The last years of his life were spent researching and writing the history of the synod and the Swedish migration to and settlement in America. He published "Vasa illustrata" (1905) on the history of his congregation in Vasa, "The history of the Swedish Lutheran congregations and the Swedish-Americans" (1890) (Swedish: "De svenska lutherska församlingarnas och svensk-amerikanernas historia"). He also wrote a biography of Tuve Hasselquist (1900). Eric Norelius' papers are contained in the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center located on the campus of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and in the College and Lutheran Church Archives at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota.