About Agderlag:

Agderlag is an organization of individuals with “roots” in the Agder region of Norway which is made up of the old fylke of Aust- and Vest-Agder including the Setesdal area. The lag originally organized at the State Fairgrounds on June 6. 1925 during the Norse-American Centennial. In 1926, they reported 188 members. 

Past presidents included: 
Rev. T. Tjornhom (1925-38)
Rev. Karl Stromme (1938-50)
Tom H.C. Gabrielson (1950-55)
Rev. Gabriel Gabrielsen (1955-1963)
Rev. John T. Wayne (1963-)

Past secretaries included: 
Wilhelm Pettersen (1925-27)
Reinert Tofteland (1927-31)
Thorvald Rudjord (1935-50)
Tilda Akersmyr Tofteland (1955-68)
Mrs. Toby Olson (1950-55, 1960-)

History of the Bygdelag: 

Papers of "bygd" societies and their Common Council ("Bygdelagenes Fellesraad"); clippings; constitutions; correspondence; minutes and financial records; pamphlets; pictures; programs; and reports; dealing with conventions; officers; special projects; and the Norse-American Centennial of 1925. The bygdelag; organized around the turn of the century; are societies based on regional origins in Norway. They were active in the Eidsvoll Centennial in 1914 and the Norse-American Centennial in 1925. While activity dropped off after the beginning of World War II; a revival began in the 1980s as a result of renewal of ethnic interest; and with emphasis on family history. Odd S. Lovoll's "A Folk Epic; The Bygdelag in America" (NAHA; 1975); which includes a. bibliography of lag publications.  

Papers of the various "bygdelag;" "social organizations of (Americans) from the same homeland district; usually rural" which began in 1899 with the organization of the Valdres Samband. About fifty other lag with national-wide appeal were formed; as well as many others which were more local. They held annual "stevner" (meetings) and many published periodicals; yearbooks; or monographs which often contained extensive genealogical materials. A decline came after World War II; with a revival in the 1970s particularly through renewed emphasis on genealogical research.   

A Council of Bygdelags (Bygdelagenes Faellesraad) coordinates activities of the groups. They were very active in the Eidsvoll centennial celebrations in 1914; and the Norse-American Centennial in 1925. Holdings for the various lag vary; but usually include clippings of newspaper articles about their meetings; correspondence; programs; and copies of their publications; duplicates of library holdings; in the periodical and book collections (monographs and annuals included in the latter). In some cases regional associations are included with the national groups; and in others separate groups which later merged are included under the merged name.