Title: Jim Holmlund Photographs
Date: 1890s-1980s

Creator:

• Holmlund, Jim, (James O.), 1918-2001

Unique Identifier: MSS 120

Quantity: 0.4 cubic feet

Physical Description: 2 archives boxes

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

James O. “Jim” Holmlund was born in Bangor, Wis., in 1918. He attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, from 1936-1940 pursuing a degree in journalism, and then enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in World War II. He served in the North African and Italian campaigns and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He moved to La Crosse, Wis., and worked for the La Crosse Tribune as a news reporter from 1948-1968, thereafter establishing his own business, the Independent News and Features where he served as a freelance writer and photographer. Holmlund died in La Crosse, Wis., in 2001.

Most of the photographs are not dated or labeled. The photographs taken by James O. Holmlund generally are not dated nor is there much information about them. The photographs taken by others were sent to him to help add photographic interest to his stories of the area and some exist only in copy negative form, while others are vintage and yet others are positive reprints. Most of these photos are of Bangor and West Salem, Wis., people and scenes from the past. Among the more notable photographs that were taken by other people include scenes from Bangor and West Salem, both villages in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, around the 1890s-1920s.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss120

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(Accession no. 2008.076) Donated by Peder Holmlund via Karen Kesselring, 2008 December

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], Jim Holmlund Photographs, MSS 120, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processed by Anita Taylor Doering and Margaret Donndelinger, 2009 October-November

Arranged in two series:

Series 1: Photographs taken by Holmlund

Series 2: Photographs taken by others

The photographs taken by James O. Holmlund generally are not dated nor is there much information about them. The photographs taken by others were sent to him to help add photographic interest to his stories of the area and some exist only in copy negative form, while others are vintage and yet others are positive reprints. Most of these photos are of Bangor and West Salem, Wis., people and scenes from the past, including Steensen Mill, Neshonoc Dam, the Jones family farm near Bangor, and Bangor village scenes.

Some notable photographs that Holmlund took include Olga Bennett, the first woman judge in Vernon County, Wisconsin; George McGovern (his backside) while greeting supporters; and Vernon Thomson, state politician. Holmlund was most noted for his rural and farm scenes of the greater Coulee Region.

Among the more notable photographs that were taken by other people include a promotional photograph of Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright, a one-piano, four hands team; and scenes from Bangor and West Salem, both villages in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, dating from around 1890s-1920s.

James O. “Jim” Holmlund was born in Bangor, Wis., on Sept. 6, 1918, to Olaf O. and Ruth Myrtle (Erickson) Holmlund. He attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, from 1936-1940 pursuing a degree in journalism, and then enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in World War II. He served in the North African and Italian campaigns and was awarded the Bronze Star for the Anzio invasion and later a Purple Heart for wounds received from German bombings.

Following World War II, Holmlund joined the Army Reserve where he served until retiring in 1970 with the rank of Lt. Colonel. In 1994, Holmlund was awarded the National ROA’s Ben Franklin Award for Excellence in Journalism. He was a member of the Reserve Officers Association and the Order of The Purple Heart.

He moved to La Crosse, Wis., in 1947, and worked for the La Crosse Tribune as a news reporter from 1948-1968, thereafter establishing his own business, the Independent News and Features where he served as a freelance writer and photographer. Many stories were published in the La Crosse County Countryman newspaper.

In 1948, he married Naomi Nell Roy in Sparta, Wis., and they had a son Peder “Pete” and a daughter Jane Erica together. Holmlund also had a brother Robert, and two sisters, Virginia and Geneva. Holmlund died in La Crosse, Wis., in 2001. He was also active in the First Congregational Church UCC of La Crosse and performed in the church choir.

(Clipping file)

Biography--Holmlund, James O.

• Bangor (Wis.)--Photographs
• La Crosse (Wis.)--Photographs
• West Salem (Wis.)--Photographs

(Series 1)	Series: Photographs taken by Holmlund
Box 1   Folder 1	Biographical information and photograph of James O. Holmlund, 1965
Box 1   Folder 2	Accident
Box 1   Folder 3	Aerial views
Box 1   Folder 26	Amish maple syrup gathering
	Animals
Box 1   Folder 4	Birds
Box 1   Folder 5	Dogs
Box 1   Folder 6	Parrots
Box 1   Folder 7	Bangor
Box 1   Folder 8	Bennett, Olga
Box 1   Folder 9	Bluffs
Box 1   Folder 11	Cheese factory
Box 1   Folder 12	Children
	Events
Box 1   Folder 13	Christmas
Box 1   Folder 14	Fairs
Box 1   Folder 15	Parade
Box 1   Folder 16	Tobacco spitting contest
	Farm
Box 1   Folder 17	Animals
Box 1   Folder 18	Scenes
Box 1   Folder 19	Floods
Box 1   Folder 20	Fort McCoy
Box 1   Folder 21	Geology
Box 1   Folder 10	George McGovern visit
Box 1   Folder 22	Gundersen Lutheran Hospital
Box 1   Folder 23	Heileman Brewery
Box 1   Folder 24	Industry
Box 1   Folder 25	Kellogg, Mark cemetary marker dedication, 1976
Box 2   Folder 4	La Crosse Sailing Club
Box 1   Folder 27	Mississippi River
	Organizations
Box 1   Folder 28	Boy Scouts
Box 1   Folder 29	Green Thumb
Box 1   Folder 30	Post office (La Crosse, Wisconsin)
Box 2   Folder 1	Railroads
Box 2   Folder 3	Red Creek school
Box 2   Folder 2	Rural scenes
	Skiing
Box 2   Folder 5	Mount La Crosse
Box 2   Folder 6	Westby Ski Hill
Box 2   Folder 7	Thomson, Vernon
Box 2   Folder 8	Trees
Box 2   Folder 9	Unidentified locations
Box 2   Folder 10	Workers
Box 2   Folder 11	Young people
(Series 2)	Series: Photographs taken by others	⇧
	Bangor, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 12	Girls' party
Box 2   Folder 13	Military band
Box 2   Folder 14	Portraits
Box 2   Folder 15	Railroad scenes
Box 2   Folder 16	Scenes
Box 2   Folder 17	Schools
Box 2   Folder 18	Wedding shower of Cordelia (Newton) Harrison Parsons
Box 2   Folder 19	Holmen, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 20	La Crosse, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 21	Lumber industry
Box 2   Folder 22	Mindoro, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 23	North Dakota
Box 2   Folder 24	Rockland, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 25	Sparta, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 26	Strum, Wisconsin
Box 2   Folder 27	Unidentified locations
Box 2   Folder 28	Weekley, Dallas & Nancy Arganbright
Box 2   Folder 29	West Salem, Wisconsin