This thesis serves as a guide to the holdings of Leufsta Bruksarkiv, a small archival institution situated at a former ironworks in Lövstabruk on the east coast of Sweden. The holdings stem from a period of advanced iron manufacturing in Sweden, from the mid-17th century to the first decades of the 20th century. The holdings consists foremost of bookkeeping, but we also find documents dealing with judicial matters, maps and blueprints.
During the 17th century Lövsta bruk (also Leufsta bruk) became the largest manufacturer of iron in Sweden. Louis de Geer, a Dutch businessman who is sometimes referred to as the father of Swedish industry, was involved in the ironworks already in 1626 and took over the ownership of the facility 1643. He developed a new order in Swedish iron manufacturing by bringing workforces to Lövsta from his native region of Wallonia, today a part of Belgium. Leufsta Bruksarkiv holds records from several ironworks in the region that all have a relation to Lövsta bruk or Gimo bruk – another big facility related to the de Geer family. The relationship between these ironworks is described in the guide.
The bookkeeping shows a consistency and a richness of detail, providing an insight into the life and labour at the ironworks. The books are also a source for genealogical research and research on estates and villages in the region. Research into the judicial records, amongst which regulations of properties and ownership can be found, may help those who seek to trace the transformation of the area or the history of a specific estate. The historical maps provide a further complement in such matters.
The guide will provide an aid for visitors and help recognize what information can be drawn out of the records. It also aims to situate the holdings in its historical context by drawing the larger picture of the de Geerian dynasty and the process of iron manufacturing, as well as discussing the vocabulary found in the documents.
This is a one year master’s thesis in Archival Science.