Nils Helmer Staldin

  Research Notes:

Summary 30 Dec 2017.

I found it suprising that in the Rätan parish Congregational records Nils Helmer Staldin is recorded as leaving for Canada in 1924 at the age of 6 years old. Reviewing the moving-out records for Rätan parish, it seemed likely that he had travelled with the Karl Oscar From family, all leaving on the same day. But at first I couldn't find anything using Familysearch, Ancestry, or passenger lists. I then did a general google search, and found the name "Nils Helmer Frome" born in Sweden in 1918 and dying in 1962, likely BC (points 2.a and 2.b). With this I checked with the BC Archives death certicate search. Nils Helmer was not recorded, but Carl Oscar Frome, wife Martha, and son Lars Olof Frome are. Reviewing this, it became clear that the family surname in Canada became 'Frome' and that the dates of birth matched the Sweden Church Books. I then found the entry from the "Index of Canadian Illustrators" (see point 2.d.). I also found him living in 1955 at the same address as Carl Oscar Frome at 803 Lougheed Hwy in Coquitlam (see 2.e.). It is most likely that he was not married and had no children.

Although I don't have conclusive proof and evidence that Nils Helmer Frome is the same person as Nils Helmer Staldin whose mother was Signe Henerita Ginde (1887-1918), my second cousin twice removed, I think the evidence that I have found is quite convincing. Thus, I am concluding that they are the same person and that Nils Helmer Frome/Staldin died on 27 Mar 1962 at Coquitlam, BC

Further research: (1) Obituary; (2) burial record;

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1. AIIa:2, 1916-1927, page 205 Nils Hilmer (born 1918) leaves for Canada on 12 June 1924;; age 6 years old?

Rätan moving-out records, B:3, 1916-1939, page 16 no 20. Nils Hilmer Staldin is recorded leaving with 5, likely 6, other people all
from Rätansbyn. One person is recorded leaving on 11 of Jun and one on the 13 of June and the others on 12 Jun. All are going to Kanada. See notes on his file


He is likely traveling with the Karl Oscar From family (and his mother, Karin Sjulsson born Olofsdotter in 1849 - see their entry in the congregation book, AIIa:2, page 309. Nils Helmer Staldin is not on a Canadian passenger index: Passenger Lists and Border Entries, 1925-1935 - Nominal Indexes. Nor is surname 'From'. Nothing on Familysearch or Ancestry

Karl Oscar From - born 23 Jul 1877; * died 2 Oct 1958 at Riverview hospital; address as 803 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam; wife Martha
Schulson; he was buried at Burquitlam Cemetery, Coquitlam, BC; in BC and in Canada for 34 years, thus 1924
wife Marta Sjulsson born 25 Sept 1880; * died 28 May 1973, address in Burnaby (East Hastings); informant, son, L Frome, Coquitlam
son, Lars Olof Sigvard, born 16 May 1905 at Rätan; * died 14 Apr 1985; address Coquitlam; parents Carl Oscar Frome and Martha
Sjulsson both born Overhogdal, Sweden; he was born at Ratan, Sweden; his marriage certificate records his name as Lars Olof
Sigvard Frome; address as 751 Lougheed Hwy, Coquitlam


* I checked BC archives for surname 'Frome' with a number of enteries; but none for Nils Helmer Frome or Nils Helmer Staldin


2. Likely Confirmed: through a general google search, the following:

a.

Nils Helmer Frome
(1918-1962)

Canadian artist, editor and science fiction fan. Born in Sweden; moved to Canada in 1924. Frome provided art for the early fanzine [fan magazine] The Planeteer (published in East Orange, New Jersey, United States) in the 1935-36 and released his own fanzine, Supramundane Stories (British Columbia, Canada), from 1937, which was one of the first science fiction fanzines in Canada.

b.

- on another entry, from a book on googlebooks, is....Nels Helmer Frome .... from Fraser Mills, BC [no current place name, but there is a Fraser Mills (lumber) along the Fraser River at Coquitlam

c.

... another, Title: Four manuscript stories from Nils Helmer Frome [ an auction site, with opening bid of $350
Author: Frome, Nils Helmer
Description: Four manuscript short stories including: Ghoul of Selem. 3 leaves, written on rectos only. * The Cloud People. 8 leaves, written on both sides. * The Enigma of Thought. 1 leaf, written on both sides. * Into the Violet Flame. 1 leaf, written on both sides.Nils Helmer Frome (1918-1962) was born in Sweden in 1918 and came to Canada with his family in 1924. Frome is the first known Canadian zinester. He was the publisher of Supramundane Stories, a Science Fiction fanzine which is believed to be either the first or the second Science Fiction zine to appear in Canada (the first is reported to be The Canadian Science Fiction Fan in 1936, but its existence can't be confirmed), and perhaps the second zine to be published in Canada. Frome was a contributor to the 1940's Canadian fanzines Canadian Fandom, and Light, edited by Leslie Croutch of Ontario, Canada, where his artwork appears on two covers. As well, with Sam Moskowitz acting as his agent, his work appeared in a number of American fanzines, including Moskowitz's own fanzine Helios, The Golden Atom with an article entitled "But Stars Still Shine!", Cosmic Tales by Gertrude Kuslan and Louis Kuslan, and Harry Warner, Jr.'s Spaceways, among others. Frome died destitute at the age of 43.
Heading: Place Published: Fraser Mills, B.C., Canada
Publisher:
Date Published: No date [1940s?]

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/14690234_34-four-manuscript-stories-from-nils-helmer-frome

d.

.... AND then this entry: Index of Canadian Illustrators

Frome, Nils Helmer (1918-1962)
Nils Helmer Frome was born in Ratansbyrn, Jamtland, Sweden on July 10th, 1918. After his mother died, he was given by his father to another family to raise. At the age of 4, he refused to go back to living with his father! Eventually he was adopted by a foster family, who moved to Canada in 1924, ultimately settling in Fraser Mills, B.C. He spent most of his time collecting science fiction, reading history, drawing and writing. After high school he attended Vocational Art School in Vancouver. In the summer of 1953 he was hospitalized but spent much of the time drawing, expanding his artistic skills. Afterwards, among other jobs all over B.C. working for various companies, he did design work for the Dept. of Recreation & Conservation. Then he came back to the Lower Mainland and tried to survive as a commercial artist. Despite selling illustrations of B.C. "buildings, ships, trains & places" to newspapers, success eluded him. He died March 27, 1962. Nils Frome contributed an ink sketch of Fort Langley, B. C. to the Historic Sites series of postcards. He wrote and illustrated, an early science fiction fanzine known as SUPRAMUNDANE STORIES beginning in Oct 1936.

from, http://canadianillustrators.wikidot.com/f [accessed 30 Dec 2017]; This is a collaborative site, devoted to compiling an exhaustive list of Canadian artists who illustrate(d) - ie, who regularly at some point in their lives animated, designed, collaged, cartooned, painted or drew for print/film/digital/public space. It covers both historical and contemporary artists. The candidate must have been born OR art-school-educated OR worked in Canada.

e.

then, BC city directories - from Vancouver Public Library

1954 - Helmer, res 803, Lougheed Hwy. Coq (this is the same address as Oscar and Martha Frome)

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Migration - leaving 1924, 12 Jun 1924, Rätan, Jämtland län, Sweden. ⁷⁸⁴⁵ Leaving Rätan parish in Jämtland