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Browse Items (3004 total)
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Temperance Movement papers, 1841-1962
Articles, reports, songs, stories, and pamphlets concerning the temperance movement among Norwegian Americans. There are reports from organizations in Alberta, Canada, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and articles by Waldemar Ager, Adolf Bredesen, Carl E. Carlson, Theodor H. Dahl, Knut Gjerset, Paul M. Glasoe, and Gjermund Hoyme.
View select digitized material online here. -
John Storseth papers, 1929-1944
Manuscripts of a Norwegian-born farmer, lumberman, and self-taught student of literature and religion: "Old Homes and New" and its Norwegian counterpart, "Fra gammel og ny tid i Norge og Amerika," is an autobiography, depicting the problems of adjustments between Norwegian and American cultures; "The Ancients" and "The Mysteries of Space," are sketches on science and astrology; "Djævelskab" is an assortment of sketches. Excerpts from the autobiography were published in "Studies and Records," volume 13, 1943. NB: See Storseth's "Stemninger og minner" in Trønderlagets aarbok 1940-41," pp. 7-20. -
Jacob Stefferud papers, 1916-1964
Articles, brochures, clippings, correspondence, reports, and scrapbooks of a Norwegian-born Minneapolis resident. Stefferud was chief clerk for the Norwegian America Line in their New York and Minneapolis offices, acting consul for Norway, and a commissioner for Nordmanns-Forbundet. -
Sons of Norway and Daughters of Norway papers, 1907-2014
History/Biography:
Sons of Norway/Sønner av Norge was founded by 18 members on January 16, 1895, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to promote and preserve the heritage and culture of Norway and to provide life insurance to its members. Membership was originally open to males of Norwegian descent between the ages of 20 and 50 who were capable of giving proof of being morally upright, in good health, and capable of supporting a family. A second lodge was established in South Minneapolis in 1899 and a third was founded in the northeastern section of the city in 1900. The Minneapolis model quickly spread. By the end of 1900, lodges had been established in cities and towns with substantial Norwegian-American populations across the United States.
The organization published a monthly magazine, Sønner av Norge (Sons of Norway), which kept members updated on activities of the group.
In December 1938, the Sons of Norway absorbed the American auxiliary of The Knights of the White Cross Order (Riddere av Det Hvite Kors) which had been founded in Chicago in 1863. Women were admitted to local groups as early as 1916, in areas where the female auxiliary was unorganized. Daughters of Norway lodges in the Midwest were merged with the Sons of Norway in 1950 and a system of junior lodges was created in 1956. The Grand Lodge of the Daughters of Norway, which dates to 1908, continues as a separate association.
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Carl K. Solberg papers, 1886-1951
Correspondence, articles, diaries (10 boxes), poems, pamphlets, scrapbooks, photograph albums, and notebooks of a Lutheran clergyman, poet, author, and lecturer. The diaries cover most of the period between 1892 and 1945, including Solberg's student career at St. Olaf College and United Lutheran Church Seminary. Among the articles are such titles as "The Restoration of Israel," "Do We Need a Chair in English Bible in Our Seminary?" "Spiritualism," "Our Greatest Enemy" (temperance), and "A Scene from College Life" (St. Olaf College). Solberg was parish minister in South Dakota, Chicago, and Minneapolis. Among his books are "A Brief History of the Zion Society for Israel" (1928), "Scriptural Evangelism" (1935), "In Quiet Moments", and "Sacred Verse" (1940).
