CATALOG UPDATES
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Browse Items (3004 total)
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Margaret Andersen journal, circa 1900
Journal of Margaret Andersen, kept during her time traveling with the Salvation Army. Journal mostly contains hymns written by hand in Norwegian, with some english text. -
S. Engelhart Sønnichsen papers, 1906-1945
Biography/History:
Sønke Engelhart Sønnichsen (1878-1961) was born in Oslo, Norway to S.P. and Mathea Sonichsen. Sønnichsen was educated in Norway and Germany who immigrated in 1902. He was an architectural draftsman in Chicago, Seattle, and Vancouver for various firms. In 1916, he opened his own office in Seattle. He formed a partnership with B. Marcus Priteca, theater architect, in Los Angeles in 1926, and was designer for engineering and transportation companies during World War II.His brother was Yngvar Sønnichsen, a Norwegian born, American artist known for his portraits, landscapes, and murals. In 1917, Sønke and Yngvar designed and decorated a Seattle lodge with oil canvas murals and painting. Today, it is now the Raisbeck Performance Hall at Cornish College of the Arts.
Scope and Content:
Papers of a Norwegian-born architect, consisting of professional documents, pictures, plans, correspondence, and clippings, dealing with his training and accomplishments. -
Marcus Thrane papers, 1817-1890
Material by and about the father of the labor movement in Norway, author, journalist, and satirist. Thrane emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1863. -
Aaker family papers, 1833-1958
Papers of Knud Saavesen Aaker (1797-1873) and his descendants: articles, correspondence, Civil War letters, notebooks, scrapbooks, albums, clippings, family histories, charts, and a diary. Includes letters from B.J. Muus, G. Hoyme, and Knute Finseth.
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Lars A. Rossing papers, 1866-1963
Correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, scrapbooks and account books, photographs, and "The Rossings and Their Store" of a Norwegian-born merchant at Argyle, Wisconsin, dealing with merchandising, church, local history, and family interests. The L. A. Rossing general merchandise store was founded in 1870. -
Norse-American Centennial papers, 1923-1927
Biography/History:
The centennial of organized Norwegian migration provided an opportunity for Norwegian-Americans to celebrate their heritage and, more importantly, to demonstrate their American-ness. The celebrations, held in many North American cities and culminating in a major festival at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in June 1925, showed how Norwegian-Americans had already contributed, as well as how well they fit in their new homes. The celebrations constituted a complex process of identity building and a tricky balancing of old culture and new.Advertised as “The World’s Largest Gathering for 1925,” promoters described the Twin Cities celebration as “stupendous” and “monumental.” Events over the four-day period included speeches by Norwegian, Canadian, Icelandic, and American dignitaries, including U.S. President Calvin Coolidge; religious services; musical performances; displays of handcrafts, fine arts, and natural resources; and sporting events. The high point with a lavish “Pageant of the Northmen.” With a cast of 1,500, the melodramatic account of a thousand years of Norwegian history featured stories of heroic settlement, noteworthy individuals, and triumphs in the "new" world.
The Norse-American Centennial was a historical moment that brought national attention to Minnesota’s Norwegian immigrant community. To rapt attendees this was a cultural celebration, but behind the scenes the event challenged Norwegian-American leaders, intellectuals, and the broader Norwegian-American community to reexamine their heritage and role as Americans. One year prior to the celebration, the Johnson-Reed Immigration Act of 1924 harshly defined insiders and outsiders. While northern Europeans fared relatively well under the new quota system, many Norwegian-Americans seized this moment as an opportunity to elevate their status and dispute negative stereotypes within the minds of their fellow Americans.
The celebration was initiated by the general council of the bygdelag — local history clubs for Norwegian immigrants and their descendants organized by region of origin. The materials generated by the Norse-American Centennial, an association incorporated in 1925 in St. Paul, are rich and varied. The collection describes in detail the management of the celebration and gives data on observances outside of Minnesota, including Chicago, Canada, Boston, and Brooklyn. Letters and essays reveal the loyalty of Norwegian Americans to their cultural heritage, the rivalry among groups of Norwegians in America, and their internal struggles of understanding ethnic identity.
