A Migrant Literary Culture

Icelandic newspapers and religious magazines published in Manitoba frequently featured the original literary works of Icelandic migrants. The same was true of Margrét Benedictsson’s Freyja and magazines aimed at other social and political causes. It was only a matter of time before dedicated literary magazines began to appear.

A black-and-white portrait of a middle-aged man. He is shown from the chest up, wearing a formal suit with a patterned vest and bowtie. His hair is neatly combed and he has a mustache., He has a serious, focused expression.

Jón Ólafsson, editor of Öldin

The first Icelandic literary magazine published in Manitoba was the Winnipeg-based Öldin, which first appeared on April 1, 1893. Its inaugural editor was Jón Ólafsson who was also editor of Heimskringla at the time. In fact, Öldin was printed by the Heimskringla Printing and Publishing Company and was available to Heimskringla subscribers free of charge. A typical issue contained short articles, essays, poems, and stories, including some translations.

A two page spread from a magazine featuring text in faded black ink on old aged paper. Each page features a narrow single column of text.

Three poems by Jón Kjærnested in Svava

Öldin ceased publication after less than four years. A year prior, in 1895, the first issue of Svava appeared. Its editor and publisher was Gísli M. Thompson. He was based in Gimli and launched the newspaper Bergmálið two years later. A typical issue of Svava featured essays, poems, and short and serialized stories, including some translations. After a long delay, Svava’s second issue appeared in July 1897. It continued to appear monthly until its final issue of March 1904.

An image of the table of contents of a magazine. The text is printed in one column of black ink with headings and subheads in slightly larger font. The paper is faded with age. There is a horizontal decorative item along the bottom of the page.

Table of Contents from an issue of Syrpa

A few short-lived literary periodicals followed until 1911 when the first issue of Syrpa appeared. It was published in Winnipeg by Ólafur S. Thorgeirsson. Ólafur had worked as Lögberg’s printer until 1905 when he opened his own publishing and printing business. Syrpa appeared four times a year and was dedicated to original, translated, and reprinted stories and tales. Its final issue appeared in 1922 after first becoming a semi-annual magazine and appearing monthly in 1920.

A few years later, in June 1925, the first issue of Saga was published. The magazine was also based in Winnipeg and was edited by poet, historian, and visual artist Þorsteinn Þ. Þorsteinsson. Þorsteinn’s artistic background is evident in Saga’s striking cover design. The magazine was published semi-annually and featured contents like those of its predecessors. Saga’s final issue was published in the autumn of 1930.

A composite image showing the covers of three Icelandic-language periodicals published in Winnipeg in the early 20th century. The first cover on the left is titled Syrpa, dated 1911, with bold red text and an illustration of an anchor and torch emblem near the bottom. Additional text is printed in black Icelandic type. The middle cover is Tímarit, dated 1921, with intricate green, red, and brown border artwork. The design includes decorative Icelandic motifs, a robed female figure, and a small boat scene. The third cover on the right is titled Saga, dated 1925, featuring large red lettering with ornate designs and decorative elements including stars, scrollwork, and a row of small houses. Icelandic text fills the rest of the page in a formal layout.

Three Icelandic language literary magazines published in Manitoba.

Þorsteinn’s artistic fingerprint is also visible in the design of the cover of Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga, which became the longest-running Icelandic magazine of this kind published in Manitoba. Tímarit was the annual publication of Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga, or “The Icelandic National League of North America.” It featured original and translated poems, plays, and stories alongside essays on Icelandic culture and history. Unitarian minister Rögnvaldur Pétursson was its first and longest-serving editor.

An image of two pages of ads from a magazine in black and white. On the left-hand page there are four ads featuring Icelandic language text and one with an illustration of a woman wearing a hat. On the right-hand page there are two larger ads. Both feature Icelandic language text and the lower of the two has an illustration of a vehicle from the 1920s.

Two pages of ads from the 1920 issue of Tímarit Þjóðræknisfélags Íslendinga

Tímarit’s print run lasted from 1919 to 1969. Magazines like Tímarit, Öldin, Svava, Syrpa, Saga, and Tímarit encouraged the massive literary production of Icelandic migrants in North America. Jóhann Magnús Bjarnason, Stephan G. Stephansson, Undína (Helga S. Baldvinsdóttir), K.N. Júlíus, Guðrún H. Finnsdóttir, and Guttormur J. Guttormsson are just a few of the key authors whose work frequently appeared in these magazines.

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