My grandmother Clara Amelia Yunhild (Nilsson) Nelson Erickson wrote this Nelson Family History in Bismarck in the 1990s. I am very grateful for this, as it has enabled me to be more accurate in my writings on the family photographs.Her writing covers the time from when the Nelson's immigrated from Sweden to Painted Woods, North Dakota through the not too distant present.

A classic Nelson Family portrait is added below, a one of a kind family image taken one hundred years ago this year. Photographed on the family farm in Painted Woods, North Dakota in 1918. Many here are mentioned by Clara in her written family history. The first three generation of Nelson's to immigrate from Sweden to the Dakotas in 1903 are present.

The photograph was well preserved in Clara's photo album. She wrote along the margins all the information and the full names of her brothers, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. To me this is remarkable and the key to the Archive Project. Without this document so many family names and images would be lost forever.

left to right - top row:
My uncle Anton Tony Nelson, uncle August Valentine Nelson, uncle Albert "Bob" William Nelson, my great grandfather Anders Nelson, great uncle (brother of Anders) August Nelson, cousin Tom Hanwell (husband to Josie (Amelia Jr.) Nelson Hanwell) and Uncle Sture Albin Nelson.

left to right - sitting:
My grandmother Clara Amelia Yunhild (Nilsson) Nelson Erickson, cousin Berthe Nelson (holding daughter Mary Jane), my great grandmother Gertrude "Gerde" (Miljander) Nelson (holding Josie Jr - daughter of Tom and Josie (Amelia Jr.) Hanwell), great aunt Amelia - nickname Aunt Molly and wife of great uncle August), cousin Josie (Amelia Jr.) Hanwell (daughter of Amelia & August Nelson) and cousin Elsie Pederson.

It was the late Summer of 1918 and my uncle Sture was in the Navy and home on-leave visiting his family. Soon after this photograph was taken he would be heading to the east coast and departing on a ship out of the Brooklyn (NY) Port bound for the Atlantic.