2 3 4 5 11 A Season Gifts for News from Genealogy New Filled with History the Biennial and Women's to the Gratitude Lovers Meeting Names Archives

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | WINTER 2020 VOLUME 178

NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES Folk Art in Communities of Faith GIFT IDEAS: SEASON OF HISTORY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

SAVE GRATITUDE NAHA Gift Membership 10% Share a gift that will be enjoyed all year long, while supporting our Use code association. Along with notification GIFT2020 hat a year! Who could have guessed what 2020 and this pandemic would bring? of your gift, recipients receive your With people around the world experiencing illness, loss, and disruption, this has choice of a NAHA tote bag or mug. been a year that I think few would care to repeat. And yet our association has Throughout the year, members Wmuch to be grateful for. In spite of temporarily shutting the door to the archives, we are fielding enjoy four issues of Currents and ONLINE reference questions, making accommodations for researchers online, and adding major collections an online and print subscription to the archives. We are digitizing materials, and we recently learned that we received a Minnesota to Norwegian-American Studies. ACCESS TO on the Historical and Cultural Heritage grant to digitize the O. E. Rølvaag Collection in 2021. The journal is published OUR JOURNAL cover We are transferring legacy data to a new content management system and supervising the annually each fall and is work of student interns. We are publishing the next volume of Norwegian-American Studies available digitally on JSTOR. Norwegian-American Studies, Bertrand E. as scheduled. We are holding events online, allowing us to better Regularly $55 ($40 for the scholarly journal of the Old's watercolor association, is now published in of the Old connect with members across the nation, in Canada, and overseas. In students). Save 10 percent Muskego Church, so many ways, we are moving forward. with the code cooperation with the University circa 1936. The In my biennial meeting report, I shared my gratitude for our GIFT2020. Order of Minnesota Press. In addition church was the Lifetime members. The contributions of these members created by December 18 to print copies, members of first one built the O. E. Rølvaag Memorial Fund, which fuels our operations and Ole Hendricks & to ensure delivery NAHA have access to the by Norwegian makes carrying out our mission possible, even in difficult times. In His Tunebook, by December 24, journal online, including all Lutherans in the addition to the generous housing of our collection provided by St. Book and CD naha.stolaf.edu. digitized back issues, as a United States, Olaf College, the Rølvaag Fund allows us to move forward despite Archivist and musician Amy benefit of membership. Watch in 1843–44. Its the challenges this year has brought. To those Lifetime members Shaw has preserved the works of Photo Preservation for an email from JSTOR with architecture who may have missed my comments during our biennial meeting, a Norwegian-born farmer, fiddler, Box Album Kit instructions for creating a and building heartfelt thank-you for what your past support has made possible— and band leader Ole Hendricks with Home archivists can enjoy the JSTOR account and accessing techniques are and a special thank-you to those who still actively support us today. a project about his life and music. same supplies professional the journal. If you don’t receive an expression of the instructions, send an email Norwegian folk I am also grateful for the leadership of the association. The Hendricks settled in Minnesota’s archivists use, such as this one- art and craft. dedication and skill of outgoing president Dennis Gimmestad has helped us through a period Red River Valley. Shaw’s book piece, hinged clamshell album. It requesting help to service@ of major transition and into a new era. And with the departure of our term-limited board paints a picture of rural immigrant comes with interior plated O-rings jstor.org with "Attn: Hanaa" in members, new leaders will take the wheel. I want to congratulate our new president, Scott life there and the role of music in to hold polypropylene album the subject line. Mention in your Knudson, and the six new board members who were elected at our biennial meeting. I look the community. More than 100 pages. The pages and a pencil note that you are a member forward to the new perspectives and ideas they will bring to our work. transcribed dance tunes from for safely marking photos are of the Norwegian-American Finally, I am grateful to the entire staff, board, and membership of NAHA. Your interest, Hendricks’ rare 1890s tunebook are included. $60.50. For a full range Historical Association. support, and engagement are the heartbeat of our association. You make our mission possible: included. University of Wisconsin of supplies and tools available to locate, collect, and interpret the Norwegian-American experience, and to preserve these Press (2020), 264 pages, $28.95, for the home archivist, visit priceless materials for generations to come. uwpress.wisc.edu. The companion gaylord.com. CD includes 20 lively dance tunes Be well, from Ole Hendricks’ tunebook, revived and reimagined by Nordic dance musicians. Available at store.

