VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 2 | WINTER 2012 In this issue: Online Catalog Goes Live! Battle of Kringen - 400 Years Later! Visit to Norway with Monroe By C. Marvin Lang Miller Sunday, August 26, 2012, was bright and sunny along ploys. Rather than use the well trod paths, Klungnes the northern stretches of the River Lågen in central took them through swamps, up heavily wooded sloops, Olive Nordby Woodblock Print Norway. Church bells peeled from the ancient church and even over mountainous terrain. Of course, his Card of Sell, several kilometers north of the City of Otta tactics were “delaying” - allowing the signal fires to be Norse Valley Lodge Work Day located deep within the Gudbrandsdal. A four day set and the “budstikke” passed the word – “Enemy in festival was being concluded with an ecumenical service, County send out message.” Civil War Website Update bringing together for worship Norwegians, Scots, and Summer Classes Americans. Such was not the case 400 years ago! The night of August 25th was spent in the shadow On that date (a Sunday by the Gregorian Calendar, of the stavkirke, Nord Sel – known as the church Svein Ludvigsen Visit a Wednesday by the Julian Calendar), a group of of Kristen Lavransdatter in Sigrid Undset’s famous Recent Acquisitions Norwegian farmers trilogy. A large – men, women, and farm is across the Norwegian Visitors perhaps children road from the – ambushed and church, known Destination Stoughton Weekend annihilated an as Romundgård, Publications of Note invading troop neighbor to of Scottish Jorundgård, mercenaries. That Kristen’s home. It event has become was at Romund- known as the gård that the Scots Family History Battle of Kringen spent their last and the victory has evening. Legend Library Tour been celebrated by claims “the Scots the locals and the ate, drank, and Salt Lake City, Utah nation ever since. made merry” after October 27 -November 3, 2013 Much has been written, legends borne, songs created, an arduous six days of marching, pillaging, and wanton and history embellished about this momentous event destruction of the Norwegian countryside and farms. Full details available soon. in Norwegian history. Visit nagcnl.org, or call While the Scots were marching, the Norwegian bønder for a brochure. The facts seem to indicate that three to 400 were preparing to ambush them … somewhere! Not mercenaries from the northern-most portions of knowing the Scots’ plans, not even knowing where Scotland (County Caithness and the cities of Thurso they were headed, caused great confusion amongst and Wick) were “engaged” by the Swedish government the leadership. Finally a plan was put into place that to invade Norway and work their way down the Lågen assumed the Scots would follow the River Lågen into the Norwegian modern county of Hedmark. along its easterly side and that they would have to Led by a Scottish Colonel, Lord Alexander Ramsey, pass through a narrow point where the river makes three companies of warriors came into Norway at a sharp bend under a rather high cliff. The farm Romsdalfjorden near the city of Åndelsness. One above the river at the point was called Bredebygd company was headed up by a Captain George Sinclair, and the area in that neighborhood was known as the other two by Captains Sir Robert Kerr and William “Kringen.” The major players from the Norwegians Hayes. The entire troupe made landfall on August 19th were Lars Haga of Dovre, Peder Randklæv and Berdon and proceeded to march inland. Commandeering a Sejelstad of Ringebu, Audun Skjenna of Sel, many local Norwegian sheriff (Peder Klungnes) to lead them, men of Vågå, and a maiden known today as “Pillar the invading force was taken through some of the most Guri.” Apparently, for several days and nights, the difficult places to traverse, due to their guide’s cunning Norwegians busily prepared an ambush. Legend Article continues on page2 3 Norwegian Tracks • Volume 33 • NO. 1 • September 2008 Greeting from the Board of Directors 2012 has been a milestone year for the Norwegian director and executive director. Jeanne Wright, our American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library. current executive director, is a part-time consultant Published two times a year by We would like to salute our members, patrons, who is experienced at keeping the Center running Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library (NAGC & NL) volunteers, and staff for their important support in the efficiently. Diane Mauer is our part-time member 415 W. Main Street continuing success of the Center’s mission for the services coordinator, and helps with our extensive Madison, WI 53703-3116 discovery, preservation, and sharing of family history membership program that reaches nearly 2,000 608-255-2224 www.nagcnl.org and heritage. This has