What is lost when history is forgotten?
For Polmanarkivet, that question became a call to action.
In 2022, while researching the book Arcadia: Peterson Family History and the Secrets of a Swedish Nobleman, we uncovered a hidden connection to the Påhlman family—a discovery that revealed a much larger story.
Established in 2023, Polmanarkivet began with a clear purpose: to illuminate the lives and histories of the Polman, Påhlman, & von Pohlmann families. What began as a single research project evolved into a mission to collect, preserve, and share family histories spanning six centuries.
Today, Polmanarkivet serves as a digital archive and museum, curating genealogical, historical, and cultural materials that connect personal histories to the wider narrative of Swedish heritage. Behind Polmanarkivet is a dedicated team driven by a passion for meticulous research and compelling storytelling.
Collections
Our Collection includes family and cultural objects dating from the 16th century to the present day, each with a story to tell. Get closer to the family history and immerse yourself in the unfolding stories of more than six centuries of history.
Explore the CollectionThe Polmanarkivet Collection
The Polmanarkivet Collection was established in 2023 when Polmanarkivet purchased 12 manuscripts from the 17th and 18th centuries, including receipts, letters, inheritance documents, and promissory notes. A further acquisition in 2024 included a vintage steel pen nib from Påhlmans Handelsinstitut (originally Bröderna Påhlman), bringing our physical collection to 13 items. The Polmanarkivet Collection also displays hundreds of curated digital artefacts and objects from cultural institutions worldwide, spanning over five centuries of history.
The Polmanarkivet Archive
The Polmanarkivet Archive comprises extensive digital research material, references, and documents relating to the history of the Polman, Påhlman, and von Pohlmann families. In particular, the Archive includes biographies of prominent family members, reconstructed family trees, and genealogical research relating to Jürgen Polman († ca. 1640) and his descendants.
The Polmanarkivet Library
The Library collection comprises a significant number of secondary sources for research. Our books, magazines, and journals cover a wide range of subjects, including Swedish history, culture, military history, family history, heraldry, and genealogy. Most of the items in the library collection were published between the 19th and 20th centuries, with certain rare books that are no longer in print.
Research
Polmanarkivet is unlocking the past through research and dissemination. Through our research activities, we deepen our understanding of the collections and invite collaboration with fellow researchers worldwide.
See our ResearchPolmanarkivet's research extends beyond pure genealogy, embracing the rich cultural history surrounding the Polman, Påhlman, and von Pohlmann families. We're currently interested in research and knowledge-building projects that utilise our growing collections and connect specific family narratives to the wider tapestry of Swedish history. These efforts deepen our collective understanding of both the Polman family history and Swedish cultural heritage.
Some of our research projects include:
- The One-Name Study: Registered with the Guild of One-Name Studies, this project collects and analyses worldwide occurrences of the surname Polman and its variants.
- Polman Biographical Lexicon: The most comprehensive collection of biographies related to the Polman family, inspired by the Swedish Biographical Lexicon.
- Legacy in Letters: Transcribing and translating five centuries of correspondence to prominent historical figures, including Catherine II and Gustav II Adolf.
The Story in Data
4K+
People who have visited Polmanarkivet
10K+
Total views across the website
83
Different countries reached
307
Total research references collected
85
Curated objects in the digital collection
14
Physical acquisitions in our collection
Become Part of the Story
Join us in preserving more than six centuries of history, ensuring that this rich cultural heritage is accessible. Become a member to gain access to extra content and to support our work in safeguarding important Swedish cultural heritage.
Join the LegacyOur Purpose
To illuminate the lives and histories of the Polman, Påhlman, & von Pohlmann families.
Our Mission
We bring the Polman, Påhlman, & von Pohlmann past to life through stewardship, research, and storytelling.
Our Vision
We strive to collect and disseminate materials that have genealogical, historical, or cultural significance, and ensure that our collections are appropriately stored, preserved, managed, and researched.
We are driven by an ambition to delve as far back into history as possible, documenting every Polman, Påhlman, and von Pohlmann that ever existed. We aim to engage archivists, curators, and genealogists to realise this ambition to preserve this history.
Polmanarkivet aspires to establish itself as a leader in its core areas of expertise: research, family history, digital collections, publications, and social media. We strive to serve as a bridge for the museum and genealogy sectors, demonstrating the potential at the intersection of genealogy, history, and curation.