Browse Items (3064 total)

• Ole C. Christopher history, 1970-1975

  "The Norse-American Adventure." Xeroxed copy of a 419 page typescript compiled by the author who described himself as a traveler and lecturer. His stated purpose is "to bring to the front the accomplishments of our leading personalities in the many and various fields of endeavors." A two page index at the beginning notes the fields he has covered. The information includes many well-known as well as lesser-known personages, but is rather general. Two notebooks compiled by Christopher of notable Norwegians who lived in the United States and brief biographies/contributions they made to American life, are also in the file. Also includes a ledger book with clippings about various newspaper articles, both American and Norwegian, starting approximately in 1916 - 1920.
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  Clarence A. Clausen papers, circa 1924-circa 1975

  Articles and a genealogical chart concerning Clausen himself and his ancestry in Drangedal, Telemark. Clausen, a professor of history, wrote, translated, and edited extensively for NAHA.
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  Claus Lauritz Clausen papers, 1841-1988

  Biography/History: 
  Claus Lauritz Clausen (1820–1892) was a pioneering Norwegian-American Lutheran pastor whose leadership helped shape the early religious and cultural life of Norwegian immigrant communities in the Upper Midwest. Born in Skjold, Norway, he immigrated to the United States in 1843 and soon became one of the first ordained Norwegian Lutheran ministers in the country.

  Clausen served congregations across Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, founding several churches and emerging as a central figure in organizing early Norwegian Lutheran synods, including key work with what later became the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He was also instrumental in establishing educational and cultural institutions that supported immigrant identity and religious life, among them early efforts that contributed to the founding of Luther College.

  Beyond his pastoral work, Clausen was a publisher and editor, helping launch the influential Norwegian-language newspaper Maanedstidende, which provided news, religious writings, and community connection to scattered settlers. During the U.S. Civil War, he served as chaplain to the Scandinavian Regiment, the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, ministering to soldiers in battle and hospital camps.

  Scope and Content: 
  Papers of and materials about the Danish-born clergyman, the second pastor ordained to serve Norwegian-Americans. Includes his emigration diary, letters, ministerial record books, photographs, clippings, and articles.

  
  
  Location: 
  1/A/3
• Signe M. Clausen Marton family history, 1890-2008

  Clausen emigrated from Norway in1923, and settled in Illinois. Her brother, Morton, served as Editor andPublisher for the Hamilton Press in Hamilton, Illinois. In 1971, Clausenvisited Norway (transcribed letters included) for the first time in 48 years. Scanned photographs saved to CD and printed.
  
  Includes:
  

  • 40+ letters exchanged with family members in Norway (1971-1984).
  • (Alden W. Clausen, President of Bank of America).
  • postcards: Somers, Montana; boat excursion at FlatheadLake, Montana; winter logging with sled; exterior and interior postcards ofNorwegian Lutheran Church, Somers, Montana.
  • postcards: GreatNorthern Railroad over Flathead River at Coram, Montana; Christmas;Thanksgiving; Hudson River from West Point Battery; Boating by Moonlighton the Missouri River near Great Falls, Montana; Mauritania Cunard Liner;romantic; Statue of Liberty; winter scenery; Daughters and Sons of NorwayHall, Seattle, Washington; Rapid City, South Dakota American Legion paradeheld in Omaha, Nebraska (Bison pulling float); real photos of familymembers: man standing with fishing pole and 22 fish.
  • A Journey to a Beloved Country (2015, Received electronically and subsequently printed).
  • Excerpted letters written during the summer of 1971 while revisitingNorway for the first time since emigrating in 1923 from Bo, Nordland, Norway.
• Harry T. Cleven translation, 1995

  The Fifteenth Wisconsin, an English version of Kristofer Janson's Femtende Wisconsin, a novel published in Copenhagen in 1887. Cleven served as minister of the American Lutheran Church in Oslo for many years.
• Oral History

  Cindy Clock interview, 1995 September 20

  In this series of interviews by Odd Lovoll for his books “The Promise of America: History of the Norwegian-American People” and “The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today." Celeste Holm was an American stage, film and television actress. Holm won an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan's Gentleman's Agreement, and was nominated for her roles in Come to the Stable and All About Eve Unprocessed This item is currently restricted.
• Belle Gunness biography, 1933

  A pamphlet published by La Porte County, Indiana, Historical Society; an article by Robert F. Coffeen; and a reproduced copy of the dust jacket of a book about a notorious immigrant from Selbu, who came to Chicago in the 1890s. Belle Gunness is believed to have been a serial killer. There is a mystery about what finally happened to her.
  
  For additional information, see Mrs. Gunness: nutidens største forbryder kvinde, by Lars Stenholt, Minneapolis, 1908, in the NAHA book collection.
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  Theodora Cormontan papers, 1863-2013

  Biography/History: 
  Theodora Cormontan (June 9, 1840–October 26, 1922) was a Norwegian-American singer, pianist, church musician, composer, and music publisher, recognized as one of the first Norwegian women to have her classical compositions widely published and performed, and among the earliest women to establish a music publishing business in Norway. Born in Beitstad, Norway, to a Lutheran pastor, she grew up in Arendal, where she began her musical training before continuing her studies in Copenhagen. After an early career as a soprano and pianist, including a successful Norwegian concert tour in 1869. She returned to Arendal, where she composed extensively for piano and voice, performed widely, and founded a music lending library. From 1879 to 1886, she operated her own publishing house, notable for promoting the works of women composers and for distributing music throughout Scandinavia and beyond.

  Economic hardship following a bank failure and a devastating fire forced Cormontan to sell her business and emigrate to the United States in 1887. Settling in Minnesota, she continued her musical career as a pianist, organist, teacher, choir director, and composer, despite a serious train accident that ended her singing career. Active in Norwegian-American church life, she composed hymns and other works that remained popular despite ecclesiastical controversy, including her best-known hymn, “Høgt frå den himmelske klåra,” which endures in Norwegian hymnals today. After years of declining family fortunes, she spent her final years in a Norwegian Lutheran home in Decorah, Iowa. Following her death, her music largely disappeared from public view until the rediscovery of her manuscripts in 2011, leading to renewed performances, recordings, and recognition of her lasting contribution to Norwegian and Norwegian-American musical culture.

  Scope and Content: 
  This collection contains several original pieces of sheet music as well as published material, photographs, biographic information, and a significant amount of digital material.

• Iets Besonders!, 2000

  Book "Iets Besonders!" by Karen J. Costello. 
  
  An account, told through contemporary letters, journal entries, genealogical charts, and portraits, of how the author's great-uncle emigrated to South Africa from Norway, and of two recent visits the author has made to her South African relatives. The author is the granddaughter of a member of the Birkeland family who emigrated to Minnesota from Norway.
• Ruth Crane family papers, circa 1980

  Collection of information on the Ole and Kristi Tillotson family. Includes "Ole T. Rong/Ole R. Tillerson, Marta H. Nyre, and Christie E. Sleen: Their ancestors in Norway and descendants in America," compiled by Ruth Hanold Crane.