History

Founding
The Swedish Club of San Francisco was formed in 1913 by Dr. A.O. Lindström and a group of Bay Area Swedish businessmen. The first meeting had 18 attendees.

Initial Purpose
Swedish Club’s primary purpose was to offer hospitality to visiting businessmen from Sweden, in order to deepen relationships and further business opportunities in both directions. In that sense, the early Swedish Club was a precursor to today’s Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce.

Swedish Club second purpose was to promote and maintain Swedish culture. Initially, Swedish Club membership was limited to men of Swedish ancestry, their male descendants, and men married to Swedish women.

Swedish Club Today
In the modern era, Swedish Club membership is open to both men and women:
a. with Swedish heritage
b. of Scandinavian heritage, or
c. interested in Swedish culture.

Programs and Events (see photos on Events page)
a. Julfest dinner party with Lucia celebration each December
b. club booth at SWEA’s Christmas Fair
c. Midsommar celebration (maypole, festdräkt parade, midsummer queens, national anthems, folk dancing, Swedish songs, potluck luncheon) at Sveadal each June
d. themed Spring Dinner each May
e. monthly Fika with Swedish delicacies like kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns) or semlor
f. garden wine tastings
g. bocce ball picnic
h. book club
i. hiking/walking group