https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/catalog/files/original/0f74fe60633db697243c8fe7b6f778fc.pdf 1b4a3084c4588d24d77186a26e4cba95 PDF Text Text Collection Name: Laurits S. Swenson papers, 1895-2003 Collection Number: P1728 Extent: 2.0 cubic feet (2 record center cartons) Biography/History: Laurits Selmer Swenson (June 12, 1865–November 4, 1947) was an American diplomat whose career spanned more than three decades and included service as U.S. minister (ambassador) to Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands. Born in New Sweden, Minnesota, to Norwegian immigrant parents, Swenson was the son of Minnesota state legislator Swen Swenson. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Luther College in Iowa in 1886 and 1889, respectively, and went on to serve as principal of the Lutheran Academy in Albert Lea from 1888 to 1897. During this period, he also sat on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and pursued business interests as vice president of the Union State Bank and president of the Wiprud Land & Colonization Company, which promoted European immigration to Minnesota. Swenson entered the diplomatic service in 1897 as U.S. minister to Denmark, where he served until 1905 and helped negotiate the terms for the sale of the Danish West Indies, later the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was subsequently appointed minister to Switzerland (1909–1911) and Norway (1911–1913), returning to Norway again from 1921 to 1930, where he was especially well regarded, in part because of his Norwegian heritage. In 1925, Swenson represented the United States at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, accepting the award on behalf of Vice President Charles Gates Dawes. He concluded his diplomatic career as ambassador to the Netherlands from 1931 to 1934, after which he retired and settled in Norway near his daughter. Swenson died in Oslo on November 4, 1947. Scope and Content: An extensive collection consisting of correspondence, remarks and addresses, proclamations, and photographs. Access Rights: This collection is open to research. Bibliographic Citation: [Indicate the cited item here]. Laurits S. Swenson Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota. Box Folder Description 1 1 predominantly family history/pedigree 1 2-4 Correspondence, 1897-2003 Correspondents include: Minnesota Senators Knute Nelson, Henrik Shipstead, and Frank B. Kellogg, South Dakota Senator Peter Norbeck, Utah Senator Reed Smoot, Rev. J.A. Aasgaard, Supreme Court Justice Pierce Butler, Fridtjof Nansen, Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson, St. Olaf College Pres. Lars W. Boe, Roald Amundsen, Judge Andreas Ueland, Charles G. Dawes, Dr. Willaim F. Folwell, Carl G.O. Hansen, O.P.B. Jacobson, Luther College Pres. O.J.H. Preus, Ole E. Rolvaag, O.E. Brandt, William B. Tscharner, T. Gulbrandsen, J.A.O. Preus, Lee M. Willouts, A.M. Sundheim, Rev. T.A. Hoff, and C.L. Swenson 2 1 Correspondence, 1895-1967 Includes: Remarks of Leroy T. Vernon on the occasion of the laying of a wreath on the statue of Abraham Lincoln at Oslo, Norway, July 30, 1927; Address delivered at Dedication of Pioneer Memorial on occasion of Luther College diamond jubilee, Oct. 18. 1936; "A True Story from Hallingdal" (Swenson's early years). Correspondents include: Minn. Senator Knute Nelson, Oscar A. Swenson, Minn. Senator Henrik Shipstead, Rev. J.A. Aasgaard, William Morgenstierne, Minn. Gov. J.A.O Preus, Rev. T.A. Hoff, Frank B. Kellogg, Ambassador C. Ulrich Bay, O.J.H. Preus, Astrid Stave, Celina Mathiesen, Warren G. Harding, Judge A. Ueland, H.J. Carman, Columbia University (regarding treaty negotiations between the United States and Denmark in 1902), N.B. Hanson, Barnsville, Minn., Hans Gerhard Stub, Lars W. Boe, W.W. Folwell, Herbert Hoover, Utah Sen. Reed Smoot, and Fritjof Nansen. 2 2 Correspondence, 1921-1946 Includes: family history. Correspondents include: granddaughter Sissel Norgaard (Her May 27, 1943 letter writes in hope of securing additional WW II ration book points. Her letter dated Feb. 10, 1931, has an early Mickey Mouse letterhead), Simon Michelet, nephew Bernhard, Lars W. Boe, Carroll, Maren, and Mary Hinderlie 2 3 Correspondence (file folders), 1897-1976 Correspondence to: King Haakon (June 12, 1940; July 1, 1942; July 10, 1943; Jan. 15, 1944; July. 3, 1944; Nov. 20, 1944; June 4, 1945); Viola Nordgaard. Correspondence from: King Haakon (several telegrams from 1930-1945); family members (Swen Swenson, Lars Swenson, Oscar Swenson. Ole S. Swenson, C.S. Swenson, Sander Swenson, Minnie Swenson, Oscar Swenson, Sissel Nordgaard, Tim and Betty Nordgard, Erling Bekkestad, Jan, Tenvig, Sissel Tenvig, C. Hambro Additional letters written to Viola Nordgaard from Sigurd Reinton and Frida Nilsen. Miscellaneous files include: Telegram from actor Douglas Fairbanks (1924); Swenson family history notes; letter to Luther College Alumni; newspaper clippings (Oslo Aftenposten) and other misc. clippings. 2 4 Photographs, 1910-1920 Two framed formal portraits of Laurits S. Swenson, ca. 1910-1920s. Folio Proclamation signed documents, 1921-1931 Pres. Warren G. Harding appointed Laurits S. Swenson Ambassador to Norway (1921) and Pres. Herbert Hoover appointed Laurits S. Swenson Ambassador to the Netherlands (1931). 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 Laurits S. Swenson 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/. Title A name given to the resource Laurits S. Swenson papers, 1895-2003 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context P1728 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1895-2003 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Swenson, Laurits S. Description An account of the resource Biography/History: Laurits Selmer Swenson (June 12, 1865–November 4, 1947) was an American diplomat whose career spanned more than three decades and included service as U.S. minister (ambassador) to Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, and the Netherlands. Born in New Sweden, Minnesota, to Norwegian immigrant parents, Swenson was the son of Minnesota state legislator Swen Swenson. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Luther College in Iowa in 1886 and 1889, respectively, and went on to serve as principal of the Lutheran Academy in Albert Lea from 1888 to 1897. During this period, he also sat on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and pursued business interests as vice president of the Union State Bank and president of the Wiprud Land & Colonization Company, which promoted European immigration to Minnesota. Swenson entered the diplomatic service in 1897 as U.S. minister to Denmark, where he served until 1905 and helped negotiate the terms for the sale of the Danish West Indies, later the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was subsequently appointed minister to Switzerland (1909–1911) and Norway (1911–1913), returning to Norway again from 1921 to 1930, where he was especially well regarded, in part because of his Norwegian heritage. In 1925, Swenson represented the United States at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, accepting the award on behalf of Vice President Charles Gates Dawes. He concluded his diplomatic career as ambassador to the Netherlands from 1931 to 1934, after which he retired and settled in Norway near his daughter. Swenson died in Oslo on November 4, 1947. Scope and Content: An extensive collection consisting of correspondence, remarks and addresses, proclamations, and photographs. Location: 14/B/4, 68/A/2 Extent The size or duration of the resource. 2.0 cubic feet (2 record center cartons) Language A language of the resource English Norwegian Subject The topic of the resource Swenson, Laurits Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Photographs 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]. Laurits S. Swenson Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.