Tone Stockenstrom Photography Inc

08/15/2026

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Benson Genealogy Center

The Swedish American Museum proudly celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the new Benson Genealogy Center, a space dedicated to preserving family histories and helping future generations discover where they come from.

The story of Swedish immigration is deeply woven into the history of Chicago. Between 1850 and 1930, approximately 1.3 million Swedes left their homeland for America. At one point, nearly 20% of the world’s Swedish population lived in America, and Chicago became—and remains—home to one of the largest Swedish populations outside of Sweden.

Genealogy is more than tracing names on a family tree. It connects us to our ancestors, strengthens our sense of identity, and helps ensure that the stories of immigrants and their families are never forgotten. It gives us a way to understand not only who we are, but where we come from and the places that have shaped our stories.

During the ceremony, Executive Director Karin Abercrombie presented an Appreciation Award to Vereen Nordstrom in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and lasting contributions to the museum’s genealogy community.

The celebration also honored Julie Benson, whose vision and generosity made the newly opened Benson Genealogy Center possible, creating a lasting resource for researchers, families, and the entire Swedish American community.

On a personal note, it was especially meaningful and lovely to see my own family represented in this new space through pieces I donated from my Where Is Home? body of work. Seeing these photographs hanging in the Genealogy Center, where others will encounter them as they research their own connections to place, family, heritage, and identity, felt like a beautiful continuation of the work.

Where is home? is a question that can mean so many things—and genealogy gives us a way to explore those connections, preserve them, and pass them forward.

I’m grateful to have my work and my family’s story be a small part of this very special new chapter at the Swedish American Museum.







Swedish American Museum

Tone Stockenstrom, MFA

08/15/2026

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Benson Genealogy Center

The Swedish American Museum proudly celebrated the official ribbon cutting of the new Benson Genealogy Center, a space dedicated to preserving family histories and helping future generations discover where they come from. Genealogy is more than tracing names on a family tree—it connects us to our ancestors, strengthens our sense of identity, and ensures that the stories of immigrants and their families are never forgotten. During the ceremony, Executive Director Karin Abercrombie presented an Appreciation Award to Vereen Nordstrom in recognition of her extraordinary dedication and lasting contributions to the museum’s genealogy community. The celebration also honored Julie Benson, whose vision and generosity made the newly opened Benson Genealogy Center possible, creating a lasting resource for researchers, families, and the entire Swedish American community.
On a personal note, it was especially meaningful and lovely to see my own family represented in this new space through pieces I donated from my Where Is Home? body of work. Seeing these photographs hanging in the Genealogy Center, where others will encounter them as they research their own connections to place, family, heritage, and identity, felt like a beautiful continuation of the work.
Where is home? is a question that can mean so many things—and genealogy gives us a way to explore those connections, preserve them, and pass them forward.




Swedish American Museum Tone Stockenstrom l Chicago Photographer

07/23/2026

I’m deeply honored that photographs from my Where Is Home? series, which I donated to the Swedish American Museum, are now on display in the Museum’s newly opened Genealogy Center on the second floor, in the heart of Andersonville. It feels especially fitting that these images—created to explore heritage, identity, and belonging—now reside in a space dedicated to preserving family histories and connecting people to their roots.
One photograph holds an especially profound meaning for me: the portrait of my mother. Since her recent passing, seeing her image thoughtfully displayed in this space has become an unexpected gift. While she has been laid to rest, her presence and story will continue to live on, welcoming visitors and becoming part of the shared history preserved within the Museum. It is a reminder that photography has the power not only to document a life, but to ensure that the people we love continue to be seen, remembered, and celebrated.
Thank you to the Swedish American Museum for giving these photographs—and my mother’s legacy—a lasting home.

07/21/2026

Thrilled to have partnered with the Chicago Methodist Senior Services at Hartwell Place to create some of the photography components of this new website. Please check out this wonderful organization and the incredible staff!

Schedule a Tour See Our Events Beautifully Different Welcome to Hartwell Place, Andersonville's only non-profit memory care and adult day club We’re a boutique-sized community of just 28 residents where individuality, creativity, and belonging are celebrated daily. Tucked into one of Chicago’s m...