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The '''Independent Order of Vikings''' is a [[Swedish Americans|Swedish-American]] [[List of civic, fraternal, service, and professional organizations|
Authorities differ as to the order's date of foundation. [[Alan Axelrod]] states that it was founded on June 2, 1890, in Chicago,<ref>[[Alan Axelrod]] ''International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders'' New York; Facts on File, inc 1997 p.253</ref> while [[Alvin J. Schmidt]] states it was founded in 1896, at the same city.<ref>Schmidt, Alvin J. ''Fraternal Organizations'' Westport, CT; Greenwood Press p.348</ref>
The group provides [[life insurance]] and other financial products to its members as well as conducting social activities celebrating Scandinavian [[culture]].▼
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The group provides insurance benefits, as well as organizing events celebrating Swedish traditions and culture. These activities have included languages classes on Scandinavian languages as well as song and dance programs for traditional Scandinavian music and dance. Lodges have also sponsored bowling and golfing events.<ref>Schmidt p.348</ref>
===External Link:===▼
* [http://www.iovikings.org/index.htm Official Site]▼
Its charitable activities have included participating in blood drives, visiting hospitalized and sick members and sponsoring scholarships.<ref>Schmidt p.348</ref> By 1923 it operated a home for aged members.<ref>Preuss, Arthur ''A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies'' St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924; republished Detroit: Gale Reference Company 1966; pp.193-4</ref>
▲The group provides [[life insurance]] and other financial products to its members as well as conducting social activities celebrating
== Membership ==
In 1923 the order was open to men of Swedish birth or descent and had 10,643 benefit members and 58 social members.<ref>Preuss p.194</ref>
By the 1970s membership was open to Swedes, people of [[Swedish diaspora|Swedish descent]] or a person married to the same. There were 10,500 members in the mid 1960s and 9,500 in 1978.<ref>Schmidt p.348</ref> There were 9,300 members in 1995.<ref>Axelrod p.253</ref>
== Organization ==
The order is organized on a two-level structure. Local chapters are called "lodges" and the national body is the "grand lodge" which meets biennially. There were 80 lodges in the mid-1960s and 63 in 1978. The head officer is called the grand chief. In 1979, the headquarters of the group were in Chicago, Illinois, though now it appears to be based in [[Springfield, Illinois]].<ref>Schmidt p.348</ref><ref>''[http://www.iovikings.org/Journals/Viking%201st%20Qtr%202013.pdf Viking Journal]'' Vol 113, No 1 March 2013 p.2</ref>
In the early 1920s the order's "Grand Lodge" was located at 80 W. Washington Street, Chicago and there were 58 subordinate lodges.<ref>Preuss p.194</ref>
Edward Myrbeck, the founder of a Viking Club in [[Braintree, Massachusetts|Braintree]], served as grand chief of the Independent Order of Vikings from 1963 to 1965. He was later knighted by [[Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden]] for "cultivating" relations between Sweden and the United States. Following Myrbeck's death in July 1995, the Independent Order of Vikings held a service in honor of him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=231911|title=Edward Myrbeck Dies at 83|date=July 21, 1995|work=[[The Harvard Crimson]]|accessdate=2009-06-29}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Swedish-American culture]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1896]]
[[Category:Ethnic fraternal orders in the United States]]
[[Category:1890s establishments in Illinois]]
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