Amy Boxrud, Executive Director INDEX OF AMERICAN DESIGN E. OLD, BERTRAND IMAGE: COVER vesterheim.org, $15.

2 Currents, Winter 2020 naha.stolaf.edu 3 relations for Northfield Hospital and Clinics. FINDING WOMEN IN GENEALOGY He has been active in the community, serving in leadership positions for the Northfield Area RECORDS BY DALE HOVLAND Chamber of Commerce, the City of Northfield’s Economic Development Corporation, Northfield ame variations Historical Society, Northfield Healthy Community are common in NEWS FROM THE BIENNIAL MEMBER MEETING Initiative, and Northfield Rotary Club. church books Nand other records used for embers across the United States, Canada, and Norway of Oslo. He has appeared in several KRISTEN WALSETH, Bloomington, Norwegian genealogy, and came together for the 2020 biennial member meeting. nationally televised documentaries Minnesota, is a retired teacher and there’s an added wrinkle Held online on October 24, the event included a on Scandinavia and its history, and reading specialist for at-risk high when searching for women Mkeynote presentation from Erika Jackson, professor of history at is a knight in the Royal Norwegian school students at Jefferson High who married. Traditionally, Colorado Mesa University, titled “Becoming White: The Case of Order of Merit. He regularly School in Bloomington. A graduate a woman has taken the Scandinavians in Chicago.” A discussion followed, moderated leads tours of Scandinavia for the of St. Olaf College, she co-chairs her surname of her spouse. Not by NAHA Editor Anna M. Peterson. Smithsonian Institution and the class’s 50th reunion gift committee. She is a former knowing her maiden name can make tracing her lineage difficult, but Following the presentation, the association held its biennial University of Washington Alumni board member of Norway House in Minneapolis there are sources that can help: business meeting, including updates from the staff and board, Association. and chaired its Midtsommer Gala Committee for

recognition of the association’s Lifetime members, and election of Erika Jackson several years. For the past year, she has served on • A marriage record, particularly a church record, might include the new board members. The association also thanked board members KAREN LILLEHAUGEN the NAHA Development Committee. names of the fathers of both the bride and the groom Dennis Gimmestad, Dave Holt, and Bruce Willis for their service. NASBY, • A Norwegian census record might show a woman’s maiden name; Minneapolis, if that name includes a patronymic—Thorsdatter, for example, signifying attended St. Olaf Executive Committee, 2020–22 that she is the daughter of Thor—then her father’s first name is known In a session held immediately after the WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS Each of these new directors College and later • An obituary will sometimes include the names of a woman’s parents biennial meeting, the NAHA board of was elected to a four-year term at the biennial meeting. earned her J.D. from and when or where she was born directors elected the following officers the William Mitchell College of Law for the 2020–22 biennium. ANNETTE ATKINS, Olaf College and taught Norwegian in St. Paul. After working in parish Spelling variations also must be considered in searches for anyone, female Minneapolis, is language at the University of education and serving two years in President: Scott Knudson or male. A search for Tarand on genealogy sites returned records with all professor emerita Washington while pursuing his the Peace Corps in the Philippines, St. Paul, Minnesota of these valid spellings: Taran, Tarand, Tarran, Tarrand, Tharan, Tharand, of history at Saint master's degree in Scandinavian she served for 27 years as a public Vice President: Kim Kittilsby Tharran, Tharrand. And in America, Tarand was known as Trina. John’s University studies. A doctoral student at the NAHA defender for Hennepin County. Seattle, Washington FamilySearch.org automatically includes spelling variants in search and the College University of Illinois at Urbana- directors She is an active member of Trinity Secretary: Ronald Johnson results unless you specifically narrow your search to one spelling. of Saint Benedict. A teacher and Champaign, his research centers re-elected to Lutheran Church in Hovland, Madison, Wisconsin FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and the digital archives of Norway at scholar of Minnesota history, on neoliberal globalization, a second term Minnesota. She is also a member of Treasurer: Kyle Jansson Digitalarkivet.no/en, also allow the use of “wildcards” in searches, she is the author of Creating Norwegian teacher education, and at the biennial the Friends of the Hong Kierkegaard Monmouth, Oregon Scott Knudson represented by an asterisk. A wildcard stands in for zero or more Minnesota: A History from the Libyan educational changes after meeting Library, which is housed in the Representative at Large: characters. For example, a search on Ancestry using “T*ar*an*” will find Inside Out. She speaks widely at the 2011 uprising there. are: James special collections of Rølvaag Deborah Miller any of the spellings above (except for “Trina”). professional meetings, and for five Honsvall, Scott Memorial Library. St. Paul, Minnesota Continued on page 11 years she was the on-air historian TERJE LEIREN, Kenmore, Knudson, Ann for Minnesota Public Radio. She Washington, is Marie Legreid, SCOTT RICHARDSON, is a past board member of the professor emeritus and Deborah Northfield, Minnesota Historical Society and of Scandinavian Miller. For a full Minnesota, the Stearns History Museum. studies and history list of board has worked YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS MORE THAN EVER at the University members, see in community ESSAM ELKORGHLI, of Washington, Seattle. He has page 12. journalism and Gifts to the annual fund make up more than a quarter of our operating budget each year. Urbana, Illinois, written or edited four books and health care communications. A In 2020, we shared two free online events with our members and the public. Even though is originally from more than 40 scholarly articles on graduate of the University of we were working remotely, we stayed connected to members and researchers, Tripoli, Libya, Norwegian- and Scandinavian- Minnesota, he worked at the fielding dozens of questions via email. We also produced the 2020 issue of our and attended American studies. From 1988 Northfield News for 18 years as scholarly journal, Norwegian-American Studies. These activities were possible the International to 1999, he taught Norwegian a reporter, associate editor, and thanks to the generous support of our members. Help us meet our financial goals Baccalaureate program in Flekke, history at the International general manager. He finished his during this unprecedented time by donating to the 2020 annual fund. Please use the envelope provided, or consider donating at naha.stolaf.edu. Thank you! Norway. He graduated from St. Summer School of the University career as director of community (GIVING) RIGHT): SHUTTERSTOCK/V3RC4 (LOWER IMAGE