Scope and Content:
Correspondence, minutes, financial records, reports, programs, clippings, pictures, pamphlets, and scrapbooks of an association incorporated in 1925 in St. Paul, Minnesota, to supervise the observance of the arrival of the first group of Norwegian immigrants in America. The collection describes in detail the management of the celebration and gives data on observances in Chicago, Canada, Boston, and Brooklyn. Letters and essays reveal the loyalty of Norwegian Americans to their cultural heritage and the rivalry among area groups of Norwegians in America. The celebration was initiated by the bygdelags. The chief officials were Gisle Bothne, S. H. Holstad, J. A. Holvik, Elisa P. Farseth, and Mrs. Wm. O. Storlie. Correspondents include Juul Dieserud, Knut Gjerset, Hanna Astrup Larsen, and O. M. Norlie. The centennial received nationwide press coverage.Arrangement:
Section I: Correspondence
Section II: Minutes, records, and reports
Section III: Exhibition materials and memorabilia
Section IV: Clippings
Section V: Photographs, Posters, and FilmFunding:
Funding to digitize the Norse-American Centennial papers provided to the Norwegian-American Historical Association through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, a component of the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy constitutional amendment, ratified by Minnesota voters in 2008. -
Norwegian Glee Club records, circa 1900-2015
The Norwegian Glee Club of Minneapolis, a member chorus of the Norwegian Singers of Association of America, was formed on August 7, 1912 by the Norwegian Good Templar Singing Society and the Hugnad Male Chorus. The Club's first director was Carl G.O. Hansen who served as director until 1944. Included in these records are journals, letters, rosters, audio recordings, pamphlets regarding the National Sangerfest and photographs and sheet music. -
The wonder of Williams: A history of Williams County, North Dakota
V. 1. History of Williams County, Athens Township, Bar Butte Township, Big Meadow Township, Big Stone Township, Blacktail Township Blue Ridge Township, Bonetraill Township, Brooklyn Township, Buford Township, Bull Butte Township, Champion Township, Climax Township, Cow Creek Township, Dublin Township, East Fork Township, Ellisville Township, Golden Valley Township, Good Luck Township, Grenora Township, Hardscrabble Township, Hazel Township, Hebron Township -- v. 2. Dry Fork Township, Equality Township, Farmvale Township, Hofflund Township, Judson Township, Lindal Township, Marshall Township, Missouri Ridge Township, Mont Township, Nesson Valley Township, New Home Township, Oliver Township, Orthell Township, Pherrin Township, Pleasant Valley Township, Rainbow Township, Rock Island Township, Round Prairie Township, Sauk Valley Township, Scorio Township, South Meadow Township, Springbrook Township, Stony Creek Township, Strandahl Township, Tioga Township, Trenton Township, Traux Township, Twelve Mile Township, Tyrone Township, Unorganized Township, View Township, West Bank Township, Wheelock Township, Williston Township, Winner Township. -
Richard Beck papers, 1927-1954, 1976
Abstract
Papers, 1927-1954, 1976. Correspondence, clippings, and pamphlets of an Icelandic-born professor of Scandinavian languages and literature at the University of North Dakota.
Contents
- Clippings and pamphlets
- Icelandic literature and government, Olav Haraldsson, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, and Johan Falkberget, K. Hamsun, Gunnar Gunnarsson, Anders Hovden.
- Includes Beck's poem, "Salute to Norway," which was read at a patriotic rally in Grand Forks, North Dakota (April 27, 1942) addressed by H.R.H. Crown Prince Olav…"
- Other published works: "Norway's Martyr-King and Saint" (n.d.); "The Icelandic Millennial Celebration" (n.d.); "Grimur Thomsen--A Pioneer Byron Student" (1928); "Gisli Brynjulfsson--An Icelandic Imitator of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" (1929);
- Book Reviews: Idealist and Cynic review of "Seven Days Darkness" by Gunnar Gunnarsson (1931);
- Translation of God and the Soul, by Einar H. Kvaran translated from Icelandic, published in the 1931 Spring Number of the Quarterly Journal of the University of North Dakota.
