Ager, Waldemar, 1869-1941]]> Prohibition]]> Eau Claire (Wis.)]]> Temperance]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Folkestad, Sigurd]]> Kvisgaard, Olav]]> Norstog, Jon, 1877-1942]]> Rolfson, Nordahl]]> Selnes, Johan A. N. (Johan Andreas Nilsen), 1882-1949]]> Sneve, O.S.]]> Ager, Trygve M. (Trygve Martinus), 1906-1975]]> History/Biography:
Waldemar Theodor Ager was born in Fredrikstad, Østfold, Norway to Martinius Mathiesen Ager and Marie Fredrikke Mathea Johnsdatter Stillaugsen. Martinius first emigrated to the United States by himself, starting a tailoring business. Eventually, Ager and the rest of the family joined Martinus in Chicago. In Chicago, Ager worked for the Norwegian-language newspaper, Norden. His newspaper career flourished when he moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and was offered a job at a Norwegian temperance newspaper called Reform. Ager became editor from 1903-1941. Ager was a leader in the prohibition movement. He helped organize total abstinence societies and Good Templar lodges across the Upper Midwest. Ager remained a teetotaler his entire life. 

In addition to his newspaper career, Ager also wrote six novels and collections of short stories. Among his best known books are "Paa drikkeondets Konto" (1894), "Kristus for Pilatus" (1910), "Oberst Heg og hans gutter" (1916), "Paa veien til smeltepotten" (1917), "Gamlelandets sønner" (1926), and "Hundeøine" (1929). 

See also "The Problem of Cultural Identity in the Works of Waldemar Ager, Simon Johnson, and Johannes B. Wist," a PhD dissertation by James P. Nelson, University of Washington, 1990.

Scope and Content:
The papers of a Norwegian-born journalist, author, and lecturer include clippings, articles, correspondence, manuscripts of books, poems, programs, records, sketches, and stories dealing with subjects such as Norwegian culture and heritage, Americanism, memorials to Norwegians in America, and temperance. 

Among the correspondents are Carl F. Berg, Arne K. Berger, L. W. Boe, H. A. Eckers, John O. Evjen, Ruth Fjeldsaa, Sigurd Folkestad, Einar Haugen, John Heitmann, H. R. Holand, Simon Johnson, Arne Kildal, Lars Lillehei, E. L. Mengshoel, Jon Norstog, Torkel Oftelie, K. Prestgard, D. G. Ristad, Mrs. O. E. Rølvaag, Johan Selnes, T. A. Siqueland, Edvard Skille, Charles C. W. Storck, J. L. Urheim, and Alexander Wiley.

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View digitized correspondence from Waldemar Ager to O.E. Rølvaag.
This material was digitized through the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.]]>
Ager, Waldemar, 1869-1941]]>
Askeland, Hallvard]]> Baumann, Julius B., 1869-1923]]> Bjørnaraa, Bjørgulv]]> Bratager, Laura R.]]> Broughton, O. A.]]> Buslett, O. A. (Ole Amundson), 1855-1924]]> Einrem, Johannes, 1868-1956]]> Ellingsen, W. S.]]> Engstad, John E., 1858-1937]]> Fjelde, Herman O., 1865-1918]]> Gade, F. G.]]> Grinden, Ole L.]]> Grønseth, Anthon]]> Grumdahl, Carl]]> Heitmann, John]]> Halfdan]]> Holand, Hjalmar Rued, 1872-1963]]> Holmbo, Dagfin]]> Høst, Jordan]]> Jacobsen, Efrahim]]> Johnson, Jacob]]> Johnson, Simon]]> Knudsen, Frithjof]]> Magnus, Olive]]> Møller, Rudolph H.]]> Nelson, P. N.]]> Norsk, John C.]]> Olsen, Ole]]> Ongstad, P. H.]]> Refsdal, Olav, 1862-1945]]> Ristad, D. G. (Ditlef Georgson), 1863-1938]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Rønning, N. N. (Nils Nilsen), 1870-1962]]> Sand, Per]]> Sande, Birgen]]> Sande, Petra]]> Sandhetssøker]]> Sneve, Martin]]> Strom, Andrew E.]]> Strømme, Peer O. (Peer Olsen), 1856-1921]]> Sund, Carl]]> Thomte, E.]]> Tvedte, L. E.]]> Vidar (pseudonym)]]> Vikar (pseudonym)]]> Valla, C. S.]]> Vetlaus, Per]]> Wist, Johs. B. (Johannes Benjamin), 1864-1923]]> Redal, Olav, 1882-1937]]> Steinarsen, Signe Mydland]]> Carlton County (Minn.)]]> Cloquet (Minn.)]]> Minnesota]]> Norwegian literature]]> Poems]]> Poet]]> History/Biography:
Julius Berg Johannesen was born in 1869 to Johannes Johannesen Bauman and Barbro Susanna Pedersdatter in Kiby (Tyby), Nord-Varanger, Finnmark, Norway. His father, Johannes Baumann, was a fisherman and partner of Per Kristian Glein, a well-known skipper and merchant on the island of Dønna. He married Barbo Susanna in Dønna, foster daughter of Per Kristian Glein.

