Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1950-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Norwegian 17th of May Committee (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Norwegian 17th of May Committee records
Dates
1950-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.82 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Collection Number
3569
Summary
Records of the committee that unites all Norwegian organizations in Seattle and sponsors Norwegian Constitution Day
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Norwegian 17th of May Committee unites all Norwegian organizations in the Greater Seattle area to plan and organize a public program to celebrate Norway's Constitution Day, May 17, 1814.

At the beginning of 1814, Norway was a separate Kingdom united with Denmark, which was involved in fighting Napoleon. The Norwegians refused to be handed over to Sweden after the defeat of Napoleon and decided it was time to become an independent country. On April 10th, the historical constitutional convention opened at Eidsvoll and on the 17th of May the constitution was adopted. Later that year an agreement was consummated with Sweden.

The 17th of May has been celebrated in Seattle since the turn of the century. Brother John Schau reported on the Norwegian 17th of May Committee, in the notes of Leif Erikson Lodge, that 1400 people attended the program and dance May 18th, 1946. A charter for the United Norwegians 17th of May Committee outlined the organization and its purposes on June 3, 1970, with by-laws amended June 27, 1974.

The objectives and purposes are stated as follows: "... to unite all Norwegian organizations in the Greater Seattle area for the purposes of planning and organizing a public program, to be held on the 17th of May each year, observing and celebrating Norway's Constitution Day, the 17th of May 1814, in a manner in keeping with the Norwegian tradition."

These were transferred when the committee became a non-profit domestic corporation on April 23, 1979. The same month Mayor Charles Royer proclaimed May 17th as the permanent Norwegian Day in the City of Seattle. The May festival includes a large ethnic parade, activities and refreshments.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Clippings, correspondence, ephemera, photographs, programs, minutes, financial records, membership, organizational features, posters, festival programs, videotape, and other related documents.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 4 accessions:

  • Accession No. 3569-001, Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1950-1986
  • Accession No. 3569-004, Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1989
  • Accession No. 3569-005, Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, circa 1986-1992
  • Accession No. 3569-006, Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1995

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3569-001: Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1950-1986 (bulk 1976-1985)Return to Top

1.00 cubic foot

Scope and Content: Clippings, correspondence, ephemera, photographs, programs, minutes, financial records, membership, organizational features.

Arrangement: This accession is a consolidation done in December 1988 of three accessions and measures 1 linear foot. Records before the mid-70's are fragmentary, the bulk being 1976-1985. The secretary serves as the historian for the committee and maintains a file of press clippings and other matters of a historical nature. The correspondence is mainly written notice of meetings to members of the committee. Chronological order is held within all f alders, when dates are available.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: These records were donated to the Libraries on behalf of the 17th of May Committee, by Terje Leiren in 1983 and 1985 and by Christine M. Anderson in 1987.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 3569-001
Organizational Features
1979-1985
1/2 3569-001
Correspondence
1983
1/3 3569-001
Correspondence
1984-1985
1/4 3569-001
Correspondence
1963-1982
1/5 3569-001
Minutes
1976-1982
1/6 3569-001
Minutes
1983-1986
1/7 3569-001
Financial Records
1950-1985
1/8 3569-001
Photographs
1957-1979
1/9 3569-001
Photographs
1978-1979
1/10 3569-001
Clippings
1952-1979
1/11 3569-001
Clippings
1980-1984
1/12 3569-001
Membership
1975-1984
1/13 3569-001
Programs
1958-1986
1/14 3569-001
Ephemera
1982-1985

Accession No. 3569-004: Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1989Return to Top

.06 cubic foot

Scope and Content: Poster, festival program, newspaper.

Material documents the 1989 celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day. The newspaper is the May 17, 1989 Centennial issue of "Western Viking," which was founded in 1889 as "Washington Posten."

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Terje Leiren, 5/12/1989.

Accession No. 3569-005: Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, circa 1986-1992Return to Top

3.00 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Scope and Content: Minutes, notices, rosters, correspondence, newspapers, clippings, photographs.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Christine Anderson, 4/3/1995.

Accession No. 3569-006: Norwegian 17th of May Committee records, 1995Return to Top

.75 cubic foot (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Proclamations, correspondence, minutes, planning files, publicity, videotape, and other items related to the 1995 celebration of May 17th. Also includes a program for the dedication of the mural at Bergen Place in the Ballard district of Seattle by King Harald V of Norway on October 25, 1995; photocopies of programs for the 1903 and 1909 17th of May celebrations.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Christine Anderson, 1/19/1996.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Grunnlovsdag (Norwegian holiday)--Anniversaries, etc
  • Grunnlovsdag (Norwegian holiday)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Norwegian Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Norwegian Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle--Ethnic identity
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Corporate Names

  • Norwegian 17th of May Committee (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives
  • Norwegian 17th of May Committee (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives

Titles within the Collection

  • Western Viking (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Western Viking (Tacoma, Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Scandinavian Archives (University of Washington) (creator)