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May 27, 20232 min read

The Icelandic Emigration Journey - From Turfhouses to Prairie Homesteads

Update: Find the associated book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/05YtoEMP Emigration from Iceland began much later than in other countries....

May 14, 20233 min read

Many IR Teammates Gather in Banff

Twenty-three Icelandic Roots volunteers and five family members are in Banff celebrating the Icelandic National League's Convention...

Apr 30, 20235 min read

The Failed Brazilian Emigration

By W. D. Valgardson It wasn’t just Icelanders who were enticed to Brazil. Michael Ewanchuk, in his book, Pioneer Profiles, says this “In...

Apr 30, 20232 min read

Interesting Icelanders

A monthly feature profiling an interesting person of Icelandic birth or ancestry found in the Icelandic Roots database. This is the first...

Apr 30, 20233 min read

Snorri Scholarships 2023

Introducing six Snorri scholarship recipients that will be travelling to Iceland this summer for a life-changing cultural experience....

Apr 16, 20234 min read

The Emigration Variations

INTERESTING EMIGRATION VARIATIONS By Dave Jonasson You may have already read articles about mass emigrations from Iceland during the...

Apr 16, 20232 min read

Discovering Your Past

Learning about and sharing our stories with Icelandic Roots By Shaune Jonasson Have you ever wondered what life was like back “when”?...

Mar 19, 20232 min read

Fond Memory of Our First Trip to Iceland

By Valdine (Scrymgeour) Hernes My husband, Sigfred (I640085), and I (I639986) have visited Iceland four times. On our first trip in July...

Mar 19, 20237 min read

The Icelandic Settlement of Spanish Fork, Utah Part II - The Icelandic Association of Utah

by Susan Bearnson Huff Many Icelanders lived near each other in Spanish Fork and gathered often both formally and informally. For the...

Mar 5, 20235 min read

Bréfin frá sólskinsbörnum (The letters from sunshine children)

An interview with scholar Christopher Crocker In June of 1916, the children’s newspaper Sólskin, a supplement to the weekly North...

Mar 5, 20234 min read

The Sólskin Children, a Reykjavík Hobo, and a Poem

By Ruth Cartwright Poem by Nelson S. Gerrard One hundred fifty letters from first, second, and third-generation Icelandic children living...

Feb 19, 20236 min read

Trying to Identify 13,000 Photos of Unknown People

By Rus Magnusson Over the years, Icelandic Roots has collected thousands of wonderful old photos submitted by our members. Over 13,000...

Feb 19, 20233 min read

Prophetic Dreams: A Curse or a Legacy

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, March 2, 2023, will feature Prophetic Dreams: a Curse or a Legacy with author Alfreða...

Feb 5, 20232 min read

A Cherished Object

By Sverrir Sigurdsson As a young child, I loved tales of the Vikings: how they traveled abroad to seek fame and fortune, while those who...

Feb 5, 202313 min read

The Icelanders Go West

By W. D. Valgardson Note: These remarks were originally delivered by the author at the Icelandic National League of North America...

Jan 22, 20236 min read

50th Anniversary of Eldfell Eruption at Westman Islands

By Susan Huff Turbulent seas and severe storms made it unsafe for fishing, so almost the entire fishing fleet of 60-70 fishing ships lay...

Jan 8, 20232 min read

2023: The Journey is Just Starting...

2023 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Icelandic Roots. On November 12th, we will celebrate our tenth anniversary as an official...

Dec 25, 20228 min read

Snorri Plus Program - Lectures in Reykjavík, 2022

Editor's note: Laura Hackney wrote this report to give a sense of the valuable background information that is a part of the Snorri Plus...

Dec 11, 20227 min read

My Saga with Saint Thorlák

Submitted By Aimée O’Connell, Guest Author It was one of those mornings that homeschooling families know very well: the kids were...

Dec 11, 20223 min read

How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, January 5, 2023, will feature How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small...