Contributed by Maine Historical Society
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Description
William Widgery Thomas (1839-1927), of Portland was an 1860 graduate of Bowdoin College and was "war consul" to Sweden in 1860.
He was impressed with Sweden and the people there and advocated for Swedish immigration in Maine. In 1870, the Maine Legislature approved his plan to establish the colony of New Sweden north of Caribou.
Fifty-one Swedes representing various skills and trades arrived in New Sweden July 23, 1870. Thomas referred to these settlers as his "children in the woods" and they referred to him as "Father Thomas."
He lived among them for one or two years in his own log cabin. By 1895 New Sweden had grown to 1,500 residents.
About This Item
- Title: William W. Thomas Jr., New Sweden, ca. 1920
- Creator: Lamson
- Creation Date: circa 1920
- Subject Date: circa 1920
- Location: New Sweden, Aroostook County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 16.5 cm x 11 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 4033, Box 13
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Ambassadors--United States
- Legislators--Maine
- Mayors--Maine--Portland
- New Sweden (Me.)--History
- Sweden--Emigration--Maine
- Swedish Americans--Maine
- Thomas, William Widgery, b. 1803--Portrait photographs
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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