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Browse Items (3004 total)
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Henrik V. Zernikow Loss papers, 1892-1925
Papers of a Norwegian-born Philadelphia consulting engineer and inventor of hydraulic machines, including an all-steel wheel to be used on railway cars. The papers consist of James Christie letter (Aug. 31, 1906) regarding screws, a Gardner C. Anthony pamphlet about punching machines, a notebook of drawings on the tire mill, and two articles on mechanical engineering (1892-1904).
Content:
Henrik V. von Zernikow Loss Papers: Notebook, letter, pamphlet. -
Zufelt family history, undated
"Zufelt" by Alice Emeline Zufelt of Kenyon and Northfield, MN. -
Aaker family papers, 1833-1958
Papers of Knud Saavesen Aaker (1797-1873) and his descendants: articles, correspondence, Civil War letters, notebooks, scrapbooks, albums, clippings, family histories, charts, and a diary. Includes letters from B.J. Muus, G. Hoyme, and Knute Finseth.
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Norse-American Centennial papers, 1923-1927
Biography/History:
The centennial of organized Norwegian migration provided an opportunity for Norwegian-Americans to celebrate their heritage and, more importantly, to demonstrate their American-ness. The celebrations, held in many North American cities and culminating in a major festival at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in June 1925, showed how Norwegian-Americans had already contributed, as well as how well they fit in their new homes. The celebrations constituted a complex process of identity building and a tricky balancing of old culture and new.Advertised as “The World’s Largest Gathering for 1925,” promoters described the Twin Cities celebration as “stupendous” and “monumental.” Events over the four-day period included speeches by Norwegian, Canadian, Icelandic, and American dignitaries, including U.S. President Calvin Coolidge; religious services; musical performances; displays of handcrafts, fine arts, and natural resources; and sporting events. The high point with a lavish “Pageant of the Northmen.” With a cast of 1,500, the melodramatic account of a thousand years of Norwegian history featured stories of heroic settlement, noteworthy individuals, and triumphs in the "new" world.
The Norse-American Centennial was a historical moment that brought national attention to Minnesota’s Norwegian immigrant community. To rapt attendees this was a cultural celebration, but behind the scenes the event challenged Norwegian-American leaders, intellectuals, and the broader Norwegian-American community to reexamine their heritage and role as Americans. One year prior to the celebration, the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 harshly defined insiders and outsiders. While northern Europeans fared relatively well under the new quota system, many Norwegian-Americans seized this moment as an opportunity to elevate their status and dispute negative stereotypes within the minds of their fellow Americans.
The celebration was initiated by the general council of the bygdelag — local history clubs for Norwegian immigrants and their descendants organized by region of origin. The materials generated by the Norse-American Centennial, an association incorporated in 1925 in St. Paul, are rich and varied. The collection describes in detail the management of the celebration and gives data on observances outside of Minnesota, including Chicago, Canada, Boston, and Brooklyn. Letters and essays reveal the loyalty of Norwegian Americans to their cultural heritage, the rivalry among groups of Norwegians in America, and their internal struggles of understanding ethnic identity.
Scope and Content:
Correspondence, minutes, financial records, reports, programs, clippings, pictures, pamphlets, and scrapbooks of an association incorporated in 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota, to supervise the observance of the arrival of the first group of Norwegian immigrants in America. The collection describes in detail the management of the celebration and gives data on observances in Chicago, Canada, Boston, and Brooklyn. Letters and essays reveal the loyalty of Norwegian Americans to their cultural heritage and the rivalry among area groups of Norwegians in America. The celebration was initiated by the bygdelags. The chief officials were Gisle Bothne, S. H. Holstad, J. A. Holvik, Elisa P. Farseth, and Mrs. Wm. O. Storlie. Correspondents include Juul Dieserud, Knut Gjerset, Hanna Astrup Larsen, and O. M. Norlie. The centennial received nationwide press coverage.Arrangement:
Section I: Correspondence
Section II: Minutes, records, and reports
Section III: Exhibition materials and memorabilia
Section IV: Clippings
Section V: Photographs, Posters, and FilmFunding:
Funding to digitize the Norse-American Centennial papers provided to the Norwegian-American Historical Association through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, a component of the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment, ratified by Minnesota voters in 2008. -
Certificates, 1829-1925, 1975
Emigration papers, a Norwegian-American Steamship Line passenger contract, marriage, death, baptism, and confirmation certificates, and a bounty land deed, in addition to various other legal documents. Chiefly 19th century with some early 20th century and a death certificate from 1975.