Julius became a fisherman and laborer in Norway after his father died when he was 10. His mother encouraged to find work elsewhere, knowing that he did not want to be a fisherman. He became a private tutor to children of a wealthy family, and was appointed assistant postmaster at Osen, north of Trondheim. When two young men came to visit from America, they became acquainted with Julius and offered to pay for his transportation to the United States. In 1891, at the age of 20, Baumann immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Minnesota.

Baumann wrote songs and poems on the Norwegian-American immigrant experience, and his poems were frequently memorized, and sung to well-known melodies. Baumann published three volumes of poems: "Digte" (1909), "Fra Vidderne" (1915), and, posthumously, "Samlede Digte" (1924). He was well acquainted with Norwegian-American Authors Waldemar Ager and Ole E. Rølvaag.

See “Julius B. Baumann: A Biographical Sketch" by John Heitmann( Norwegian-American Studies, Vol. 15) for more information.

Scope and Content: 
Papers of a Norwegian-born poet and register of deeds in Carlton County, Minnesota: poems, letters, clippings, and three scrapbooks containing newspaper articles by Baumann, responses to his articles, and discussions on Norwegian-American literature by a variety of authors. Baumann published three volumes of poems: "Digte" (1909), "Fra Vidderne" (1915), and, posthumously, "Samlede Digte" (1924).]]>
Contents
  • Correspondence, undated
    • Letters to and from Carl Sund, editor and importer, and Ole Olsen, poet, both living in Norway.
  • Clippings, undated
    • Typescript of tributes at Baumann's funeral by Henry P. Petersen, Waldemar Ager, Olav Redal and others. "Soenner af Norge" (Nov. 1923). Four page transcript "Soenner af Norge," (Sept. 1924): about monument to Baumann; speech of A.J. Myrland at its dedication; John Heitmann's and Ager's remarks; letter of thanks from family. Bibliography note: issue of "Nord-Norge" was mostly devoted to Baumann (Autumn 1923). 
  • Poems and manuscript, undated
  • Three Scrapbooks titled "Stottegalskab I Reform," undated
    • Each filled with clippings
]]>
Baumann, Julius B.]]>
Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> St. Olaf College]]> Goodhue County (Minn.)]]> Schiotz, Fredrik A. (Fredrik Axel), 1901-1989]]> Rygh, Torger Olsen]]> Red Wing Seminary]]> Minnesota]]> Minnesota State Board of Education]]> Tiller, Edward]]> Nydahl, Johannes]]> Nydahl, Theodore Ludwig]]> Boraas, Julius, 1871-1952]]> Boraas, Julius, 1871-1952]]> ]]> Clausen, Clarence Arthur, 1896-1991]]> Lovoll, Odd S., 1934-]]> Norwegian-American Historical Association]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Clausen, Clarence Arthur, 1896-1991]]> Gulbrandson, Esther]]> Gulbrandson, Ole]]> Camp Little Norway]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Norwegian Seamen's Christmans & Relief Inc.]]> Gulbrandson, Esther ]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Einar Ingvald Haugen ( April 19, 1906 – June 20, 1994) was an American linguist, author, and professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison and Harvard University.

In 1931 Haugen joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he stayed until 1962. He was made Victor S. Thomas Professor of Scandinavian and Linguistics at Harvard University in 1964, and stayed here until his retirement in 1975. Haugen served as president of the Linguistic Society of America, the American Dialect Society, and the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study. Haugen was also a member of the Board of Editors of the Norwegian-American Historical Association.

The collection includes O. E. Rolvaag letters to Haugen, correspondence, clippings, and articles in typescript and print.]]>
Haugen, Einar, 1906-1994]]>
Ager, Waldemar, 1869-1941]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]>
See also Ager Papers, P0601 and NAHA Publication papers, box 46.

Box 1
  1. Correspondence regarding: Ager Thesis
  2. Bibliography and plans for thesis;
  3. Notebook 1: Correspondence and notes on interviews;
  4. Notebook 2: Papers collected by Kilde for use in thesis; 
Box 2
  1. Correspondence- Ager, Elvira
  2. Correspondence- Ager, Eyvind
  3. Correspondence- Ager, Roald;
  4. Correspondence- Bergh, Gudrun
  5. Best, Solveig Ager;
  6. Correspondence: Nicolai, Hildur Ager; 
  7. Manuscript, Barbara Bergh "Glimpses into My Grandfather's Scrapbook" 
  8. Snapshots received from Karren Bergh Bloom;
  9. Ager Genealogy; 
  10. Ager Clippings;
  11. Ager Memorial Committee;
  12. Ager Stories translated by Eyvind Evans
  13. Paper for Professor Vecoli, 1976, "Cultural Pluralism Versus Assimilation In the Writings of Waldmar Ager;
  14. Article for Eau Claire newspaper "Waldemar Ager, Editor and Author"
  15. Miscellaneous pamphlets, etc.
  16. Correspondence with University of Nebraska Press regarding translation of " They Went to a Far Country";
  17. Miscellaneous, My Memories of Ole Edvart Rølvaag.
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Kilde, Clarence ]]>
Minnesota]]> Wist, Johs B.]]> Shipstead, Henrik, 1881-1960]]> Nestos, Ragnvald A.]]> Reque, Dikka]]> Prestgard, Kristian, 1866-1946]]> Gundersen, Adolf]]> Magelssen, Jacob W.]]> Gjerset, Knut, 1865-1936]]> Magelssen, Thora]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Magelssen, Thora]]> Norwegian-American Historical Association]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Minneapolis Tidende]]> Decorah-Posten]]> History/Biography: 