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A.O. Serum papers, 1871-1927
Correspondence, reports, speeches, articles, clippings, and account books of a Norwegian-born farmer at Halstad, Minnesota. The papers include school district reports; articles and letters treating the early days in the Red River Valley; correspondence with Fuller and Johnson, farm machinery company, Madison, Wisconsin; and personnel at Augsburg and Augustana (Marshall, Wisconsin) seminaries. The clippings include items on synod controversies and letters from World War I servicemen. Serum held state and church offices, spoke on crop production, suffrage, monopoly, cooperatives, and local history, was the first teacher in his district, the first president of the Selbulag, and the author of "Nybyggerliv i Red Riverdalen" in "Selbygbogen." -
Friedrich August Schmidt papers, 1848-1926
History/Biography:
Reverend Fredrich August Schmidt was born on January 3, 1837 in Thüringen, Germany. He graduated in 1853 from Concordia College. Four years later he finished seminary work at Concordia and became minister to a German congregation in Eden, NJ. In 1861, Schmidt became associated with the Norwegian church when he started teaching at Halfway Creek, near La Crosse. The next year, the school renamed itself Luther College and moved to Decorah, Iowa. Schmidt was an instructor at Luther College until 1872. After his stint at Luther College, he took a professorship in Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, which was then supported by the Norwegian synod. Rev. Schmidt headed the faction that left the synod in 1886 and organized "The anti-Missourian Brotherhood." In that year he also became theological instructor at St. Olaf's college, Northfield, Minnesota, for this faction.Scope and Content:
Correspondence, clippings, and articles, written in English, German, Latin, and Norwegian. Among the subjects discussed are doctrines concerning absolution, assurance, conversion, and election; position and participation of the laity in doctrinal disputes and clerical leadership in such controversies; Augsburg College and St. Olaf College; and the union movement that led to the 1917 merger. There are only two letters by Schmidt. Among the correspondents are M. O. Bøckman, C. L. Clausen (February 2, 1863), N. J. Ellestad, O. J. Hatlestad, P. P. Iverslie (December 27, 1883), Kristofer Janson (March 31, 1891), J. N. Kildahl, U. V. Koren, Laur. Larsen, A. Mikkelsen, Th. N. Mohn, B. J. Muus, J. A. Ottesen, H. A. Preus, P. A. Rasmussen, Halvard Roalquam, and H. A. Stub. -
Ola Johann Saervold papers, 1840-1941
History/Biography:
Ola Johann Saervold was a sailor on the Great Lakes (1886-1889); a student at Luther College (1889-1895); a correspondent for "Inter-Ocean" (Chicago) (1895-1898); a lecturer and newspaper correspondent who described his travels in Norway (1899-1910); a farmer on the ancestral farm in Strandvik, Midthordland, Norway, which he equipped and operated according to American standards (1910-1918); a traveler and correspondent for "Skandinaven" (1921-1925). He was the author of four books: "Erling" (1898), "Det store stevne i Camrose, Canada" (1926), "Reisebreve," 3 volumes (1926), and "The Discovery of America" (1931).
Abstract:
Biographical miscellany, correspondence, articles, clippings, account books of a Norwegian-born, American-educated, Minneapolis resident, world traveler and lecturer, journalist and linguist, farmer and sailor. His papers contain transcripts of legal documents dealing with the history of the Saervold farm; his Luther College report cards; a recipe book (manuscript) from the Lutheran Ladies' Seminary (Red Wing, Minnesota); a domestic science course (1908-1909); and manuscripts titled "Prestehjemmenes plads i vort folkeliv," "Kirken og det norske sprog i Amerika," and "What Is the Matter with Minnesota and Why" (a study of taxation). Correspondents include B. E. Bergeson, L. W. Boe, Juul Dieserud, Einar Hoidale, Peter Norbeck, and Henrik Shipstead.
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Nils N. Rønning papers, 1903-1955
Letters, clippings, articles, pamphlets, reviews, correspondence, and notes of a Norwegian-born journalist and author. Includes reviews of Rønning's books, notes on Hans Nielsen Hauge and Elling Eielsen, and historical sketches of the Homme Home for Boys, Wittenberg, Wisconsin. The reports and articles include materials on fiddlers, sketches of Torkel Oftelie and Th. N. Mohn, and a statement of the value of bilingualism to the Norwegian American by Anna Thykesen. Rønning was editor of "Ungdommens Ven," "Familiens Magasin," "The Friend," and "Telesoga." Correspondents include Richard Beck, Theodore C. Blegen, J. A. Holvik, Hanna Astrup Larsen, K. O. Lundeberg, O. M. Norlie, D. G. Ristad, and Mrs. O. E. Rolvaag. -
Halvard Roalquam (Roalkvam) papers, 1848-1935
Papers of a Norwegian-born clergyman and educator: letters, reports, lectures, diary, account books, a 74-page typescript autobiography, a scrapbook of material dealing with church controversies, addresses given at St. Olaf College on Founder's Day (1905, 1906), and letters regarding synodical activities. Most of the letters by Roalquam are to his wife. Roalquam was a teacher at Luther College (1878-1886), and principal at Grand Forks College (1891-1893).