Collections Spotlight: Hilma Berglund

Hilma Berglund (1886-1972) was a first-generation Swedish American from Stillwater, Minnesota. As a child, Hilma suffered from debilitating migraine headaches, and her parents were advised to take her out of school. During this time, she devoted herself to exploring the arts, particularly painting, embroidery, and pottery. 

Her first encounter with weaving occurred in Stockholm at the Johanna Brunsson Vävskola during a trip to Europe in 1914. She returned to Sweden in 1922 to deepen her skills at another prominent handcraft school in Stockholm. Upon returning home, she received both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Minnesota before working at the University as an art education faculty member for 24 years. 

As an influential figure in Swedish American weaving, Hilma co-founded the Weavers Guild of Minnesota in 1940, cementing her legacy in the Twin Cities arts community. Collaborating frequently with the American Swedish Institute (ASI), Hilma gave numerous demonstrations and lectures on Swedish weaving techniques, sharing her knowledge and passion with the local community. 

She designed and patented the portable Minnesota Loom, which allowed her students to remove their in-process woven piece when not working on it, thus freeing up the loom for another weaver. 

After her passing, Hilma’s family honored her legacy by donating her diaries, photo albums, textiles, and weaving equipment to ASI. These treasures offer a rich look into her contributions to Swedish American cultural heritage. Discover more of her work and the enduring impact of her legacy in ASI’s Collections database.