Archival Collections
Covenant Archives and Historical Library
The Covenant Archives holds administrative records for the Evangelical Covenant Church and North Park University, including departmental correspondence, minutes, reports, and microfilmed records from pre-1930 Covenant churches.
In addition to institutional materials, we collect personal correspondence, diaries, photographs, audio/video recordings, and other documents related to the activities of both the church and university.
The Historical Library features publications by the denomination, Covenant authors, and Swedish-language newspapers related to our history.
Resources for local churches
The Commission on Covenant History has produced guides to archives and oral history projects for local churches, available on the Evangelical Covenant Church website.
- Frisk Collection of Covenant literature
Key publications essential to the growth of the Evangelical Covenant Church. - Frisk Collection of Covenant Yearbooks
Yearly reports from the church’s administrative offices, mission fields, conferences, and educational and benevolent institutions. - Historical Photograph Collection
Digital images documenting the Evangelical Covenant Church and North Park University, including leaders, events, and missions. - Covenant Church Anniversary Books
Commemorative books and booklets from local congregations’ anniversaries. - Friends of World Mission Brochures
Brochures from Friends of World Mission, which raised funds for church ministries worldwide starting in 1965. - Frisk Collection of Alaska Mission Journals
Diaries and logbooks from Covenant missionaries in Alaska (1893–1915), including translations of Swedish originals. - Frisk Collection of Our Covenant
A 36-volume periodical (1927–64) that provided insights into the Evangelical Covenant Church, including essays, reports, and biographies. - Missionären
The first official news organ of the Evangelical Covenant Church (1894–1905), featuring missionary letters, church reports, and essays. - Narthex
A theological journal published from 1981–92, discussing key issues within the Evangelical Covenant Church. - Oral History Collection
Firsthand accounts of the church and university’s history, including personal stories, faith journeys, and missionary experiences. - Phoebe
The official publication of the Covenant Women’s Auxiliary (1921–56), detailing their work, finances, and membership activities.
North Park University Archives
The North Park University Archives, part of the Covenant Archives and Historical Library, includes records from university departments, offices, and committees, as well as personal papers of early leaders. We also collect photographs, audio/video recordings, and publications by the university and its community (faculty, students, and administrators).
Digital Collections
- Cupola
North Park’s yearbook (1916–2015), reflecting the academic year’s events from the student perspective. - Historical Photograph Collection
Search and explore images from the history of North Park and the Evangelical Covenant Church. - Dorothy Vann Collection of Oral Histories
Oral history interviews recorded by public historian Dorothy Vann in the 1970s–80s, capturing stories from Chicago’s North Park neighborhood, dating back to the 1890s. - North Park Catalog
Published since 1892, this catalog outlines the university’s identity, academic programs, and policies for current and prospective students. - North Park Press
The student newspaper (1922–2014) covering news and commentary related to the North Park community. - The North Parker
A magazine for alumni and friends, published since 1935. The Archives maintains a full run and is digitizing it as resources allow. - Oral History Collections
The archives features interviews with individuals important to the history of North Park University, the Evangelical Covenant Church, and the Swedish-American Historical Society. - Alva Olson Friendship Book
A scrapbook kept by Alva Olson in 1918–19, containing clippings, photographs, notes, and signatures from classmates, reflecting campus life and student activities.
Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago
Founded in 1968, the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago (SAAGC) documents the Swedish-American experience in Chicago. Its collections include organizational records from local Swedish-American groups, personal papers, and a library of Swedish and English periodicals and books, mostly from Chicago. Many materials are in Swedish.
The collection is owned by the Swedish-American Historical Society, a nonprofit established in 1948 to preserve the achievements of Swedish pioneers and promote research on Swedish emigration and their history in North America.
Digital Collections
- Swedish-American Historical Quarterly
Published by the Swedish-American Historical Society since 1950 (formerly the Swedish Pioneer Historical Quarterly), this journal explores the Swedish-American presence in North America. - St. Ansgarius Episcopal Church Records
Records of St. Ansgarius Episcopal Church, Chicago’s first parish for Swedish immigrants. - Swedish-American Historical Book Collection
A collection of out-of-print books, including histories, biographies, and memoirs, documenting the Swedish-American experience since the 19th century.