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Apr 30
5 min

The Failed Brazilian Emigration

By W. D. Valgardson It wasn’t just Icelanders who were enticed to Brazil. Michael Ewanchuk, in his book, Pioneer Profiles, says this “In...

Apr 30
3 min

Björgvin Guðmundsson - Teacher, Composer, Conductor

This is one of three articles focusing on Icelanders who left for the West, North America, and returned to Iceland. Björgvin Guðmundsson...

Apr 30
2 min

Interesting Icelanders

A monthly feature profiling an interesting person of Icelandic birth or ancestry found in the Icelandic Roots database. This is the first...

Apr 16
2 min

Cue up the Icelandic Roots Podcast

Three 2022 Snorri Experience participants have joined forces to produce upcoming Icelandic Roots podcasts and have already released their...

Apr 2
4 min

The 1816 Iceland Census

The 1816 Census is a wonderful resource that includes names, household positions, the farm they are living on, their marital status, age,...

Apr 2
2 min

Ingibjörg Björnsdóttir, a Knowledgeable Professional

By Sigrídur Matthíasdóttir & Thorgerdur Einarsdóttir Note: This article is drawn from a lengthy academic article exploring a...

Mar 19
2 min

Fond Memory of Our First Trip to Iceland

By Valdine (Scrymgeour) Hernes My husband, Sigfred (I640085), and I (I639986) have visited Iceland four times. On our first trip in July...

Mar 19
3 min

Anna Sigrídur Gudmundsdóttir Sigbjörnsson, a cultured woman with connections

By Sigrídur Matthíasdóttir & Thorgerdur Einarsdóttir Note: This article is drawn from a lengthy academic article exploring a...

Mar 19
2 min

Iceland’s Unique Folklore Explored in Webinar

All folklore is distinguished by its motifs, whether they be big bad wolves or trolls or vengeful ghosts. But there is one motif that...

Mar 5
5 min

Bréfin frá sólskinsbörnum (The letters from sunshine children)

An interview with scholar Christopher Crocker In June of 1916, the children’s newspaper Sólskin, a supplement to the weekly North...

Feb 19
4 min

Jóhanna Ketilsdóttir, an entrepreneurial, professional woman

By Sigrídur Matthíasdóttir & Thorgerdur Einarsdóttir Note: This article is drawn from a lengthy academic article exploring a little...

Feb 19
3 min

Prophetic Dreams: A Curse or a Legacy

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, March 2, 2023, will feature Prophetic Dreams: a Curse or a Legacy with author Alfreða...

Feb 5
2 min

A Cherished Object

By Sverrir Sigurdsson As a young child, I loved tales of the Vikings: how they traveled abroad to seek fame and fortune, while those who...

Feb 5
13 min

The Icelanders Go West

By W. D. Valgardson Note: These remarks were originally delivered by the author at the Icelandic National League of North America...

Jan 22
3 min

The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, February 2, 2023, will feature The Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi, with Jason Doctor as our...

Jan 8
4 min

Iceland's January Holidays

According to the old Norse calendar, the year is made up of Winter and Summer. January is the halfway point of winter, and several...

Jan 8
2 min

2023: The Journey is Just Starting...

2023 is shaping up to be a momentous year for Icelandic Roots. On November 12th, we will celebrate our tenth anniversary as an official...

Dec 25, 2022
8 min

Snorri Plus Program - Lectures in Reykjavík, 2022

Editor's note: Laura Hackney wrote this report to give a sense of the valuable background information that is a part of the Snorri Plus...

Dec 11, 2022
3 min

How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small Island

The Icelandic Roots Book Club for Thursday, January 5, 2023, will feature How Iceland Changed the World: The Big History of a Small...

Dec 11, 2022
2 min

A Brief Look Inside Reykdæla Saga

This month's newsletter is about Suður Þingeyjarsýsla and there is no better saga to represent this region than Reykdæla saga ok...