4 Currents, Winter 2020 naha.stolaf.edu 5 magine a pioneer church donated their talents or received The rosemaling altar frame once on the prairie, its steeple a pay from church members to held a painting of the Last Supper. THE TOUCH OF I beacon for miles around. Or create something both beautiful Old Muskego a church serving workers in the and functional. Perhaps most preserves The reconstructed altar-pulpit iron and copper mining regions of important, their work reflected the traditional at Old Muskego. the Upper Midwest. The exterior touch of their hands. Norwegian- THEIR HANDS is clad in wood or sheathed with This article examines the folk style log local brick or stone, constructed artisanry found in four historic architecture. THE WORK OF FOLK ARTISANS IN HISTORIC by local craftsmen who are church Norwegian-American churches. NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN CHURCHES members. The bell summons con- It draws on seminal work done gregants to services that bind them in this field byKristin Anderson, BY LAURIE KAY SOMMERS with ties of faith, ethnicity, and professor of art history and community. The building is a place archivist at Augsburg University for worship and socializing, but it in Minneapolis, and the late is also something more. Marion Nelson, art historian Osten Pladson Churches are places where and long-time director of the poses with his communities invest precious Vesterheim Norwegian-American foot-treadle resources in decorative arts. Museum in Decorah, Iowa (see scroll saw They express local aesthetics and “Further Reading” on page 10). and altar heritage through textiles, paint, Each of the four churches is Norwegian-American communities for Bethania glass, wood, stone, and metal. part of the Preserving Nordic- knew how to make tools, cabinets, Lutheran, In historic Norwegian-American American Churches Project and other utilitarian objects. Those circa 1903. churches, decorative arts and (nordicamericanchurches.org), an with special expertise—such as artisanship typically reflect a initiative of the nonprofit Partners Lohner—took leadership roles. mix of sources. Congregations for Sacred Places. The sanctuary also replicated often used professional artists OLD MUSKEGO WOULD Norwegian tradition. What we and architects. They purchased Old Muskego Church HAVE FELT FAMILIAR AND see today is a reconstruction from mass-produced items like pews, ORIGINALLY WIND LAKE, PLEASING TO IMMIGRANT 1904, when the old log church altars, pulpits, light fixtures, and WISCONSIN; NOW AT was moved to its present site in St. stained glass from the catalogs of LUTHER SEMINARY, WORSHIPPERS WHO HAD Paul. The combined altar-pulpit companies catering to churches. ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA NOT YET ABSORBED is particularly striking. As Kristin But they also used local folk artists “Folk architecture” describes Anderson notes in “Altars in the and craftspeople whose work more building types and designs AMERICAN INFLUENCES. Norwegian-American Church,” directly expressed longstanding that emerge from a particular altar-pulpits originated in 18th- community ideas of what was geographic or cultural region and century Germany and spread to useful, appropriate, and pleasing. use local materials. The designs Scandinavia. The Old Muskego Folk artists and artisans created and methods are transmitted altar is a vernacular interpretation work that was familiar rather by observation, imitation, and familiar hewn log techniques (laftet tømmer) learned of the Empire style of cabinetry than groundbreaking. They used practice. Few Norwegian-American from erecting farm outbuildings and homes in the then popular in Norway, with cherished, time-tested forms folk churches still exist. One Old Country. Of note are the extended log ends at the clean lines, solid massing, turned and motifs, some with roots in notable exception is Old Muskego, corners—a Norwegian characteristic—and the so- corners, and smooth finish. Norway and others from America. a rare example of traditional called meddrag. This Norwegian practice of scribing The barrel-shaped pulpit, with The skills they shared with their Norwegian log construction and or grooving logs longitudinally so that they fit tightly vertical boards in contrast to the congregations were learned woodworking. together without mortar, is described by both John J. horizontal ones found elsewhere informally by trial and error; Old Muskego dates to 1843- Hackett in the 1974 National Register of Historic Places in the sanctuary, suggests the by imitating examples created 44, not long after the first nomination for the church and by Reidar Bakken in craftsmanship of a cooper. by friends, neighbors, or family groups of Norwegians arrived Norwegian-American Studies volume 32. The church Paul Daniels, archivist for members; through apprenticeships; in Wisconsin Territory. Those walls bear the marks of adze and axe yet today. Luther Seminary, points to or at a folk school that was part of involved in its simple two-story log The master craftsman supervising Muskego’s another example of Norwegian the Romantic Nationalism sweeping construction—more like a gabled- construction was likely Halvor Nelson Lohner, a folk art at Old Muskego: the

