Text

Letter from Ole Rølvaag to Jennie Rølvaag, 1929 February 9

Dublin Core

Title
Letter from Ole Rølvaag to Jennie Rølvaag, 1929 February 9
Identifier
p0584_11718
p0584_11719
p0584_11720
Date
1929 February 9
Description

Transcription: 

Dear Jennie: 

Well now I am about through in Chicago for this time. It has been same busy dogs but also same very interesting ones – in the [word word] it will pay me well. Last night at the dinner part Mrs. Hohner, I met the Literary Editor of The Chicago Daily News, and also the Lit. Ed. of The Chicago Journal of Commerce. Both papers gave Peder very high praise and because I met them now they will have more to say later. 

All day yesterday I autographed books for Marshall Field, and this afternoon I have promised to give a short talk about Sigrid Undset. I do that because Mrs. Hohner is doing so much for me and Giants and Peder. These large bookstores, more than the reviewer, can make or break an author. It all depends how ? they are. Which I imagine isn’t so easy, all the ? are after them, meaning to win their favor. 

Seemingly I have stood the ? all right. The night at the University was hard on me. The St. Olaf Banquet too, was rather difficult. On both occasions, the heart was acting up, and no real attack. 

I am leaving this afternoon at 5:30, and will reach N.Y. tomorrow night at the same time. Have wired Saxton, and told him that I can stay until Thursday afternoon. Hence I will be home either Saturday morning of Sunday morning. Have also read Clarence words that I caused by his place ? this trip. He is coming to Chicago for the St. Olaf Choic Concert Monday night – too bad that I will miss him!

I will be staying at the Hotel White in New York. You will not reach me with mail there either if it is sent from Northfield Monday evening before 6 o’clock. But if there should be anything of importance you better telegraph. 

I am sending Irene Ellingson a few words today, inviting her to come see me. You may tell “Ma & Pa.”

Sincerest love to you all, 

Ole

Jennie Marie Berdahl was born on June 1, 1879 in Minnehaha County, South Dakota to Andrew James and Karen Oline (Otterness) Berdahl. Jennie was born in a sod hut before South Dakota received statehood. She attended Augustana Academy in Canton, S.D. and was a county school teacher. Jennie Berdahl married Ole Rølvaag in 1908 and lived in Northfield, MN. Together they had four children: Olaf Arnljot (1909-1915) Ella Valborg Tweet (1910-2003) Karl Fritjof (1913-1990) Paul Gunnar (1915-1920).
Funding to digitize the O.E. Rølvaag Papers was 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.
Ole Rølvaag's letter to Jennie Rølvaag.
Type
Text
Format
Letters (correspondence)
Rights
No Copyright - the United States
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
The organization that has made the Item available believes that the Item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The Item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Please refer to the organization that has made the Item available for more information.
Bibliographic Citation
[Indicate the cited item here]. O.E. Rølvaag Papers. Norwegian American Historical Association, Northfield, Minnesota.

Files

Tags

Text

Citation

Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931, “Letter from Ole Rølvaag to Jennie Rølvaag, 1929 February 9,” Digital Collections, accessed October 19, 2026, https://norwegianamericanhistory.org/digital-collections/items/show/4882.