Ernst Sigfred Stromberg (1886-1969) was born in Greenview, Menard Country, Illinois. In 1893 the family moved to Otho, Iowa. He married Josephine Anderson (1913) in Burnside, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Otho until 1925 when they moved to Fort Dodge and established the Stromberg Hatchery.

Stromberg pioneered the chick hatchery concept in the United States and at one time the Stromberg Hatchery was the largest in the country. Branches were located in Minneapolis and St. Paul (Minnesota) and Mason City, Marshalltown, Boone, Webster City, Manson, Rolfe, and Lakota (Iowa). Stromberg ran the Purity Milling Company where poultry feeds were manufactured and developed the formulas made at the milling company.

Stromberg was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Swedish Lutheran Church.

Stromberg's Chicks and Game Birds is now (2011) located in Pine River, Minnesota.

This collection (1922-1980, undated) contains catalogs, pamphlet samples, mail order catalogs, advertisements, business and personal correspondence, feed test papers regarding formulas and formula journals, financial records. Correspondents include Cal J. Ainsenbrey and his sister Bettie. The correspondence with his sister Bettie discuses how Stromberg started his business.

This collection is arranged by subject.