Department of Scandinavian Studies The University of Wisconsin-Madison Scandinavian Studies Department Newsletter SPRING 2008 VOLUME X, ISSUE II A Message from the Chair, Kirsten Wolf Our late spring newsletter is this year an early summer newsletter, for this spring semester has been an extraordinarily busy one for faculty, staff, and students. Several undergraduates completed their majors, two students at the master's level (Randolph Ford and Micaelen Freeman) completed their M.A. degrees, three doctoral students (Natalie Van Deusen, Susanne Fahn, and Todd Michel- son-Ambelang), took their preliminary exams and are now dissertators, and one doctoral student (Kari Synnøve Morset) completed her dissertation. In addition to teaching, course work, and examinations, conference travels, con- ference presentations, and not least conference organization have kept members Inside this issue: of the Department occupied. In early May, the Department hosted the at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center the 99th annual meeting Department hosted 2 of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies. Nearly 300 hun- dred people arrived to participate in the conference, where independent schol- 99th meeting of SASS ars, graduate students, university staff, and professors presented more than 250 Madison Torske 3 papers on a wide range of topics within the field of Scandinavian Studies. Klubben In these perilous economic times, the Department is enormously grateful for AASSC 4 the support of so many foundations and individuals. These gifts are vital to Department hosts 4 helping the Department take advantage of special opportunities. The recent establishment of an annual scholarship by Torske Klubben for a US under- Beaver Creek Retreat graduate or graduate student to conduct research in Norway is much appreci- 5 ated. For more information about this generous donation and about the Depart- Interview with Emeri- ment's many activities, we invite you to read the following pages, which also tus Professor Dick include an account of the Beaver Creek Retreat and an interview with Emeritus Ringler Professor Richard (Dick) Ringler. Borge Centennial 6 Hamsun 6 FLAC Section on Scandinavian Heritage in the US Sesquicentennial This spring semester the Department of Scandinavian Studies received fund- Nordic Storyteller pays 7 ing from the Center for European Studies to offer a 1-credit FLAC (Foreign Homage to Ingwersen Languages Across the Curriculum) discussion section to complement Pro- fessor Julie Allen’s course Scandinavian Heritage in America. The FLAC Danish Undergrads tell 8 section was led in Swedish by PhD Candidate Kjerstin Moody and was open their Stories to intermediate- and advanced-level students studying Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish. Course material for the section chronologically traced the Scan- Recent Graduates 9 dinavian-American emigrant/immigrant experience by focusing on excerpts Departmental 10 from classic works of literature, including Vilhelm Moberg’s Utvandrarna (1949) and O. E. Rølvaag’s I de dage (1924). Additionally, students read short Happenings accounts from other Scandinavian-American settlers and settlements, includ- ing an excerpt from Per Kalm’s En resa till Norra Amerika (1763–1761), a chapter from Einar Haugen and Camilla Cai’s book on Olav Hauge’s at- tempt to create the Norwegian-American utopian settlement of Oleana in Pennsylvania, and a selection of letters exchanged between a Danish Mor- mon husband and wife—he in Denmark, she in America with their children. These Scandinavian-language readings helped shed light on the reasons why Scandinavians came to America and what their life in the New World looked (Continued on page 7) Page 2 VOLUME X, ISSUE II Department of Scandinavian Studies held 99th meeting of SASS On March 22, 1911, a committee states that the “annual dues shall around the globe. It intends, fur- of six scholars – George T. Flom, be one dollar” and “any member thermore, to promote the field of Julius E. Olson, A. A. Stomberg, may become a life member by a Scandinavian studies and its instruc- Chester N. Gould, A. Louis Elm- single payment of 15 dollars,” tion in America, and encourages quist, and A. M. Sturtevant – sent while “corresponding members research with regards to Scandina- out an invitation to Scandinavian shall be non-paying.” vian languages, literatures, history, scholars in the United States “for The minutes from the following culture, and society. the purpose of organizing a Scan- meetings show that the society SASS offers its members a close dinavian Philological Society or a grew quickly. While only about network and the possibility to pre- Society for the Advancement of twenty people were present during sent research at the annual meetings Scandinavian Study.” They sug- the first two meetings, the number or to publish it in the society’s jour- gested meeting in Chicago on May jumped to fifty-two during the nal Scandinavian Studies. In addition, 26 and 27. In addition to organiz- third meeting and seventy during grants that SASS awards, such as the ing