Swedish Archive Preserves Children’s Visions of History

The Swedish Children’s Picture Archive in Eskilstuna holds over 700,000 drawings by children dating from the 1700s to the present day. The archive offers a unique societal documentation from the perspective of children, capturing their interpretations of events ranging from daily life in the 18th century to the September 11th attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Archivists note that children’s voices are often absent from traditional historical records, making this collection especially valuable. The archive began in 1977 with a donation of student artwork and has grown through continued submissions from schools and families.

While the archive does not assess artistic merit, it accepts all submissions, believing every drawing tells a story and upholding children’s right to be heard. The collection reveals shifts in children’s interests over time, from knights and horses in the late 19th century to characters from “Despicable Me” in recent years, and how they process major events.

Drawings created after the 9/11 attacks and during the COVID-19 pandemic poignantly depict fear, loss, and even mortality. The archive continues to grow, ensuring future generations can access these unique historical records.