Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records

Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records, 1908-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Sons of Norway (U.S.). Wergeland Lodge No. 21 (Bellingham, Wash.)
Title: Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records
Dates: 1908-2017 (inclusive)
19082017

1927-2010 (bulk)
19272010
Quantity: 13.5 linear feet
Collection Number: XOE_CPNWS0359
Summary: A collection documenting the history and activities of a Sons of Norway Lodge in Bellingham, Washington.
Repository: Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Archives Building
808 25th St.
Bellingham, WA
98225
Telephone: (360) 650-7534
cpnws@wwu.edu
Access Restrictions: The collection is open to the public for research.
Languages: English, Norwegian

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Sons of Norway is an international cultural society dedicated to preserving Norwegian heritage and culture, and that has historically provided insurance and other financial support to its members. Wergeland Lodge No. 21 was established in Bellingham, Washington, in April 1927. Named for the poet Henrik Wergeland, the Lodge has worked throughout its history to provide members with opportunities to share and explore aspects of Norwegian heritage. Members and officers also participated in district and international conventions, building connections among the larger Norwegian community. In 1947, the Lodge purchased property at 1419 N. Forest Street in Bellingham, where they built the Norway Hall. The Hall was the location for Lodge meetings, and a variety of social and cultural events, until its sale in 2014.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records document the history and activities of a Norwegian heritage and cultural group in Bellingham, Washington. The collection contains records dated approximately 1908-2017, with the bulk of materials dating from the period 1927-2010.

Administrative records include correspondence, convention reports, officer’s materials, meeting minutes, and membership information. Researchers will also find records relating to the Norway Hall building committee’s work and permitting process. In addition to financial records and reports, the collection contains copies of the local “Wergeland 21 News” newsletter, files documenting planning and implementation of Lodge activities and events, and cultural resources about genealogy, Norwegian history and cultural skills. The photos and clipping series include images of members and events (including framed images of past Presidents), scrapbooks, and clippings of local Norwegian news.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Samantha Wu Rose in 2018.

Processing Note

About Harmful Language and Content

To learn more about problematic content in our collections, collection description and teaching tools (including how to provide feedback or request dialogue on this topic), see the following Statement About Potentially Harmful Language and Content