the society, they “planned to the forth. Birgit Baldwin Fellowship, allow have a program of eight or nine For its 99th meeting SASS is ex- emerging scholars to conduct re- papers” and in the evening they pecting more than 140 papers to search in archives and libraries in suggested to “very pleasantly” be presented – a significant in- the Nordic countries. The society have “an informal supper and crease compared to the “eight or stays true to its goal to encourage smoker, together with a talk, per- nine papers” from 1911. Member- original research and to promote haps, upon The National Songs of ship has also increased considera- Scandinavian study in the US and the Scandinavian Countries.” bly to 643 in 2008 and, under- abroad. The invitation also included a standably, also the membership fee The 99th annual meeting was held blank application for membership, has risen since 1911. April 30-May 2 at the Monona Ter- and according to the first volume Yet, the annual meetings still in- race and Convention Center. The of Scandinavian Studies – then pub- clude an evening banquet and na- conference opened with a welcome lished under the title Publications of tional songs of Scandinavian coun- from the SASS president, Susan the Society for the Advancement of Scan- tries may still be sung late at night. Brantly, and a speech by former US dinavian Study – seventy-one appli- The goals of the society have also ambassador to Norway, Tom cations “from Harvard to Wash- basically stayed the same: To fos- Lofthus. Norwegian film director, ington State” were received prior ter closer relations between indi- Nils Gaup, delivered the opening to the first meeting. viduals interested in Scandinavian lecture on his experiences of film- During this first meeting it was studies in North America and making in both Norway and the US. decided by referendum that the Celebrating the growing interest in name of the society should indeed indigenous peoples, a Sami precon- be Society for the Advancement of Scan- ference was held in association with dinavian Study. Julius E. Olson was Wunk Sheek, the University of Wis- appointed as president, Jules Mau- consin’s Native American Student ritzon as vice-president, George T. Association. The preconference Flom as secretary-treasurer and brought together local Native further scholars as members of an American Scholars and national and Advisory Committee. The society international Sami scholars. also elected corresponding mem- This year saw an expansion not only bers in Denmark, Norway, Swe- in the number of papers given, but den, Iceland, and Finland. The in the diversity of topics covered. first constitution of the society (Continued on page 3) Page 3 VOLUME X, ISSUE II Madison’s Torske Klubben SASS Cont. Norwegian-Americans have long ryone singing the Norwegian national (Continued from page 2) been known for their fondness of anthem “Ja Vi Elsker Dette Landet” For the first time, there were two ethnic fraternal organizations. De- and an MC is responsible for intro- panels discussing Colonialism and signed specifically to celebrate ducing any guests that might be in Cosmopolitism in Literature. American ties to Norwegian heri- attendance. Club rules state that Other topics included Librarianship tage, culture and literature, national guests are not allowed to talk during partnering in Nordic Studies, Scan- groups like the Sons of Norway and their introduction and violations of dinavian-American Music Culture, the Daughters of Norway as well as this rule result in the guest’s host be- Scandinavian Translation Theory, various literary societies such as ing charged a fine of $100, which they Scandinavian Immigration Law, Symra in Decorah, Iowa and Ygdra- contribute to the Torske Klubben Film Studies, Language Teaching, sil in Madison are all representative Foundation. An informal lecture on Danish Art and Design and Histori- of this penchant for social organiza- topics as far ranging as Scandinavian cal Politics. tions among Norwegian Americans. wood carving, Ibsen’s women, the In addition to the scholarly papers None of these groups, however, Norwegian economy and bad sports- presented by faculty members and combines Norwegian-Americans’ manship in the Viking age. Each graduate students from North love for traditional Norwegian food, meeting is concluded by singing the America and Europe, conference- drink, and terrible jokes quite so American national anthem. elegantly as the Torske Klubben. Madison’s Torske Klubben is not goers enjoyed a variety of additional Originally established in Minneapo- only a vehicle to enjoy good aquavit talks and events over the course of lis, Minnesota in 1933, the Torske and fish dinners. Several years ago the the weekend. Nils Gaup’s latest Klubben (The Cod Club) is an or- Torske Klubben Foundation of Madi- film, Kautokeino Rebellion, was ganization of men of Norwegian son was established to benefit various screened at the Opheum Theater ancestry who gather on a monthly clubs and organizations upholding and was followed by a lively discus- basis to enjoy fellowship, a cod din- ties between Norway and the US.