19th-century Norway. These artists OF WILLIAM TEIE COURTESY IMAGE: DANIELS PAUL BY PHOTO ROSEMALING SEMINARY; OF LUTHER COURTESY IMAGES: roof house than a church—used native of Telemark. The immigrant farmers of early rosemaling on the altar surround,

6 Currents, Winter 2020 naha.stolaf.edu 7 restored in 1993–94 with shades members of the congregation sense antecedents. This contrasts with recognized and understood of ochre and oxblood. Rosemaling, that connection, too? varnished wood or white-and-gold his use of this Norwegian while common in Norwegian A more obvious Norwegian painted examples that are more folk tradition. churches and utilitarian objects, tradition occurs in the altarpiece. common in the U.S. The Old Stone INSPIRED BY was rare in Norwegian-American The authors of Norwegian- Church altar is simpler than most ACANTHUS Canton churches until the 20th century, American Wood Carving of the The Old Hauge Norwegian examples, with tones of Lutheran Church Stone Church, CARVING, OSTEN when a revival prompted its use as Upper Midwest, the 1978 exhibition black and green contrasting with CANTON, SOUTH DAKOTA Kenyon, an emblem of ethnic pride. catalog from the Vesterheim red and gold accents. The maker PLADSON USED The congregation of Canton Minnesota, Old Muskego was a sacred space Norwegian-American Museum illustrates folk crafted a triptych with the Ten HIS SCROLL SAW Lutheran Church erected a Gothic that would have felt familiar, exhibit of the same name, note that Commandments and Norwegian Revival building (1908–10) that architecture AND BAND SAW functional, and pleasing to multicolored paint decoration, as built of local text from John 3:16. For the was “a monument to the honor and immigrant worshippers on the is the case here, reflects Norwegian materials. church’s Norwegian-American TO PRODUCE glory of the Norwegian Lutherans Wisconsin frontier. Newly arrived, members, their building referenced “THE BYZANTINE of Canton and Lincoln County,” they had yet to incorporate their Old Country roots while said the Dakota Farmers’ Leader influences from America. being firmly grounded in their OPULENCE” OF when the church was dedicated. Minnesota homeland. HIS CHURCH This is not folk architecture. The Old Hauge congregation wanted and achieved INTERIORS. Stone Church Bethania a more formal, grandiose, architect- KENYON, MINNESOTA Lutheran Church designed building. This church also illustrates folk ORIGINALLY IN NORTHWOOD, The interior décor also lacks architecture. Built 1871–88, the NORTH DAKOTA; NOW AT any reference to Norwegian folk design echoes the rectangular, VESTERHEIM NORWEGIAN- art. What is traditional here is gabled outlines of homes, schools, AMERICAN MUSEUM, the workmanship of Norwegian- and farm outbuildings that were DECORAH, IOWA JUNE, 2010, 27 , MNPRAIRIEROOTS.COM, William C. Teie, Andrew John Teie, Julie Pladson treadle-powered scroll saw that American artisans who acquired constructed with time-honored This vernacular frame church Stroh, and Judy R. Craig in The Pladsons of Newburgh he used to shape his masterpiece. their craft through apprenticeship. techniques and without formal (1900–03) is not a folk design Township (Deer Valley Press, 2013). Although he imaginatively The carpentry and millwork of plans or an architect. Using hand- but rather a local builder’s Some of the best examples of Norwegian- created his own variant of this era was not the hand-tooled cut blocks of yellow limestone from interpretation of the then- American religious folk art involve carved pulpits, acanthus motifs, the Bethania craftsmanship of Old Muskego, or

a nearby farmer’s field, builders popular Gothic Revival Style. ROOTS PRAIRIE MINNESOTA altars, and altarpieces. The Norwegian-American congregation would have even the foot-powered saw artistry drew on their collective experience Architecturally, little distinguishes Wood Carving of the Upper Midwest exhibition in carpentry and stone masonry it from countless Norwegian catalog is still the best single source on these and mentored younger men in the heritage churches across the works. As the authors note, the most distinctively necessary skills. Midwest. What sets Bethania apart Norwegian style of altar carving comes from the The sanctuary includes a more is the remarkable carved altar by acanthus tradition, a type of folk carving adapted up-to-date look with stenciled the prolific Norwegian-American from the Baroque acanthus. It features variations of designs in bright primary colors carver, Osten Pladson (1846–1914). relief-carved scrolled acanthus leaves and palmetto. of red, yellow, and blue by local A native of Nes, Hallingdal, Acanthus carving originated in Gudbrandsdalen Swedish journeyman painter, Axel Norway, who emigrated in 1868, and spread throughout the country. P. Lindgren. Stenciled designs Pladson was a carpenter and Norwegian-American carvers used their creativity to adopted from pattern books, cabinetmaker of exceptional skill. make decorative pieces for churches and homes based wallpaper designs, and trade He designed churches and built on memories of acanthus carving in Norway. Pladson publications were popular at the the furnishings for as many as 65 was among the most creative, using “turned work, Canton time and would have been familiar churches in parts of Minnesota, bandsaw work, moldings, and fretwork” to produce Lutheran’s to church members and painters. Iowa, and the Red River Valley, what the authors of the Vesterheim catalog describe as sanctuary features milled Although stenciling is not folk art, according to his biographers “the Byzantine opulence of [his] church interiors.” woodwork the color scheme here is striking— Pladson’s crowning achievement was the altar by the Satrum and more reminiscent of the hues of frame and railing he built in 1903 for Bethania brothers. rosemaling or kurbits, the Swedish Lutheran. Here, acanthus motifs appear in the counterpart—as compared with The altarpiece of the Old Hauge fanciful finials and in the side panels. His artistry other stenciled examples identified Stone Church is reminiscent of the and woodworking process are illustrated in a

in the Nordic Churches Project. Did painted altar frames of Norway. HELBLING, KLETSCHER AUDREY BY PHOTO (BELOW) 3.0; BY-SA CC MCGHIEVER, BY PHOTO (ABOVE) IMAGES: CHURCH LUTHERAN CANTON MUSEUM; (BELOW) NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN VESTERHEIM (ABOVE) IMAGES: remarkable photo that shows Pladson with the

