Old Swedish Traveling Trunk

Hi folks. Please let me introduce you to my best find so far: a Swedish Traveling Trunk.  Yet, this is not a common traveling trunk. This is a trunk that was handmade by Dr. Edward A Rumely (1882-1964). Dr. Rumely's history and relationship with the early 1900's U.S. economy and politics are remarkable to say the least. Dr. Rumely was a medicine doctor, educator, farm industrialist, inventor, editor-publisher, and held several key positions in prestigious and political offices. He was friend of Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Ford. In 1907 he founded the Interlaken School in Rolling Prairie, Indiana. It was based on the German Landerziehungsheim model, which engaged the students in the countryside as well as in the classroom, as used at Schloss Glarisegg in Switzerland, and as discussed with the Gutermann family. More of his biography here:

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This trunk he used in his many travels between New York and Europe. In fact, the trunk still has a piece of a traveling seal reading Svenska Amerika Linien SS Druttingholm from Gothenburg to New York. More info of the ship here:

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But the cool fact is that this trunk was acquired from the great-grand daughter of Dr. Rumely by Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz from the History Channel's series: American Pickers. Yes, they picked this trunk and I bought it from them at their Antique Archaeology store and headquarter in Le Claire, Iowa. I happened to be in the area and visited their store. The trunk is now the new focal point piece in my living room!

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,28192.msg199931.html#msg199931

		Quote:			Posted by wolfy
	Did you say hi to Danielle for me ? Wolfy

Unfortunately, she is not in the store on Sundays. I also wanted to meet her of course 

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,28192.msg199943.html#msg199943

Good to know. Thanks. The reason I bought it was because it was handmade by an American studying or living in Sweden at the time. It still has the original decorative paper inside. Very good looking outside. I wish I could find a secret compartment.  I have been tempted to remove the decorative paper to see if there is any writing or something, but naaa!  . Thanks for the info. Old trunks are very collectable items here in the US!

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,28192.msg212246.html#msg212246