The Norwegian American Historical Association (NAHA) is a national, member-supported center for Norwegian-American studies.
Since its founding in 1925, NAHA has been housed on the campus of St. Olaf College. Although both institutions are independent entities, they maintain close cooperation on common causes. The NAHA archives are located in the special collections area of Rolvaag Memorial Library.
Learn more about NAHA on our timeline.
MISSION
To inspire connections to Norwegian-American experiences through discovery, scholarship, and stewardship;
VISION
To be the leader in the stewardship of Norwegian-American stories and experiences, relevant to other immigrant cultures, and in recognition of cross-cultural encounters.
VALUES
- Integrity. We value authenticity and accuracy as we tell the full story of Norwegian American experiences through evidence-base scholarship and information.
- Inclusivity. We aspire to be a welcoming community, where all people are invited in with respect for their interests, contributions, and relationships.
- Accessibility. We seek to be accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and interests.
- Legacy. We steward Norwegian-American experiences out of respect for the past and for the benefit of generations to come.
- Relevance. We seek to inspire new generations by connecting Norwegian-American stories to today’s immigrant experiences.
Migration Statement
The Norwegian American Historical Association remembers that Norwegians—including
many of our own members’ ancestors—joined the wave of immigrants entering North
America from the mid-1800s. They settled on land where Indigenous peoples had long
lived and were being removed, largely through fraudulent government processes. NAHA
recognizes that immigrants and their heirs have benefitted from, and Indigenous peoples have paid heavily for that displacement.
Committed to understanding that immigrant experience, NAHA pledges to make
Indigenous peoples more visible in our stories and more central to our understanding of Norwegian and North American history.