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Grundvallarlög Aurora: Icelandic Reading Society Bylaws, ca. 1887

Handwritten page from a 19th-century ledger labeled Grundvallarlög Lestrarfélagsins Aurora written in elegant Icelandic script. The page outlines the name, purpose, and membership rules of the society, dated at the top as 1887.

Image courtesy of the Icelandic Special Collections, University of Manitoba Libraries

This handwritten constitution for the Icelandic reading society Aurora is beautifully preserved in ink on lined ledger paper. The document outlines the society’s name, purpose, and membership rules. Founded to foster education and community engagement, Aurora aimed to establish a shared library, host educational meetings, and organize public gatherings. Members were expected to uphold the society’s goals by paying dues, adhering to its regulations, and caring for its resources. The library was considered common property, with books lent under agreed rules and expected to be returned in good condition—loss or damage required compensation. This document stands as a testament to the cultural and intellectual values upheld by early Icelandic settlers in North America.