You might have noticed a fresh coat of paint, amongst other changes. This update is our largest ever — nearly a year in the making — and we’re excited to show you around.
First, why the change?
Polmanarkivet previously ran on WordPress, and we were quickly running into constraints. WordPress can do anything, but with that comes a lot of technical headache like maintenance, plugins, backups, and security. We wanted a modern platform that was “set and forget” so that we could focus on the content, not the platform. So we moved to Ghost, an open source CMS built on a modern Node.js technology stack.
But enough about the technical talk, you’re here for what’s new!
A Fresh Look
We've reimagined Polmanarkivet's look and feel with the visitor experience at the centre. Our aim was a design that not only looks fresh but works intuitively, making it easier and more enjoyable for visitors to explore our diverse content. We've streamlined navigation and improved functionality across the site.
At its heart, Polmanarkivet illuminates the stories and histories of the Polman, Påhlman, and von Pohlmann family. This redesign brings those stories to the forefront, ensuring that storytelling is central to the visitor experience. Our extensive research and curated collections that underpin these stories are presented in a more integrated way, enriching the experience.
You might notice subtle changes to our logo and identity. We wanted the logotype to reflect the feel of Polmanarkivet, and we approached Letters from Sweden, a Swedish type foundry based in Stockholm for recommendations. We landed on Adelia, an elegant flare serif with unusual and quirky ligatures we felt perfectly captures the unique character of Polmanarkivet.
Introducing Memberships
For the first time, Polmanarkivet now has a membership model. We made this decision so that we can continue preserving important Swedish cultural heritage, while also sharing even more stories through exclusive member content.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Open-access is non-negotiable at Polmanarkivet. We want to ensure that our core research is accessible and not locked behind a paywall. To that end, you can continue to access core articles about the family free forever, even if you decide not to subscribe (look for the Polmanarkivet seal in the top right corner to identify these posts). Additionally, our research and collections will never be locked behind a paywall. The subscriptions provide additional content — like supplemental history articles and behind-the-scenes content.
So what are memberships?
Memberships are subscriptions that unlock extra content, a Member’s newsletter called From the Desk of Polmanarkivet, and other exclusive material all while supporting us to further our research.
There are three levels of membership: Friend, Chronicler and Steward, each with their own benefits. As a Friend, get access to the newsletter to be notified of new content. As a Chronicler, get access to exclusive content, premium posts, and behind-the-scenes content. As a Steward, get special privileges, an acknowledgment in our Annual Review, and an exclusive “Steward Kit."
All plans support our mission to illuminate the lives and histories of the Polman family. Learn more with a dedicated FAQ here.
From the Desk of Polmanarkivet
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for captivating stories from the Swedish Empire, research tips, and handpicked reads from our team. Anyone can subscribe for free to the newsletter, "From the Desk of Polmanarkivet." It's also automatically included for members supporting us at the Friend membership level.
Want to unlock more within each issue? Members supporting us as Chroniclers or Stewards receive the newsletter with additional, exclusive bonus sections containing premium content and insights unavailable to free subscribers.
Expect 12 issues per year, delivered monthly. You always have complete control over your subscription settings, including the ability to unsubscribe at anytime.
Explore Our Research Projects in Depth
Polmanarkivet is interested in research and knowledge-building projects that utilise our growing collections and connect specific family narratives to the wider tapestry of Swedish history. Our Research section has been expanded to provide greater access to our research projects and the data behind them.
For the first time, explore all of our research, along with our newest research efforts, including:
Polmanarkivet Nexus
Explore the data foundation of Polmanarkivet. Our central database links thousands of records for people, places, events, items, and sources, allowing for detailed analysis, complex queries, and relationship mapping.
Polman Biographical Lexicon
Inspired by the Swedish Biographical Lexicon (SBL), the Polman Biographical Lexicon is the largest collection of biographies related to this family line, drawing on a range of sources, including archival and genealogical records.
Legacy in Letters
This project transcribes and translates letters written by family members to prominent figures over the past 500 years, including Catherine II and Gustav II Adolf, making these documents accessible to a wider audience.
Meet Our Interactive Exhibition Platform
We're thrilled to introduce a dedicated platform for our virtual exhibitions, custom-built for the immersive, interactive storytelling our content deserves. Say goodbye to slow-loading pages. You'll immediately notice a faster, responsive experience on any device.
But the magic is in the interaction! As you scroll through an exhibit, watch the story unfold dynamically with high-resolution images you can zoom into, animations that draw you in, and text that appears as you journey through the story. This 'scrollytelling' approach weaves together collections and research into a compelling experience, bringing the Polman family history to life right before your eyes.
In addition to these highlights, explore these other enhancements:
- Powerful Full-Text Search
- All-New Article Categories
- Choose Your Preferred Language (English, Swedish, German, Estonian, or Russian)
- Enhanced Menu Navigation
- Light & Dark Mode
- Faster Site Speed & Performance
- Improved Web Accessibility
- New Pages: Collections Policy, Partnerships, Press & Media, Estates & Manors
Many other subtle refinements have been made to improve stability and usability. Explore the reimagined Polmanarkivet to see everything that's new.