8 Currents, Winter 2020 naha.stolaf.edu 9 of Osten Pladson. Rather, Canton Lutheran was built in woodwork, and scroll work as artisans who built them, but at (Left) The Birkebeiner's Ben Popp the golden age of millwork, when small local operations well as unique custom pieces for the time of construction those and NAHA Archivist Kristina Warner. used steam- or gas-powered machines. Both John L. clients. For Canton Lutheran, craftspeople were known and (Below) Warner and NAHA directors Millie, the general contractor, and the Satrum brothers, they created a masterful display valued members of the community. Debbie Miller and Dennis Gimmestad who designed and produced much of the interior oak of milled oak artistry, with Their work appealed to their at the Parelius Rognlie parsonage. woodwork in their Canton Planing Mill, were Norwegian Gothic arches, quatrefoil designs, neighbors and fellow worshippers. immigrants turned successful entrepreneurs. They honed cutwork, curved balconies, fleur It was meaningful, and remains so BY KRISTINA WARNER, ARCHIVIST their skills in a building trade shaped by imitation and de lis, dentils, grape vines, and today, because of its human touch oral transmission—hallmarks of the folk process. turned pilasters. While these were and local connection. ince March, NAHA staff have been working remotely. Headed by a master carpenter like Gilbert Satrum, common decorative motifs of the Slowly, as we are allowed to be back in the office at a reduced planing mills were an outgrowth of the industrial period, the skill employed by Laurie Kay Sommers is an S capacity, we are working to process and acknowledge the many revolution but still relied on skilled craftsmen. local Norwegian-heritage artisans independent consultant in folklore donations we’ve continued to receive. Our gratitude goes to our members Satrum would have manually molded the lumber would have been a source of pride and historic preservation and was for your kindness and patience. design for a particular piece so other workers could for the church and community. project manager (2017–20) for We always welcome your help in building the NAHA archives. Materials replicate it. But even with the use of machines, in These four churches illustrate the Preserving Nordic American illustrating all aspects of Norwegian-American history and culture are of traditional millwork no two pieces are the same. the range of aesthetic choices made Churches Project. In addition to interest. NAHA collection guidelines are available on the “Archives” page Becky Heikkila and Liz Almlie describe the by artisans and congregations the sources cited in the article, of our website, naha.stolaf.edu/archives/guidelines.pdf. Please contact the Satrum brothers’ business in the 2016 National transitioning from newly she wishes to thank others who archives at [email protected] with your questions. Register of Historic Places nomination for Canton’s arrived Norwegian immigrants aided her research: Alex Akre, Carnegie Library. The Satrums produced stock to Norwegian Americans. Many Bob Jaeger, Rod Oppegard, and American Birkebeiner The American Birkebeiner was started in Parelius Rognlie papers, windows, doors, cabinets, screens, moldings, turned churches lack records on the Tim Prizer. Ski Foundation records, 1973 by Tony Wise, a founding member of circa 1890–circa 1980 1973–2007 the Worldloppet federation of cross-country NAHA directors and staff NAHA has acquired a portion ski marathons. The race is held in February in traveled to Fairfax, Minnesota, in of the American Birkebeiner Ski Hayward, Wisconsin. September to collect materials from Foundation records and will work America’s Birkebeiner, also called the “Birke,” the