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies in August 2018 by the Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1927-2010Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	NSEA Correspondence	undated
1	2	Wergeland Publicity	1981; 1986
1	3	Lodge Secretary Correspondence	1963-1964
1	4	Lodge Correspondence and Membership	1980-1990
1	5	Lodge Correspondence	1991-2000
1	6	Semi-Annual Reports	1964-1997
1	7	District 2 Correspondence / Convention Materials	1960-1994
1	8	International Conventions / Correspondence	1991-1998
1	9	Convention Reports	1990-1992
2	1	Convention Planning / Reports	1990-2001
2	2	Constitution and By-laws	1971-1992
2	3	Secretary's Materials	circa 1998
2	4	Postal Materials	1997-2005
2	5	Brochures + Proceedures	1925; undated
2	6	Officer's Guidelines	undated
2	7	Officer's Roster	1998
2	8	Meeting Rosters and Budget Reports	1992-1993
2	9	Lodge Supply Catalog and Orders	1987-1999
2	10	Administrative Forms	undated
2	11	Lodge Officers Form	1999
2	12	Roll Call Record	1987-2000
2	13	Miscellaneous Materials	2005-2006
2	14	Miscellaneous Administrative / Publicity Materials	2004-2007
2	15	By-laws, Newsletters, and Lodge Brochures	1980s-2000s
2	16	Sunshine Committee / Thank Yous	1993-1999
2	17	Memorial Fund	1991-1994
2	18	Norway Hall Building Committee	1966-1967
2	19	Norway Hall Building Permits	2000
3	1	Norway Hall Tax Filing	1956-2001
3	2	Meeting Minutes	1927-1930
3	3	Meeting Minutes	1929-1934
3	4	Meeting Minutes	1936-1940
3	5	Meeting Minutes	1940-1943
3	6	Meeting Minutes	1944-1948
4	1	Meeting Minutes	1948-1952
4	2	Meeting Minutes	1980
4	3	Meeting Minutes and Newsletters	1986-2012
4	4	Meeting Minutes and Other Notes	circa 1990s
4	5	Auxilary Meeting Minutes	1994-1999
4	6	Executive Board Meeting Minutes	1997-2000
4	7	Lodge of the Year Application and Meeting Minutes	1992-2000
4	8	District 2 Convention	1998
4	9	Meeting Minutes	2003-2004
5	1A	Meeting Minutes	2005-2006
5	1B	Norway Hall Meeting Minutes and Adminstration	2002-2005
5	2	Application Forms	1995
5	3	Member Lists	1932-1945
5	4	Membership Reports	1984-1985
5	5	Membership List	1986-1987
5	6	Membership List	1988
5	7	Membership Reports	1989
5	8	Membership Reports	1990
5	9	Membership Reports	1991
5	10	Membership Reports	1992
5	11	Membership Reports	1993
5	12	Membership Reports	1994
5	13	Membership Reports	1995
5	14	Membership Reports	1996
5	15	Membership Reports	1997
6	1	Membership Reports	1998
6	2	Membership Reports	1999
6	3	Membership Records	1990-2010
6	4	Record of Applications	1936-1971
6	5	Report of New Members	1983-1998
6	6	Membership Records of Dues	1973-1990
6	7	Deceased Member Records	1970-1999
7	1	Deceased Member List	1998-2000
7	2	Membership Cancellations	1984
7	3	Membership + Misc. Materials	1978-1986
Volume
1		Lodge Roster	1927-1931
Box	Folder
7	4	Membership Roster	circa 1927-2001
7	5	Membership Rosters	1990-1997
7	6	Membership Roster	1992
7	7	Member Directory / File Backup CD	2006

Series 2: Financial Records, 1930-2007Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
7	8	Wergeland Financial Reports	1950-1954
7	9	Miscellaneous Financial Materials	1959-1968
7	10	Blank Norway Hall Building Fund Notes	undated
8	1	Cash Flow Reports	1998
8	2	Member Account Sheets (A-E)	1930-1950
8	3	Member Account Sheets (F-J)	1930-1950
8	4	Member Account Sheets (K-O)	1930-1950
8	5	Member Account Sheets (P-Z)	1930-1950
8	6	Member Account Sheets I	1950-1975
9	1	Member Account Sheets II	1950-1975
9	2	Member Account Sheets (Bound Book)	1953-1973
9	3	Secretary's Cashbook	1931-1935
10	1	Secretary's Cashbook	1935-1939
10	2	Secretary's Cashbook	1939-1942
10	3	Secretary's Cashbook	1942-1944
10	4	Secretary's Cashbook	1945-1947
10	5	Secretary's Cashbook	1947-1950
10	6	Cash Book	1946-1954
10	7	Secretary's Cashbook	1960-1964
10	8	Secretary's Cashbook	1965-1968
11	1	Secretary's Cashbook	1969-1974
11	2	Secretary's Cashbook	1975-1996
11	3	Cash Book	1970-1973
11	4	Cash Book	1973-1976
11	5	Cash Book	1976-1979
11	6	Cash Book	1980-1983
11	7	Cash Book	1983-1987
11	8	Cash Book	1987-1992
11	9	Cash Book	1992-1995
12	1	Check Register	1977-1989
12	2	Receipt Books	1983-1986
12	3	Receipt Books	1994-1997
12	4	Receipt Books	1997-2000
12	5	Receipt Books	1987-1994
12	6	Record of Bills	1991-2008

