F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections
The F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections works to preserve the history of North Park University and the Evangelical Covenant Church, serving as the official repository for their significant records. We also collect materials documenting the Swedish-American experience in the Chicago area. Our mission is to ensure access to these collections and their long-term preservation, and to support the mission and vision of the institutions whose records we oversee.
Featured collections
Covenant Archives and Historical Library
The official repository for the Evangelical Covenant Church, a multiethnic denomination founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants. The collection includes records, personal papers, publications, photographs, and more, documenting the activities, theology, and people of the denomination.
North Park University Archives
Part of the Covenant Archives and Historical Library, this collection documents the growth and identity of North Park University since 1891.
Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago
Focuses on collecting and making available the rich documentary record of the Swedish-American experience in Chicago, particularly from 1900 to 1985.
Finding and using archival resources
The F.M. Johnson Archives and Special Collections supports research and is open to the public. Please consult the finding aids, catalog records, and digital collections linked below before scheduling an appointment. Archives staff can also help you find relevant materials before and during your visit.
Manuscript collections
Search institutional records including correspondence, minutes, reports, record books, audiovisual recordings, and more.
Photographs
The archives holds more than 30,000 images documenting the activities of North Park and the Evangelical Covenant Church from 1885 to the present.
Books and periodicals
Search books and periodicals in the Covenant Historical Library, Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago Collection, Scandinavian Collections, and parts of our Rare Book Collection.
Other formats
For assistance finding material, including unprocessed collections or complex research topics, please contact the archivist at ameyer@northpark.edu.
Visiting the archives
The archives are open by appointment from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays and closures). The collections are non-circulating and accessible only in the reading room. The Archives are located on the lower level of Brandel Library.
On-Site Research
Appointments are required for all research. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Class Instruction
We offer sessions to introduce students to our collections, primary source research, and collection care. Contact us to design a session that fits your needs.
Contact Andrew Meyer to request a research appointment or class instruction
Archival Policies
Using archival materials
The collections do not circulate. If you cannot visit, staff can provide limited copies or help you locate a researcher-for-hire. A small portion of the collections is available online.
Photocopying and scanning
Copies may be made in accordance with copyright and collection restrictions, at the archivist’s discretion. Copy limits may apply. All reproductions are handled by archives staff, who reserves the right to charge fees starting at $5 per project and $0.10 per page. There is no charge for photos taken for reference purposes with personal cameras or phones, but tripods and flash photography are not allowed.
Genealogy research
Our collections are of interest to genealogists if there is a direct connection to the Evangelical Covenant Church or the collections held in the Swedish-American Archives of Greater Chicago. Beyond this, we do not hold general genealogical resources. We recommend contacting an organization that specializes in genealogy, such as the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center, the Swedish American Museum, and, for Chicago-area genealogy, the Newberry Library.
Permissions
To publish images from our collections, please contact the archivist for case-by-case permission.