Parelius Rognlie parsonage More on Nordic- with the foundation to transfer is named after Norway’s Birkebeinerrennet. and its library full of books, FOR FURTHER READING American Churches more records in the future. We are That race commemorates an important historical correspondence, photographs, and Launched in 2017, the excited for this partnership with event. In 1206, a party of Birkebeiner soldiers, more. Rognlie was a pastor for the Norwegian Folk Art, The Migration of a Preserving Nordic- the Birkebeiner organization, whose who fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his Fort Ridgely, Dale, Palmyra, and Tradition, Marion John Nelson, editor (Abbeville American Churches collection complements others in descendants in the Norwegian civil war, Clear Lake congregations starting Press in association with the Museum of project has cataloged our archives, including those from journeyed on skis to smuggle the son of Norway’s in 1891. He succeeded Nils Xavier, American Folk Art and the Norwegian Folk the history, architecture, Ski for Light and the National Ski King Håkon Sverresson from Lillehammer to a well-known Sami pastor for Museum, 1995) and decorative arts Association of America. safety in Trondheim. whom the parsonage was built. of more than 2,000 Norwegian-American Wood Carving of the Upper historic churches, Midwest, an exhibition assembled by Vesterheim, including 430 of Nor- the Norwegian-American Museum, Darrell D. Henning, Women in Records, from page 5 wegian heritage, in and place of her birth: 5 April 1860 in Flaa (Flå), they lived in Alberta, Canada. Marion J. Nelson, Roger L. Welsch, (Vesterheim six Midwestern states. Hallingdal, Norway. In a 1900 U.S. census record for Norwegian-American Museum, 1978) Search the database of As you look for women from Knowing those things enables a search of the the family, from Asotin County, churches at nordicam- your family’s past, consider baptism records for the Nes, Hallingdal, parish. Washington, Ingeborg is listed Material Culture and People’s Art of the Norwegians ericanchurches.org to clues like the ones found in Mrs. There, her parents’ full names are revealed: as Belle and has children who in America, Marion John Nelson, editor (Norwegian- view details and im- Anders Hellerud’s obituary. It is Helge Pedersen, from the farm Stavnsbraaten, were born in Minnesota and American Historical Association, 1994); see especially ages. As reported in the part of the Rowberg Collection and Margit Vilhelmsdatter. Idaho. A later census record the chapter by Kristin Anderson, “Altars in the Spring 2020 issue of at NAHA, which includes According to the obituary, Ingeborg emigrated from 1921 for Ashmont, Norwegian-American Church: An Opportunity for Currents, NAHA mem- clippings of biographical articles from Norway in 1879, going first to Orfordville, Alberta, Canada, says the family Folk Expression” bers Dennis Gimmestad about Norwegian Americans Wisconsin. Norwegian emigration records show that immigrated in 1912 and were and Kristin Anderson from newspapers and other an unmarried girl, 19-year-old Ingeborg Helgesdatter, naturalized in 1920. Crossings: Norwegian-American Lutheranism as a Transatlantic Tradition, Hero have served as advisors publications. The obituary left Oslo on 18 April 1879 aboard the ship with The graves of Anders/Andrew Todd W. Nichol, editor (Norwegian-American Historical Association, 2003); to the project. includes her first name, Ingeborg, the destination Orford (later Orfordville), Wisconsin. and Ingeborg are in Bawlf, see especially the chapter by Marion Nelson, “Folk Art and Faith Among her parents’ first names, Helge Ingeborg and Anders were married in Alberta, where her gravestone is