Series 3: Newsletters, 1985-2005Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
13	1	International Newsletter	1985-1998
13	2	National Newsletters	1996-1998
13	3	District 2 Newsletters	1991-1999
13	4	Wergeland Newsletters	1980-1999
13	5	Wergeland Newsletters	1983-1995
13	6	Wergeland Newsletters + Articles	1985-1999
13	7	Wergeland Newsletters	1995-1999
13	8	Wergeland Newsletters	1996-1999
13	9	Wergeland Newsletters + USPS Service Guide	1997-1998
13	10	News of Norway and Wergeland 21 Drafts	1993-2005
13	11	Misc. Newsletters	1998
13	12	Viking Magazine / Wergeland Newsletters	1998
13	13	Wergeland Newsletter Materials	1995-1996
14	1	Wergeland Newsletter Materials	1996
14	2	Lyle and Erliss Buss Materials	1994-1995
14	3	Newsletter Materials	1995
14	4	Newsletter Planning / Design	1995; undated
14	5	Wergeland Newsletter Editor Materials	1995-1999
14	6	Articles for Newsletter	1995-1998
14	7	Member Submissions	1997
14	8	Newspapers	1995-1998

Series 4: Events and Activities, approximately 1965-2007Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	9	Lodge Events and District Boundaries	1965-1973
14	10	Misc. Materials	1968-1994
14	11	Correspondence re: 50th Lodge Anniversary	1977
14	12	65th / 66th Anniversary Materials + Belinda Hovde Correspondence	1992-1993; 2001
14	13	Event Planning and Programing	1992-1994
14	14	Wergeland Anniversary Celebrations	1992-1998
14	15	Trollhaugen	undated
14	16	Merit Awards	1996-1997
14	17	Norway Hall Event Planning	1997; undated
14	18	Lodge of the Year Award	1997
14	19	Lodge of the Year Rating Form	1998
14	20	Anniversary Planning	1998-2000
14	21	UFFDA Awards Dinner CD	2004
14	22	Public Relations	2005
14	23	Cultural Programs and Election Materials	undated
14	24	Anniversary Celebration Invite	2007

Series 5: Cultural Resources, approximately 1984-1992Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	25	Geneaology Resources	1984; undated
14	26	Norwegian Cultural Skills Program	1991-1992
14	27	Recipes	undated
14	28	Scandinavian Travel Brochures	undated
14	29	Wergeland History	undated
14	30	Norweigan Culture Articles	undated
14	31	Norse Mythology and Viking History	undated
14	32	Norwegian Studies Resources	undated
14	33	Song Book	undated

Series 6: Photographs, Clippings and Display Materials, approximately 1908-2017Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
14	34	Festivals and Historic Photos	1908-2016
14	35	Cultural Events / Member Photos	1959-1993
14	36	Clippings	1960s-2010s
14	37	Correspondence to Lisa Tofsrud + Norweigan Clippings	1982-1986
14	38	Scrapbook Pages	1980s-1990s
14	39	Photos of Members / Activities	1989; 1997
14	40	Family / Personal Photos	1990s; undated
14	41	Anniversary Celebration Photos	1992
14	42	Members and Events	1999-2003
14	43	Elaine Grasdock Photos	2011
14A	1	Album (unidentified event)	undated
14A	2	90th Anniversary Celebrations	2017
15	1	Framed Past Presidents Photos	1927-1960
16	1	Framed Past Presidents Photos	1960-2011
17	1	Scrapbook: Photos of Lodge Members / Events	1990s
17	2	Photo Album: Members and Events	1950s-1970s
17	3	Scrapbook: Clippings and Photos	1980s
17	4	Wooden Gavel	undated
18	1	Lodge Scrapbook	1980s
18	2	Lodge Scrapbook: History and Photos	1948-2000
18	3	Scrapbook: Clippings and Drawings	1950s-1970s
item
1		Historic Photos	1927-1953
	item
		Posterboards (3)	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Fraternal organizations--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources
Norwegian Americans--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources

Corporate Names

Norway Hall Incorporated--Archives
Sons of Norway (U.S.).--Wergeland Lodge No. 21 (Bellingham, Wash.)

Form or Genre Terms

Albums (Books)
Photographs
Records (Documents)

Archives West Finding Aid

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