https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/catalog/files/original/672452c90d65f5ceaec422c81647d876.pdf bc02b562619c76e285bbdd7e66e7165f PDF Text Text Collection Name: Hermana Rye Haugan papers, 1910-1982 Collection Number: P0908 Extent: 2.2 cubic feet (5 archive boxes and 1 half archives box) Biography/History: Hermana Rye Haugan was a dedicated community leader and advocate for Norwegian-American causes in Chicago, particularly during the years leading up to and following World War II. She played a prominent role in organizing relief efforts for Norway during and after the war. One of her key contributions was serving as Secretary of the Chicago Working Center for Norway, a sewing and knitting initiative active from 1940 to 1945, which mobilized local Norwegian-American women in support of wartime aid. Hermana was married to Reidar Rye Haugan (1893–1972), who was born in Trondheim and emigrated to the United States around 1920. After working for newspapers in North Dakota, he moved to Chicago, where he joined the editorial staff of Skandinaven. Following the death of editor N. A. Grevstad in 1940, Reidar became editor-in-chief until the paper ceased publication in 1941. He then co-founded the Viking newspaper with John Lindrup, a publication that served the Norwegian-American community until it was succeeded by Vinland, under Bertram Jensenius, in 1958. For his contributions to journalism and the preservation of Norwegian heritage, Haugan was awarded the St. Olaf Medal by the King of Norway. Scope and Content: Papers of a Chicago woman, widow of the journalist and editor Reidar Rye Haugan. Mrs. Haugan was active in the Norwegian organizations in Chicago and was a leader in relief work for Norway during and after World War II. Haugan's papers reflect her deep engagement with Norwegian cultural and humanitarian efforts. They include correspondence from notable literary figures, such as a letter from Sigrid Undset regarding speaking engagements in Chicago for Norwegian Relief, and a letter from Johan Bojer to her husband, Reidar. The collection also includes materials for Reidar Rye Haugan. Existence and Location of Copies: Digital copies of the Hermana Rye Haugan papers are available through the Digital Collections of the Norwegian American Historical Association website: <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/collections/show/158">https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/collections/show/158</a>. Digitization was completed in 2024-2025. Funding: Funding to digitize the Camp Little Norway Association, Inc. papers was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Access Rights: This collection is open to research. Bibliographic Citation: [Indicate the cited item here]. Hermana Rye Haugan Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota. Processing Information: Finding aid revised by Kristina Warner in August 2025. Box Folder Description 1 1 Correspondence, 1969-1976 1 2 Gifts to the Norwegian Royal family, 1939, 1945 1 3 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+3%29">Camp Little Norway clippings, news releases, and photographs, </a> <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+3%29">1940-1945</a> 1 4 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+4%29">Knitting and sewing club for Camp Little Norway, 1942-1944</a> 1 5 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+5%29">Chicago Work Center official reports and photographs, circa </a> <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+5%29">1942-1944</a> 1 6 Chicago Work Center notes, 1942-1945 1 7 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+7%29">Chicago Work Center correspondence, 1942-1944</a> 1 8 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+8%29">Chicago Work Center correspondence, 1945-1947</a> 1 9 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+9%29">Sigrid Undset correspondence, 1940-1993</a> 1 10 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+10%29">Sigrid Undset, undated</a> 1 11 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+1%2C+Folder+11%29">Sigrid Undset scrapbook, 1941-1981</a> 2 1 Kongshaug, 1942 2 2 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+2%2C+Folder+2%29">Norwegian Seaman’s Christmas and Relief, Inc., 1942-1964</a> 2 3 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+2%2C+Folder+3%29">Norwegian Relief, 1940-1947</a> 2 4 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+2%2C+Folder+4%29">Women’s groups for Norwegian Relief clippings, 1942-1946</a> 2 5 Norwegian Women’s Club, 1950-1974 2 6 American Scandinavian Foundation, Chicago chapter, 1949 2 7 Lutheran Day Nursery, 1954-1973 2 8 Lutheran Day Nursery photographs, circa 1975 2 9 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+2%2C+Folder+9%29">Chicago Work Center knitting instructions, undated</a> 2 10 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+2%2C+Folder+10%29">Camp Little Norway of Chicago Club, 1941-1947</a> Includes photographs. 2 11 Camp Little Norway of Chicago pamphlet, 1941-1946 2 12 Winnifred Boyton, 1952-1961 2 13 Erik Bredrep correspondence, 1947-1955 2 14 Hedin Bronner, 1949-1982 2 15 Kirsten Flagstad, 1940-1968 2 16 Grimley Norway letter, 1946-1950 3 1 Sonja Henie, 1934-1968 3 2 Sverre Norborg, 1954-1974 3 3 Norwegian women, 1948-1967 3 4 Karl Ouren, 1940-1956 3 5 Fartein Valen, 1950-1954 3 6 Reider Haugan correspondence, 1930-1972 3 7 Reider Haugan addresses and essays, circa 1923 3 8 Reider Haugan articles, 1921-1925 Includes Norsk Knust in Chicago. 3 9 Reider Haugan biographical materials, 1906-1972 Includes photograph. 