American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation records, 1973-2011
Title
American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation records, 1973-2011
Identifier
NAHA 2020/014
Date
1973-2011
Description
History/Biography:
The American Birkebeiner was started in 1973 by Tony Wise, a founding member of the Worldloppet federation of cross-country ski marathons. The race is held in February in Hayward, WI. Wise drew on his Norwegian heritage in starting a race named after a famous event in Norway. The American Birkebeiner, also called Birke, is named after Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet. This race commemorates an important historical event when in 1206 a group of Birkebeiner party soldiers, who fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his descendants in the Norwegian civil war, smuggled the illegitimate son of Norway's King Håkon Sverresson from Lillehammer to safety in Trondheim.
The American Birkebeiner was started in 1973 by Tony Wise, a founding member of the Worldloppet federation of cross-country ski marathons. The race is held in February in Hayward, WI. Wise drew on his Norwegian heritage in starting a race named after a famous event in Norway. The American Birkebeiner, also called Birke, is named after Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet. This race commemorates an important historical event when in 1206 a group of Birkebeiner party soldiers, who fought for Sverre Sigurdsson and his descendants in the Norwegian civil war, smuggled the illegitimate son of Norway's King Håkon Sverresson from Lillehammer to safety in Trondheim.
Abstract:
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation records include various photographs and 35mm slides, video records, board meeting minutes, Wordloppet records, clippings, and more. Financial statements are restricted. Please contact the archivist.To see portions of the digitized collection, click here.
Extent
11.2 cubic feet (10 record center cartons and 3 archives boxes)
Language
English
Subject
Type
Newspapers
Photographs
Audiovisual materials
Audiocassettes
Clippings
Files
Citation
American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation records, 1973-2011,” Norwegian-American Historical Association, accessed April 25, 2024, https://naha.omeka.net/items/show/15607.