Ole Amundson Buslett papers, 1873-1925

Biography/History: 

Ole Amundsen Buslett (1855–1924) was a Norwegian-American author, editor, educator, and public servant whose work became influential within immigrant communities in the Upper Midwest. Born in Gausdal, Oppland, Norway, he emigrated to the United States with his family in 1868, settling first in Wisconsin. Buslett became a prominent voice among Norwegian Americans through his work as a newspaper editor, particularly with Folkevennen and Republikaneren, where he promoted civic engagement, education, and cultural preservation.

A gifted storyteller, Buslett wrote extensively, producing novels, poetry, historical sketches, and community histories. He authored a history of the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, Det Femtende Regiment Wisconsin Frivillige, published in 1894. An English translation, titled The Fifteenth Wisconsin, was released in 1999. Beyond his literary achievements, Buslett served as a teacher, justice of the peace, and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly (elected in 1898), where he represented his district as a Republican. 

Scope and Content:
Letters, notes, poems, manuscripts, reports, speeches, reviews, clippings, and a biographical miscellany of a Norwegian-born author, poet, journalist, legislator, and merchant in Northland, Wisconsin. The letters received by Buslett deal with local church problems, bilingualism in the church, criticism of current Norwegian-American literature, materialism among Norwegian Americans, the Wisconsin exhibit at Norway's Eidsvoll Centennial in 1914, and a State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. 

The letters by Buslett are to his wife and Waldemar Ager. Among the papers are a review of O. E. Rølvaag's "Paa Glemte Veie," a copy of Wergeland's "Talsmand" (Stevens Point, 1886), a roster of small towns in the United States with Scandinavian names arranged by states, articles on woman suffrage and socialism, reports from the Wisconsin Good Roads Committee of 1909, and a bibliography of Buslett's works. The collection contains letters from significant Norwegian-American authors and journalists of the day, among them R. B. Anderson, B. Anundsen, Julius Baumann, John Benson, Sigurd Folkestad, O. S. Hervin, H. R. Holand, P. P. Iverslie, Simon Johnson, Jon Norstog, Torkel Oftelie, O. E. Rølvaag, Peer Strømme, and Johs. B. Wist. "Ole Amundsen Buslett: Norwegian-American Author" is a 1978 University of Oslo thesis (cand. filol.) by Liv Smith, 1978. 

• Select photographs are available online here.