- "Iceland's Contribution to World Literature" reprint from the Quarterly Journal of the University of North Dakota, Spring and Summer 1932-1933.
- "Bjornstjerne Bjorson - Poet and Leader of Men" reprint from the Quarterly Journal of the University of North Dakota, 1932-1933.
- Grand Forks Herald, "Norwegians Honor Memory of Bjorstjerne Bjornson", December 4, 1932.
- Clipping from the Sons of Norway May 1933, "Professor Richard Beck, en trofast og vel rustet stridsmann for norskdommens sak." in Norwegian.
- Poem "Julekveld" published 22 Dec. 1933 in the Decorah Posten (photocopy).
- "The 17th of May and Norwegian Youth" clipping published in 1934, Grand Forks newspaper (in English).
- "Norway's Day of Days" clipping published May 1934 in Grand Forks Herald.
- "Knut Hamsun, Norwegian Author Still Great at 75 Years", clipping published in Grand Forks Herald July 29, 1934.
- "Our English Language Department", clipping published in the Sønner av Norge, January 1934 in English.
- "En Islænder leder det skandinaviske Arbeide ved Nord Dakota Univ." published 30 June 1935 in Skandinaven in Norwegian.
- "Forfatteren Johan Falkberget" clipping published July 16, 1934 in Norwegian.
- "Iceland's Poet Laureate", The Friend, November 1937 in English.
- "Nord Dakotas Statsuniversitet feirer 55 aars Jubileum", Grand Forks Skandinav, August 19, 1936, in Norwegian.
- "Vigeland og Snorre Sturlason", Grand Forks Skandinav December 23, 1938, in Norwegian.
- "Gunnar Gunnarsson, An Icelandic Master of the Novel", The Friend for December 1939, in English.
- "Johan Falkberget Fyller 60 Aar", Sønner av Norge, December 1939 in Norwegian.
- Correspondence from Dr. Rögnv. Petursson dated 13 December 1939 in Icelandic.
- "Iceland's Poet Laureate [Einar Benediktsson]", Grand Forks Scandinav December 29, 1939 in English.
- "Professor Richard Beck, Fra Fiskergutt til Professor og Doktor i Filosofi", Grand Forks Skandinav, June 7 1940 in Norwegian.
- "Dikterpresten Anders Hovden", Grand Forks Skandinav, December 20, 1940 in Norwegian.
- "Et amerikansk universitet som staar Norge nær..." clipping Normanden, October 28, 1943 in Norwegian.
- "Prominent Sons of Norway Man [T.H.H. Thoresen] with cover letter dated April 17, 1950.
- "Norwegian-American Historical Association Observes 25th Anniversary" published in the School of Education Record October 1950.
- Program, The University of North Dakota Convocation, November 29, 1951. Correspondence, to J. Jergen Thompson of St. Olaf College, dated December 13, 1951.
- Thank you letter.
- "Icelandic Americans" Member of the Month, The American-Scandinavian Foundation, April 1954, Vol III, No. 4.
- "The Lone Eagle", reprint of poem originally published in the Minneapolis Tribune, inspired by Charles Lindbergh's historic non-stop flight across the Atlantic, May 1927.
- "Lincoln in Marble", poem reprinted in the Minn. Posten, Sept. 9, 1976.
- Clippings and pamphlets
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Olaf (Olav) A. Bu papers, 1845-1924, 1987
Correspondence, clippings, and speeches. Most of the letters are by Bu and his wife to his parents in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, dealing with his student days in Christiania, their emigration in 1875, and life in Ostrander, Minnesota, where Bu was a Lutheran minister (1875-1908). The clippings contain reminiscences. The speeches deal with Norwegian heritage. An item on his son Hagbarth Bue (published 1922-1924) is included.
Content:- Olav A. Bu Correspondence.
- Olav A. Bu Papers: "Af vore indvandrers liv" Clippings. Clipping on Hagbarth Bu (his son) from the Minneapolis Tribune, 1987.
- Olav A. Bu Papers.