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Brandt-Galby family records, 1874-2000

Title
Brandt-Galby family records, 1874-2000
Identifier
P1575
Date
1874-2000
Creator
Galby, Mathilde
Description
Mathilde Brandt was born in Winneshiek County, Iowa, and married R.O. Brandt 1883. They served five parishes in Deuel County, South Dakota (Deer Creek, Highland, St. Johannes, Leganger, Wood Lake) until 1900 when they moved to McFarland, Wis. Where her husband served until his death in 1927. Mathilde Brandt also wrote "Parsonage life on the Dakota prairie 45 years ago" in Widening the frontier, ed. by J.C.K. Preus, Augsburg, 1929.

Manuscript "Reminiscense of Seventeen Years in the West as Pastor's Wife" written by Mathilde Galby in January 1929 while at the Spring Prairie parsonage in Wisconsin. The manuscripts social aspects of prairie pioneering. Included are the printed copy and the original draft manuscript.

The collection also includes:
  • "Various anecdotes";
  • "Some incidents of the winter of 1880-81" as told by Mrs. Lou Norman, Brandt, S.D.;
  • "Brandt Bugle," newspaper published 1900 by the Brandt children;
  • family history data and descendancy chart from Otto Ottesen, 1743-1819; accounts of her father and mother (Johan Thorn Galby, 1830-1870;
  • Margaret Aaker, 1837-1825).; 
  • Account of the last illness of her son, Olaf Brandt (1887-1908)
  • Brandt and Galby family letters (200+, 1874-1916), Brandt family histories and correspondence (Josie Galby letters (100+, 1874-1905), and published church histories. Of particular interest are courting letters between Realf Brandt and “Lettie” Galby (married Sept. 1883). Realf Brandt, son of Nils and Diderikke Brandt; Lettie Galby's notes on her trip to the Minnesota State Fair, Sept. 5, 1882; musical recial of Louise M. Bever, May 31, 1883; Luther College Cornet Band concert, April 15, ca. 1883; letter from Lina Koren, 1883; Collection Compiled and partly transcribed by Lois Edel Brandt Drews. Donated by Michael Drews on behalf of his mother, Lois. Added 10/3/2012: Decorah Posten newspaper, Friday, September 5, 1924, article "Pastor R.O. Brandt's Ungdomsminder fra Decorah (Childhood memories from Decorah)".
Location: 13/A/6, 68/A/2
Extent
1,4 cubic feet (3 archives boxes and 1 half archives box)
Type
Typescripts
Correspondence

Collection

Archival Collection

Citation

Galby, Mathilde, “Brandt-Galby family records, 1874-2000,” Norwegian American Historical Association, accessed October 17, 2026, https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/catalog/items/show/10861.