Ygdrasil is a literary society of ethnic origin limited to a membership of fifty Madison men usually of Norwegian descent, who are interested in preparing essays on the literature, biography, and history of Scandinavians and Scandinavian-Americans. The primary objective of the Society is to provide its members with an identification and a greater knowledge of the Scandinavian culture of past and present. Eight literary meetings are held each year on the second Saturday evening of each month from October to May. In addition, there are periodic business meetings and special events celebrations.
The Ygdrasil Literary Society was formally organized on December 4, 1896 at the office of Rasmus B. Anderson, at that time president of the Wisconsin Life Insurance Company, in a building at the corner of Mifflin and Carroll Streets. Peer Stromme was elected as the first president and J.C.M. Hanson as the first secretary.
One of the significant features of the Society's history has been its close association with the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Professors of Scandinavian languages and literature, particularly Rasmus B. Anderson, Julius E. Olson, and Einar Haugen, have played a leading role in the Society. Other notable University of Wisconsin professors who are or have been active members of the Society include historian Paul Knaplund; Conrad A. Elvehjem, professor of biochemistry and president of the University; and Gerhard Naeseth, associate director of the University's Memorial Library. In 1971 one-third of the Society's members were on the faculty of the University.