Contents:
Certificates: Emigration, Vaccination, Marriage, Confirmation, Steamship Contract, Bounty Land Deed. -
Samsahl deed, 1541
Open letter on sheepskin regarding property at Samsahl, Norway. Donated by Andrew Etnestad, via Mrs. G. J. Hoyme. Samsahl is in Ringsaker Parish. The other farm mentioned is Gjøta, in Østre Slidre. The donor presumably came from the Etnested farm in Biri, Oppland.
Contents:
Deed and Transcript : Samsahl, Norway -
Roald Amundsen papers, 1907-2013
Clippings, programs, and speeches concerning Norwegian-American reaction to Amundsen's explorations and death.
Contents- Photographs, 1922-1928
- 1922 photograph of Camilla Carpendale (12) and Kakonita (5), an Eskimo girl.
- Articles, circulars published before his death
- Publications related to his death
- Articles since 1928
- Clippings
- Photo clipping, "Amundsen Brings Arctic Children to Civilization" (Kakonita, age 8, and Camille, age 12)
- Poem by G. Melby
- Photographs, 1922-1928
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Anniversary pamphlets, 1900-1943
Abstract
Includes birth, death, ordination, and wedding pamphlets.
Contents- Includes pamphlets on Pastor Rasmus B. Andersen, Karl R. Andresen, Commercial Club Banquet Committee (1911), "Til Guldbrudeparret Guldseth," by Johannes Hoeifjeld, Ernest Johnson (wedding 1921), Andrew G. Lundblad (wedding 1900), Joseph G. Norby (1937), Johan Nygaardsvold (1942), Frederick Ingvald Schmidt (ordination 1943), Captain Otto Sverdrup (1910)
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Anundsen Publishing Company papers, circa 1872-1984
Abstract
Program for an 1899 banquet honoring B. Anundsen; obituaries of Anundsen; clippings about him and Decorah Posten; and special historical issues of the newspaper issued in 1923, 1924, 1934, and 1949.
Contents- Clippings, 1874-1984
- Includes: subscriber lists from various dates; photostats of microfiche 1874, 1877, 1880, 1882, 1913 (parts of Anundsen's obituary), Sept. 1918, Nov. 1921 (all are small portions, some water damaged, in Norwegian); article about the Norwegian author Jonas Lie, and his connections to the newspaper, Decorah Posten; clippings announcing the merger of the Decorah Posten with the Western Viking, Dec. 28, 1972 - photocopy in Norwegian.
- Booklets, publications, etc.
- Includes: Bound copy of Familie-Løsning Illustreret (Family Solution Illustrated), Nos. 2 March 1896, Nr. 4 October 1896; History of Decorah Posten 1867-1897, in English (includes photos of the offices and staff); pamphlet: "The Norwegians" published by the Decorah Posten December 1909. Includes photographs and stats of early Norwegian educational institutions; pamphlet: To-aars-budskab fra Staten Iowas Guvernör, Samuel Merrill, til den fjortende folkeforsamling, januar 1872.
- Correspondence.
- Includes letters written by Dr. Odd Lovoll to Erling Innvik, and Rasmus Dahle-Melsæther, dated 20 July 1975 related to his research on the Decorah Posten. Letter in response by Erling Innvik dated Feb 7, 1976 (in Norwegian).
- Artifact, dip pen desk set
- 444 Dip-less Fountain Well by Esterbrook that belonged to Jack Anundsen, publisher of the Decorah Posten.
- Clippings, 1874-1984
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Holter family history, 1862
A pamphlet concerning the emigration of Seraf Holter's grandparents Christoffer Olson Holter (1827-1866) and Anna Holter (1827-1922) from Nannestad, Norway, in 1862 and their first years in America. They came on "Nordlyset" to Quebec, and went on to Koshkonong, Wisconsin; later to Fillmore County, Minnesota, and finally to Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The pamphlet included information about Nannestad and Rundalen, Voss. Two sons became Lutheran clergymen and editors: C. C. Holter (Seraf Holter's father) and K. C. Holter, who founded the K. C. Holter Publishing Company in Minneapolis.