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NAHA to Commemorate Norse-American Bicentennial
To commemorate the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to North America, NAHA will host a seminar, together with its sister organization in Norway, and NORTANA (Norwegian Researchers and Teachers Association of North America). The seminar will be held on the St. Olaf College campus in June of 2025.
NAHA Supports Expanded Archive Facility
In 2014, NAHA launched a fundraising campaign to support climate-control for its archives. This led to the planning of a new shared facility with the St. Olaf Special Collections and Archives, which will provide both groups access to a state-of-the-art vault, classrooms, and exhibit spaces.
“Norwegian-American Studies” Relaunched with U of M Press
NAHA relaunched “Norwegian-American Studies” in partnership with University of Minnesota Press. Now available in print and digital format, the journal is focused on showcasing new scholarship in the field of Norwegian-American studies, including the related fields of history, literature, religion, art, and cultural studies.
NAHA, St. Olaf Partnership Reaffirmed
NAHA and St. Olaf reaffirmed their partnership and reorganized their structures, laying the groundwork for future cooperation and shared facilities.
Northern Migrations Tour
NAHA organized “Northern Migrations,” its first group tour to Norway. The group visited historic sites from Trondheim to Bodø, including the birthplace of O. E. Rølvaag on the island of Dønna. Following the tour, participants had the option of attending the triennial seminar of NAHA sister organization, NAHA-Norge.
King Olav V Chair Created
The King Olav V Chair in Scandinavian-American Studies was created at St. Olaf College through gifts from the Norwegian government and the Kenneth O. Bjork Endowment Fund. The holder of the chair encourages continued study of Scandinavian-American history and serves on the board of NAHA.
Lovoll’s “Promise of America” Published
NAHA Editor Odd S. Lovoll published “The Promise of America: A History of the Norwegian-American People,” and then in 1990, “The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today.” In these influential volumes, Lovoll reflected new understandings of the Norwegian-American experience that had evolved since Blegen’s earlier publications.
NAHA Celebrates 50th Anniversary
NAHA celebrated its 50th anniversary with a major address by Rudolph J. Vecoli, the long-time director of the Immigration History Research Center (IHRC) at the University of Minnesota. Vecoli believed that NAHA was well-positioned to highlight the benefits of cultural pluralism through its publications and archival holdings.
1970s: “New Ethnicity” Movement
During a time of cultural upheaval in America, the “New Ethnicity” movement took form in scholarly communities. This movement rejected the “melting pot” theory of American citizenship and instead celebrated individual cultural heritage. NAHA membership increased as more people became interested in Norwegian ethnic history.
Folkedahl Is First NAHA Curator
Beulah Folkedahl was appointed the association’s first curator. She used a detailed system to properly organize the manuscript collection, making it more accessible to researchers.