The San Francisco Swedish Society marks its 125th anniversary this year. Its roots go back a bit further, to 1873, and the formation of an organization called the Original Orpheus Singing Club. After that group changed its name to the Singing Society Svea, it held its first recorded monthly meeting, April 12, 1875. According to the 1925 official history, “from this date it might be truthfully stated dates our present Swedish Society.” At the same time, the Svea Society, like so many ethnic associations in San Francisco, took steps to provide its members sick benefits. Bylaws adopted June 14, 1875, stated: “It shall be the purpose and object of this society to assist the sick and bury its deceased members, to work for the maintenance of a choir, and to give literary and social entertainments.” For a time, it appears there were two classes of members: the singers and ordinary members, who probably joined fir the social activities and to take advantage of the benefits.