been a year in which we have households. David Wright, our part-time fundraising seen an outpouring of volunteer work, donations of and marketing consultant, continues his work here for Sent to members of NAGC & NL. gifts-in-kind for the Naeseth Library research individual, corporate, and foundation donations, and For membership, contact: collection, and important financial support from our Norwegian American Genealogical Center & also serves as our grant writer. My board colleagues Naeseth Library (NAGC & NL) members and patrons. This year has also witnessed and I are confident that these professionals put us in a 415 W. Main Street the birth of a special, new collaborative relationship great position to advance our mission in the coming Madison, WI 53703-3116 between our organization and an anonymous years. 608-255-2224 foundation that is interested in our work. And, during [email protected] late 2012, access to the Naeseth Library collection This issue of “Norwegian Tracks” is made possible by The purpose of this publication is to assist and catalogue records became available to the public for a generous donation from Betty and Robert Sande of encourage genealogists with Norwegian and the first time Online. Rochester, Minnesota. They joined Blaine Hedberg, Norwegian-American genealogical questions. who also made a thoughtful donation for this issue. Norwegian Tracks is the sole possession of NAGC This has also been a year of staff change and continuity. The Sandes have been among the Center’s most & NL. All rights are reserved. No reproduction Blaine Hedberg, who has worked here since 1982, important advocates; Betty Sande is a member of our by mechanical or other means without written announced in October that he would be leaving us to Honorary Advisory Council, and the Sandes’ permission from the editor. pursue other interests. Blaine has been one link connection to our organization dates back over thirty Letters concerning genealogical inquiries for between our founder, the late Gerhard Naeseth (who years! We thank Blaine and the Sandes for their Norwegian Tracks should be sent to Norwegian was his mentor), and the staff here at the Center. generosity in supporting this issue that contains American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library Fortunately, we are well-equipped with our dedicated exciting articles from two special contributors, (NAGC & NL) 415 W. Main Street Madison, WI staff for our future work. Jerry Paulson, who began his Professor C. Marvin Lang and Mr. Monroe Miller. 53703-3116 work here with Gerhard Naeseth in the early 1990’s, Each of them shares some interesting insights into Norwegian Tracks occasionally solicits or accepts continues his role as director of genealogical research. recent experiences in Norway. We know you will find unsolicited copy and artwork for publication. Solveig Quinney, a native of Stavanger who has their stories fascinating. Written material is subject to editing for length, grammar, and accuracy of contents. As a rule, worked here since 2002, is our secret weapon for no compensation will be given for any accepted translation services, and especially research in On behalf of the Board and Staff, I send our special material. NAGC & NL reserves first serial Norwegian-languages resources. Kathleen Olson, our thanks to all our NAGC & NL members and friends publication and reprint rights, but releases all librarian, continues her work on the busy acquisitions who continue to provide the interest and support that other rights for subsequent publication back to the and cataloguing of our library collection that is the guide us into the future. Together, we are building author or artists. best of its kind in North America. We also enjoy the this organization into the finest resource for The Norwegian American Genealogical Center contributions of several dedicated volunteers, and the Norwegian-American genealogy serving the growing & Naeseth Library is an educational non-profit work-study presence of two talented graduate students audience interested in family history and heritage. research center with national and international from the University of Wisconsin – Madison history scope. The Center collects, preserves, shares and department. Carol Culbertson, involved with the With many thanks, interprets resources for the study of Norwegian heritage. organization since 1983, is an expert genealogical Lowell E. Olberg researcher who helps us on a part-time basis. Carol Chairman, Board of Directors To carry out this mission, the Center provides: retired in 2003, after having served as our assistant • The Naeseth Library, located in Madison, Wisconsin, where resources devoted to Norwegian and Norwegian-American genealogy are collected, preserved, shared, and interpreted; • Assistance, interpretation,