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Lars Fletre papers, 1847-2011
- Title
- Lars Fletre papers, 1847-2011
- Identifier
- P1108
- Date
- 1847-2011
- Creator
- Fletre, Lars
- Description
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.- Extent
- 6.0 cubic feet (13 archives boxes and 1 flat box)
- Language
- English
- Norwegian
- Subject
- Brockman, B. D.
- Duve, Arne
- Dybwad-Brochman, B.
- Harris, Sydney J.
- Møller, Axel I. B.
- Rohde, H. W.
- Ullestad, Øyvind
- Smedsrud, Halvor
- Ullestad, Einar
- Jørnevik, Alv
- Type
- Manuscripts
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Clippings
- Access Rights
- This collection is open to research.
- Bibliographic Citation
- [Indicate the cited item here]. Lars Fletre Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.