Norwegian-Americans” NAHA IMAGES: and Margit, and the date Minnesota, the obituary tells us, and ultimately marked Ingeborg Hellerud.

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The newsletter of the Norwegian-American Historical Association Volume 178, Winter 2020

Currents Editor Denise Logeland

Design Jill Adler Design

Norwegian-American Historical Association Board of Directors Scott Knudson, President Kim Kittilsby, Vice President Ronald Johnson, Secretary Kyle Jansson, Treasurer Kristin Anderson Annette Atkins Marit Barkve Dan Dressen Essam Elkorghli Gracia Grindal Jim Honsvall Ann Marie Legreid Terje Leiren Debbie Miller Karen Lillehaugen Nasby Daron Olson Scott Richardson Paul Rolvaag Marci Sortor IMAGE: NAHA IMAGE: Ingrid Urberg Kristen Walseth Ole Rølvaag with his wife, Jennie, son, Karl, and daughter, Ella, Nils Olav Østrem in front of their home. The Craftsman-style house was built in 1925 1912 for the Rølvaag family at 311 Manitou Street in Northfield,

Staff Minnesota, near St. Olaf College, where Ole Rølvaag taught Norwegian and Amy Boxrud, Executive Director writing. He wrote most of his literary works at the Manitou Street house, which Anna M. Peterson, Editor remained his home until his death in 1931. Ella went on to teach in the Foreign Kristina Warner, Archivist Area and Language Study program at the University of Minnesota. Karl became a diplomat and politician. He served as the 31st governor of Minnesota.