3 10 Reider Haugan and Johan Bojer correspondence, 1923-1948 3 11 Leif Eriksen scenarios, circa 1938 3 12 Christmas Story by Reider Haugan 3 13 Norge Venter play and music, 1944 3 14 Reider Haugan musical composition 3 15 Duluth Skandinav, 14 May 1937 3 16 Biographical and correspondence, 1910-1979 3 17 Biographical clippings, 1910-1979 4 1 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+4%2C+Folder+1%29">Photographs, 1910-1979</a> 4 2 Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs, 1953-1979 4 3 Proposed Norway House, 1965 4 4 Senior Citizens Clubs, 1953-1974 4 5 Tubfirm, Nesbyen, Norway, 1955-1974 4 6 Scrapbook, 1965-1977 4 7 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+4%2C+Folder+7%29">From Haakon VII and the Norwegian Government, 1946, 1947</a> 4 8 Correspondence, 1924-1977 4 9 Stories, undated 4 10 Ut Kast-Mykle manuscript, undated 5 1 Art clippings, 1950-1966 5 2 Festival Company of Norway, 1966 5 3 Kristiansund, 1923-1955 5 4 Monuments clippings, 1951-1969 5 5 Norway clippings, 1949-1961 5 6 Music clippings, 1933-1963 5 7 Norway, April 9, clippings, 1953-1965 5 8 Miscellaneous Norway clippings, 1949-1974 5 9 Norwegian writers, 1951-1965 5 10 Rennebu clippings, 1956 5 11 Biography on prominent Norwegians in Norway, 1933-1969 5 12 Scrapbook, 1954-1957 5 13 Stave Churches, 1965-1968 5 14 Tapestries clippings, 1950-1962 6 1 M.J. Meeg correspondence, 1923-1924 Father of Hermana. 6 2 Martha Meeg correspondence, 1922-1950 Mother of Hermana. 6 3 Meeg family correspondence, 1963-1964 6 4 Josephine Meeg correspondence, 1933-1937 Aunt of Hermana. 6 5 Frida Meeg Bredrup correspondence, 1922-1963 Sister of Hermana. 6 6 <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=70&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hermana+Rye+Haugan+Papers+%28Box+6%2C+Folder+6%29">Correspondence during World War II via the Red Cross, 1943-1945</a> Book Faith Builds A Chapel: The Story in Adventure in Craftsmanship by Winifred C. Boynton 1953, Reinhold Publishing Corporation About the stave church built in Door County, Wisconsin. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Finding aid to the Hermana Rye Haugan Papers Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Archival Collection Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context P0908 Title A name given to the resource Hermana Rye Haugan papers, 1893-1972 Description An account of the resource Biography/History: Hermana Rye Haugan was a dedicated community leader and advocate for Norwegian-American causes in Chicago, particularly during the years leading up to and following World War II. She played a prominent role in organizing relief efforts for Norway during and after the war. One of her key contributions was serving as Secretary of the Chicago Working Center for Norway, a sewing and knitting initiative active from 1940 to 1945, which mobilized local Norwegian-American women in support of wartime aid. Hermana was married to Reidar Rye Haugan (1893–1972), who was born in Trondheim and emigrated to the United States around 1920. After working for newspapers in North Dakota, he moved to Chicago, where he joined the editorial staff of Skandinaven. Following the death of editor N. A. Grevstad in 1940, Reidar became editor-in-chief until the paper ceased publication in 1941. He then co-founded the Viking newspaper with John Lindrup, a publication that served the Norwegian-American community until it was succeeded by Vinland, under Bertram Jensenius, in 1958. For his contributions to journalism and the preservation of Norwegian heritage, Haugan was awarded the St. Olaf Medal by the King of Norway. Scope and Content: Papers of a Chicago woman, widow of the journalist and editor Reidar Rye Haugan. Mrs. Haugan was active in the Norwegian organizations in Chicago and was a leader in relief work for Norway during and after World War II. Haugan's papers reflect her deep engagement with Norwegian cultural and humanitarian efforts. They include correspondence from notable literary figures, such as a letter from Sigrid Undset regarding speaking engagements in Chicago for Norwegian Relief, and a letter from Johan Bojer to her husband, Reidar. The collection also includes materials for Reidar Rye Haugan. Existence and Location of Copies: Digital copies of the Hermana Rye Haugan papers are available through the Digital Collections of the Norwegian American Historical Association website: <a href="https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/collections/show/158">https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/collections/show/158</a>. Digitization was completed in 2024-2025. Funding: Funding to digitize the Camp Little Norway Association, Inc. papers was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Processing Information: Finding aid revised by Kristina Warner in August 2025. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Haugan, Hermana Rye Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1893-1972 Subject The topic of the resource Bojer, Johan, 1872-1959 World War, 1939-1945 Camp Little Norway Club of Chicago Johansen, Inger Chicago Working Center for Norway Bredrep, Erik Henie, Sonja, 1912-1969 Boynton, Winifred C. (Winifred Case), 1887-1974 Kongshaug Norwegian Convalescent Home Norge Venter Lutheran Day Nursery and Kindergarten Ryggen, Hannah, 1894-1970 Skrøvseth, Kalla Schee, Klara Valen, Farten Undset, Sigrid, 1882-1949 Strømsted, Alf Jorgen Norwegian Seamen's Christmas & Relief Inc. Language A language of the resource English Norwegian Extent The size or duration of the resource. 2.2 cubic feet (5 archives boxes and 1 half archives box) Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Clippings Pamphlets Access Rights Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies. This collection is open to research. Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. [Indicate the cited item here]. Hermana Rye Haugan Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.