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Browse Items (3004 total)
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Erik Sinding-Larsen thesis, 1980-1987
Language Retention among Norwegian-Americans, a paper presented to the Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, dealing with the effects of selected demographic variables in language retention. -
Ole Ressert pamphlet, 1948-1980
A Bjørnson Album, from the Writings of Ole Resset tells of the writer's association with the poet, Bjørstjerne Bjørnson, in whose employ he began as a stable-boy but later became cook and valet. Resset settled in Rothsay, Minnesota in 1905. He began the reminiscences collected in this pamphlet in 1936. The translation from Norwegian is by Olga Resset Kjell, a daughter. -
Oscar John Olson papers, 1980
A biographical sketch of and musical compositions by a Norwegian-American dentist, artist, composer and hymn writer in Chicago, who exhibited paintings at the Chicago Norwegian Club and who published music for his own hymns.
Includes hymns "Communion," "I See Him," "23rd Psalm," and "Spring." -
Harald Olson biography, undated
Reminiscences (10 pages, manuscript) concerning the life of an emigrant from South Aurdal, who came to Litchfield, Minnesota, in 1876, and later settled on a homestead in Swift County, near Benson, Minnesota. -
Aslak Olsen Lie papers, 1980-2003
A Norwegian American Cabinet Maker in Wisconsin, 1848-1886, a paper by Jack Holzhueter presented at a meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians held in Madison, Wisconsin. The paper describes the work of an 1848 immigrant from Valdres, Norway. Olson was also a carpenter, blacksmith, and designer. See article, "the Aslak Olson Lie House: a first phase of restoration," by Paul Scheffel, in "Budstikken," May 2004, pp. 7-9, reference is made ot an article in the December 2003 "Budstikken," and to a photograph (ca. 1875) by Andreas L. Dahl of the house and famiy. -
Barbara Levorsen reminiscences, 1974
An unpublished manuscript of 338 pages titled "The Quiet Conquest," written by a native of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, describing frontier life in central North Dakota as she remembered it fifty years later. Much is based on stories she heard. Two chapters in this manuscript were published in "Norwegian-American Studies" : "Early Years in Dakota," volume 21; and "Our Bread and Meat," volume 22.
Includes obituary notice and tributes to Sven (Samuel) Gundersen Mogen, the father of Mrs. Knatvold. S.G. Mogen wrote extensively for the Norwegian newspapers and for "Numedalslaget Aarbog," a few clippings are included here. -
Camilla Mogen Knatvod reminiscences, 1913-1975
Reminiscence about members of her family who came from Norway and settled in Wisconsin and later in Lake Preston, South Dakota, four pages typescript. Some genealogical charts for the Mogan, Oien, and Reitan families are included, as are obituary notices for and tributes to S. G. Mogen, the father of Ms. Knatvold. For a scrapbook containing articles by him, see Chicago Norwegian National League Papers, P 277, box 3.
Includes obituary notice and tributes to Sven (Samuel) Gundersen Mogen, the father of Mrs. Knatvold. S.G. Mogen wrote extensively for the Norwegian newspapers and for "Numedalslaget Aarbog," a few clippings are included here. -
Lars Fletre papers, 1847-2011
Biography/History:
Lars Olavson Fletre, born in Voss, Norway on June 22, 1904, was the third youngest of nine children born to Olaf Oddson Fletre and Kristine Olsdatter Kvårmo. The Fletre home was filled with creativity: Odd was a painter and architect, Olav and Anders played Hardanger fiddle, Inger played langeleik, and Lars was fascinated with drawing. After taking evening courses at Voss Technical College, Lars immigrated to Chicago in 1923 with his brother, Odd, who originally emigrated in 1912. From 1925 to 1931, Lars attended the Chicago Art Institute and had his debut exhibit in “The 43 Annual Exhibition of American Paintings and Sculpture” at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1931. Before returning to Norway in 1933, Lars exhibited in numerous galleries in Chicago and Brooklyn.When Lars returned to Norway, he married Helen Svensson, whom he first met while in Chicago when she was on a trip in 1932. From 1932-1954, they lived in Norway. Lars worked as a designer, engraver, and decorator for the Hadeland Glassverk factory in Jevnaker from 1941 to 1950. In 1950, he started Vossevangen Stonecarving and made several big monuments. During World War II Lars and Helen lived in Norway with their three children: Anita, Oddgier, and Valborg. Helen and Lars lived in Jevnaker where she founded a chapter of Foreldrelaget and taught private English, German, and French lessons.
After the Fletre family returned to Chicago in 1954, Helen and Lars were active in many clubs, including DeLiSa (Det Litteraere Samfund), Chicago Norske Klub, American Scandinavian Foundation, and others. In 1962 Lars founded the Vossing Art Studio on Diversy Parkway within walking distance from the family home. In this studio, Lars worked alone to create his various sculptures. At the Vossign Art Studio, Lars sculpted two versions of Jesus Healing the Sick: One for the Mountain Chapel in Mjølfjell and the other for the Norwegian Lutheran Hospital in Chicago. After being admitted to that hospital years later, he discovered the sculpture was not on display in the chapel room as originally anticipated. Today, the sculpture is located at the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa.
Scope and Content:
The Lars Fletre collection contains correspondence, clippings, notes, records, manuscripts, and other documents of a Norwegian-born sculptor and woodcarver. The letters between Lars and Helen, written in English, span from 1932 to 1934 and document the time from when they met in Chicago until their marriage. The correspondence covers their mutual interest in art, literature, poetry, and politics; how they dealt with the difficult times of the depression; and their optimistic hopes for the future. -
Thomas L. Hanson papers, 1866-1952
Thomas Hanson was a son of Østen Hanson (1836-1898. Emigrated from Sauherad, Telemark) who was the president of the Hauge Synod from1875-76 & 1887 to 1903, and who edited that synod's organ, "Budberen," from 1868 to 1876. He served a parish at Asplund, Goodhue County, Minnesota, from 1861 until his death. The family records include documents related to his father; to his mother, Anne Haaven Hanson (1844-1936); to a sister, Elise; and to himself and his children, such as diaries kept by Mrs. ten Hanson (1900-1911) and by Ernest Hansen, a journal by Henry Fremont Hanson, sermons and biographical notes by Thomas, and official papers related to emigration, citizenship, and real estate. -
Olof Meyer Jorgenson papers, 1903-1980
Miscellaneous papers of a 1903 emigrant from Fiskenes on the island of And. He became a member of the Baptist Church in Norway. After study at the Danish-Norwegian Baptist Seminary in Chicago, he was ordained in 1911 and served parishes of the Danish-Norwegian Conference in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington. The file includes a biography by Mrs. Jorgenson; a sizable collection of letters by Jorgenson to his family in Norway and his family's letters to him; a seminary thesis; obituaries and other funeral notes; sermons and sermon outlines; and church related documents such as minutes, congregational papers, anniversary programs, church histories, and tributes. Portions of Jorgenson's letters, particularly those to a brother Hans at And, provide frank commentary about American economic, political, social, and moral life. He experienced two World Wars, the depression of the 1930s, droughts, dust storms, prohibition and its later repeal, and Roosevelt's New Deal.