The yellow letter – Smith’s first tactical mistake
In 1883, the year that Smith’s workers’ groups started to take shape, workers were invited to buy shares that would form a Workers’ Bank, under generous conditions. The shares cost […]
The politician
L.O. Smith’s workers’ groups take shape
L.O. Smith felt constantly annoyed by the dominance and power of the upper class. He never forgot where he came from. In the 1880s, he gathered a group of politically […]
The steam kitchens – tasty, healthy, affordable food
In Nice, France, L.O. Smith started to work on a proposal that would benefit the working classes. He figured that if they ate good, healthy food, they would work harder, […]
From workers’ groups to suffrage rights
L.O. Smith’s workers’ groups didn’t last long. The groups lacked suitable leaders, and many people were busy with other engagements. Smith wanted the workers to contribute more actively to the […]
Featured
Movie trailer from the film about L.O. Smith
Watch the trailer from the movie about L.O. Smith’s exciting life here (in Swedish).
Five important ideas
Purification of spirits In 1855, a new law made it illegal for individuals to produce their own alcohol. From then on, only a few distilleries had the right to manufacture […]
L.O. Smith’s Stockholm: Places associated with the vodka king
Stora Badstugatan (Sveavägen)The busy Sveavägen road in central Stockholm has had many names. For many years, it was known as Stora Badstugatan (literally “the big bathing house street”). Along this […]
A genius leaves this world
Severely affected by gout, L.O. Smith passed away around noon on December 9, 1913. The cause of death was stated as pneumonia. Smith is no doubt one of the most […]