Summary Information
Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge No. 28 Records
1903-2000
- Sons of Norway (U.S.). Wergeland Lodge No. 28 (La Crosse, Wis.).
MSS 027
3.8 cubic feet
6 archives boxes, 1 flat box, 1 large flat box
La Crosse Public Library (Map)
The Sons of Norway is a national Norwegian-American cultural fraternal organization intended for those of Norwegian decent in the United States. Among the goals of the group are to preserve the history of the Norwegian immigrants and to provide benevolent services to members in need. The La Crosse, Wisconsin, chapter known as Wergeland Lodge #28, began in 1903. Beginning in 1951, members of the Daughters of Norway Ornen Lodge #25 joined with Wergeland. In about 1975, the Coon Valley, Vernon Co., Wisconsin, chapter (Sons of Norway Helgedalen Lodge #199) merged with the Wergeland Lodge #28.
Records of the Wergeland Lodge #28 of La Crosse, Wisconsin, include by-laws, constitution (1903; 1989), minutes (1926-1988), financial materials (1967-1987), membership materials (1903-1997), officers (1995), and scrapbooks (1903-2000). The membership lists 1990-1997 are restricted to access by members only and are not to be used as a mailing list.
Records of the Helgedalen Lodge #199 of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, are not as extensive and include a financial materials and minutes covering 1920-1975.
Some early materials are written in the Norwegian language.
English, Norwegian
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss027 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
OCLC Number
45265340
Acquisitions Information
(Accession No. 1993.013) LPL Archives was authorized to photocopy the volume of memberships, Aug. 1993.
(Accession No. 1997.002) LPL Archives received entire collection as a donation by Elaine Nelson, President of the Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge #28 via Jean Marck in Jan. 1997.
(Accession No. 1998.010) four scrapbooks dating from 1903-1995 were donated to LPL Archives via Jean Marck, Sept. 1998.
(Accession No. 1999.004) copies of the group's newsletter Budstikken were donated to LPL Archives, separated out and added to the local publications collection, Feb. 1999.
(Accession No. 2001.002) Donated by Jean Marck, Jan. 2001.
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use, with the following exception: membership lists are restricted. Contact the Archives at the La Crosse Public Library for further information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge No. 28 Records, MSS 027, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Processing Information
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, March 1997; additions processed ATD June 1999; Additions processed by Margaret Donndelinger, March 2002.
Arrangement
The Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge No. 28 records are arranged in two series:
Wergeland Lodge No. 28 and
Helgedalen Lodge No. 199.
Scope and Contents
Records of the Wergeland Lodge #28 of La Crosse, Wisconsin, include by-laws, constitution (1903; 1989), minutes (1926-1988), financial materials (1967-1987), membership materials (1903-1997), officers (1995), and scrapbooks dating from 1903-2000. The membership lists 1990-1997 are restricted to access by members only and are not to be used as a mailing list.
Records of the Helgedalen Lodge #199 of Coon Valley, Wisconsin, are not as extensive and include a financial materials and minutes covering 1920-1975.
Some early materials are written in the Norwegian language.
Historical Note
The Wergeland Lodge #28 (La Crosse, Wis.) was organized Dec. 11, 1903 with 17 charter members. Otto M. Gilbertson served as the first president from 1903-1904. Meetings were held at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall on Fourth Street between Pearl and Main streets. In 1978, the membership totaled more than 400.
The lodge's newsletter was begun in 1969 and is called the
Budstikken and is still being published. In an effort to continue Norwegian dancing traditions, the Sons of Norway Wergeland dancers was formed to teach and encourage young people the traditional folk dances. The children are dressed in colorful native costumes.
Members of the Daughters of Norway merged with the Sons of Norway beginning in 1951 and joined completely by 1969, while the Coon Valley Helgedalen Lodge #199 merged with the La Crosse Wergeland Lodge #28 in about 1975. Wergeland Lodge held a 75th anniversary banquest in 1978. They were named "Lodge of the Year" in 1978. Many other 5th District Awards were received through 1999. The lodge hosted the 5th District's 37th Biennial Convention in La Crosse in 1984. Bernice Berg was named "President of the Year" in 1988 at the Fifth District Sons of Norway convention. The organization is still going strong.
Related Materials
- (MSS 008)
- Daughters of Norway, Ornen Lodge No. 25 Records
Subject Terms
- Daughters of Norway (US). Ornen Lodge No. 25 (La Crosse, Wis.)
- Sons of Norway (U.S.). Helgedalen Lodge No. 199 (Coon Valley, Wis.).
- Sons of Norway (U.S.). Wergeland Lodge No. 28 (La Crosse, Wis.).
- Coon Valley (Wis.)--Societies, etc.
- La Crosse (Wis.)--Societies, etc.
- Norwegian Americans--Wisconsin--Coon Valley
- Norwegian Americans--Wisconsin--La Crosse
Contents List
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(Series 1)
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Series: Wergeland Lodge No. 28
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Box 1
Folder 1-2
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Constitution and bylaws, 1903, 1980-1989
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Record of applications (membership logs)
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Box 3
Folder 1-2
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Photocopies, 1903-1913
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Box 3
Folder 3
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, 1903-1927
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Box 1
Folder 3
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, 1903-1987
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Box 8
Folder 1
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Membership lists, 1900-1997
Materials in this folder are restricted.
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Minutes
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Box 1
Folder 4-5
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, 1926-1954
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Box 1
Folder 6-7
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, 1956-1977
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Box 2
Folder 1-2
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, 1977-1988
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Box 2
Folder 3
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Correspondence log, 1905-1926
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Financial Materials
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Box 2
Folder 4-5
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Cash book, 1967-1987
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Box 2
Folder 6
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Semi-annual reports, 1967-1977
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Box 2
Folder 7
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Officers, 1995
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Box 3
Folder 5
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Photograph, 1920
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Scrapbooks
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Box 4
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, 1903-1979
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Box 4
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, 1979-1988
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Box 5
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, 1980-1986
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Box 5
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Loose material, 1978, 1984, 1988-2000
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Oversize 6
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, 1987-1995
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(Series 2)
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Series: Helgedalen Lodge No. 199
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Financial Materials
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Box 3
Folder 4
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Cash book, 1920-1975
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Box 7
Folder 1
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Individual member accounts, 1940-1964
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Box 7
Folder 3
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Semi-annual reports, 1960-1962
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Box 7
Folder 4
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Minutes, 1920-1975
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