Photograph

Swedish American Museum

2010.2.5

Name/Title

Photograph

Entry/Object ID

2010.2.5

Description

Photograph of Gunhild Anna Charlotte Malm Erickson as a maid in 1915.

Context

Gunhild Anna Charlotte Malm Erickson was born in Malmö, Sweden in 1895. She was 15 years old in 1910 when she immigrated to America by herself and joined her brother Martin in Chicago. Erickson worked as a maid in various wealthy homes but did not enjoy this job. To pave the way to a new life, she attended business school and later opened an automobile service station with her husband Erik. Young Swedish women made up the majority of Chicago’s domestic servants in the early 1900s. Living in the homes they served enabled the women to learn English and acclimatize quickly. Although the work was demanding and hours were long, women noted that working conditions were far better in America than in Sweden. Employers treated them better, and wages were high enough that they had money to spend, save, and send home.

Acquisition

Accession

2010.2

Source or Donor

Schorr, Peter A. & C.W.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of Peter A. & C.W. Schorr

Made/Created

Date made

1915

Time Period

20th Century

Lexicon

LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials

Employment, Women, Maids, Immigrants, Women domestics

Copyright

Copyright Details

Ownership was legally transferred to the Swedish American Museum per the gift agreement. Certain works may be protected by copyright not governed by the Swedish American Museum.

Restrictions

This collection is open to research and does not contain sensitive information.

Reproductions

Notes

Reproduction of the Museums archives for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires written permission.