Kristian Prestgard was born on the Harelstad farm in Heidal, Oppland, Norway. His parents were Gudbrand Kristensen Harelstad (1829-1869) and Marit Prestgard (1841-1897). When his father, Kristian and Marit moved back to her family farm in Prestgard. 

Prestgard attended the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago as a correspondent for Oplandenes Avis, a  Norwegian newspaper. Instead of returning home to Norway, he started working in the Norwegian-American press. In 1897, he married Oline Musum (1873–1919) and took a position with a Norwegian language newspaper company in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

He was co-editor and editor of "Decorah-Posten" (1897-1946); co-editor and publisher of "Symra" (1905-1914); editor of Norske Kvad (1906); translator of "Fra Livet i Vestjylland" by Jakob Jakobsen (1894); author of "Nansenfaerden" (1896), Skrøneboka (1911), En Sommer i Norge (1928), "Streiftog, Stemninger og Skildringer" and "Fjords and Faces" (1937); and a founder of NAHA and a member of its board of editors (1925-1933). 

Scope and Content: 

Correspondence, manuscripts, and a scrapbook of a Norwegian-born journalist and author.

The letters by Prestgard and those by his correspondents deal largely with such subjects as the language controversy both in Norway and America, the tour of Norway by twelve American newspapermen in 1927, Knut Gjerset's unfinished dictionary of Norwegian-American biography, the writings of Ole E. Rølvaag, the Norwegian-American Historical Association, the merging of "Minneapolis Tidende" and "Decorah-Posten" in 1935, genealogy, immigration history, and gladioli. He gained a reputation as a horticulturist by developing 30 new varieties of gladioli. 

The Ola K. Stokkestad letters to Prestgard (1884-1897) are unique in that they treat not the economics of rural areas but cultural pursuits mainly in the city. 

The Arne Odd Johnson letters (1934-1938) deal with editorial and publication problems connected with using the Prestgard-Ivar Kleiven correspondence as basic material in a history of the migration of Norwegians to America. 

The John Heitmann letters (1928-1945) are primarily about the problems of translating, editing, and publishing "Fjords and Faces," the English version of "En Sommer i Norge." 

Among the other correspondents are R. B. Anderson, Henry Armstrong, Mrs. L. M. Boomer, Th. Caspari, Borghild M. Dahl, Juul Dieserud, P. J. Eikeland, Johan Falkberget, Arne Garborg, C. J. Hambro, J. C. M. Hanson, Hjalmar R. Holand, Halvdan Koht, Hanna Astrup Larsen, Fridtjof Nansen, John Norstog, Julius Olson, Franklin Petersen, Ragnhild Prestgard, A. N. Rygg, Ludwig Saxe, Th. H. Svanoe, A. A. Veblen, and Henry A. Wallace.

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Digital Collections:
]]>
Prestgard, Kristian, 1866-1946]]>
Lutheran Church in America]]> Helgeson, Thor, -1928]]> Nilsen, Sonia]]> Holand, Hjalmar Rued, 1872-1963]]> Njaa, S. H.]]> Nottelson, Amelia]]> Salvator ]]> Solem, John]]> Wilson, Hallis]]> Rosholt, Milton]]> Unger, Irwin]]> Rosholt, Gordon]]> Rosholt, Jacob Tollefson]]> Rosholt, Jerry]]> Rosholt, Malcolm Leviatt, 1907-]]> Waupaca County (Wis.)]]> Rosholt, Julius]]> Buslett, Ole A. ]]> Central Wisconsin College]]> Civil War]]> Wisconsin]]> Rølvaag, O. E. (Ole Edvart), 1876-1931]]> Duus, Olaus Fredrik, 1824-1893]]> Erickson, Alfred O.]]>
See: A letter from Mina Hellestad to Rosholt's wife, donated 1994, will be found in the Oscar 0. Hellestad papers, P 149.]]>
  • Amelia Nottelson (Scandinavia, WI), circa 1950
  • Sonia Nilsen (Scandinavia, WI), 1953
    • She is the daughter of Ole Nilsen.
  • Oscar Hellestad, China missionary, circa 1965
  • John Solem, concerning Buslett, 1976
  • Rev. S.H. Njaa, undated
    • Roshol is his son-in-law. Interviews about Njaa's early life as a mission paster in Canada in the early 1900s.
  • Alfred Erickson (Chicago, IL), undated
  • Hallis Wilson (Amherst, WI), undated
Location for audio recordings:
17/C/3
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Rosholt, Malcolm Leviatt, 1907-]]>