escape the Nazis, was the TTS honorary chairman until his passing in 2001. The Sweden-America Foundation annually nominates 2-3 candidates for TTS fellowships.

Richard Netter 1918-2009

The Sweden-America Foundation has cooperated with Thanks To Scandinavia since 1967, and regrets that co-founder Richard Netter passed away in New York, July 2009. Richard Netter leaves in Thanks To Scandinavia a legacy of enhancing education and research through the scholarships awarded to many young Swedish talents. The Sweden-America Foundation and our alumni remember Richard Netter with gratitude.

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