XOE_CPNWS0359 Guide to the Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records1908-2017 1927-2010 Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records Finding aid prepared by Samantha Wu Rose for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies Western Washington University, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies 2019
Goltz-Murray Building 808 25th St Bellingham 98225-9123 cpnws@wwu.edu
Finding aid created by Samantha Wu Rose for the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies2019-02-06. English Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. Center for Pacific Northwest Studies
Goltz-Murray Building 808 25th St Bellingham 98225-9123 cpnws@wwu.edu
XOE_CPNWS0359 Sons of Norway (U.S.). Wergeland Lodge No. 21 (Bellingham, Wash.) Sons of Norway Wergeland Lodge No. 21 Records 1908-2017 1927-2010 13.5 linear feet A collection documenting the history and activities of a Sons of Norway Lodge in Bellingham, Washington. English Norwegian

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.

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.

The collection was processed by Samantha Wu Rose in 2018.

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The collection is open to the public for research.

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

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

 Sons of Norway (U.S.).--Wergeland Lodge No. 21 (Bellingham, Wash.) Norway Hall Incorporated--Archives Norwegian Americans--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources Fraternal organizations--Washington (State)--Bellingham--History--Sources Records (Documents) Albums (Books) Photographs Bellingham Clubs and Societies Photographs Scandinavian Americans Scrapbooks Administrative Records Series 1 1927-2010 NSEA Correspondence undated 1 1 Wergeland Publicity 1981 1986 1 2 Lodge Secretary Correspondence 1963-1964 1 3 Lodge Correspondence and Membership 1980-1990 1 4 Lodge Correspondence 1991-2000 1 5 Semi-Annual Reports 1964-1997 1 6 District 2 Correspondence / Convention Materials 1960-1994 1 7 International Conventions / Correspondence 1991-1998 1 8 Convention Reports 1990-1992 1 9 Convention Planning / Reports 1990-2001 2 1 Constitution and By-laws 1971-1992 2 2 Secretary's Materials circa 1998 2 3 Postal Materials 1997-2005 2 4 Brochures + Proceedures 1925 undated 2 5 Officer's Guidelines undated 2 6 Officer's Roster 1998 2 7 Meeting Rosters and Budget Reports 1992-1993 2 8 Lodge Supply Catalog and Orders 1987-1999 2 9 Administrative Forms undated 2 10 Lodge Officers Form 1999 2 11 Roll Call Record 1987-2000 2 12 Miscellaneous Materials 2005-2006 2 13 Miscellaneous Administrative / Publicity Materials 2004-2007 2 14 By-laws, Newsletters, and Lodge Brochures 1980s-2000s 2 15 Sunshine Committee / Thank Yous 1993-1999 2 16 Memorial Fund 1991-1994 2 17 Norway Hall Building Committee 1966-1967 2 18 Norway Hall Building Permits 2000 2 19 Norway Hall Tax Filing 1956-2001 3 1 Meeting Minutes 1927-1930 3 2 Meeting Minutes 1929-1934 3 3 Meeting Minutes 1936-1940 3 4 Meeting Minutes 1940-1943 3 5 Meeting Minutes 1944-1948 3 6 Meeting Minutes 1948-1952 4 1 Meeting Minutes 1980 4 2 Meeting Minutes and Newsletters 1986-2012 4 3 Meeting Minutes and Other Notes circa 1990s 4 4 Auxilary Meeting Minutes 1994-1999 4 5 Executive Board Meeting Minutes 1997-2000 4 6 Lodge of the Year Application and Meeting Minutes 1992-2000 4 7 District 2 Convention 1998 4 8 Meeting Minutes 2003-2004 4 9 Meeting Minutes 2005-2006 5 1A Norway Hall Meeting Minutes and Adminstration 2002-2005 5 1B Application Forms 1995 5 2 Member Lists 1932-1945 5 3 Membership Reports 1984-1985 5 4 Membership List 1986-1987 5 5 Membership List 1988 5 6 Membership Reports 1989 5 7 Membership Reports 1990 5 8 Membership Reports 1991 5 9 Membership Reports 1992 5 10 Membership Reports 1993 5 11 Membership Reports 1994 5 12 Membership Reports 1995 5 13 Membership Reports 1996 5 14 Membership Reports 1997 5 15 Membership Reports 1998 6 1 Membership Reports 1999 6 2 Membership Records 1990-2010 6 3 Record of Applications 1936-1971 6 4 Report of New Members 1983-1998 6 5 Membership Records of Dues 1973-1990 6 6 Deceased Member Records 1970-1999 6 7 Deceased Member List 1998-2000 7 1 Membership Cancellations 1984 7 2 Membership + Misc. Materials 1978-1986 7 3 Lodge Roster 1927-1931 1 Membership Roster circa 1927-2001 7 4 Membership Rosters 1990-1997 7 5 Membership Roster 1992 7 6 Member Directory / File Backup CD 2006 7 7 Financial Records Series 2 1930-2007 Wergeland Financial Reports 1950-1954 7 8 Miscellaneous Financial Materials 1959-1968 7 9 Blank Norway Hall Building Fund Notes undated 7 10 Cash Flow Reports 1998 8 1 Member Account Sheets (A-E) 1930-1950 8 2 Member Account Sheets (F-J) 1930-1950 8 3 Member Account Sheets (K-O) 1930-1950 8 4 Member Account Sheets (P-Z) 1930-1950 8 5 Member Account Sheets I 1950-1975 8 6 Member Account Sheets II 1950-1975 9 1 Member Account Sheets (Bound Book) 1953-1973 9 2 Secretary's Cashbook 1931-1935 9 3 Secretary's Cashbook 1935-1939 10 1 Secretary's Cashbook 1939-1942 10 2 Secretary's Cashbook 1942-1944 10 3 Secretary's Cashbook 1945-1947 10 4 Secretary's Cashbook 1947-1950 10 5 Cash Book 1946-1954 10 6 Secretary's Cashbook 1960-1964 10 7 Secretary's Cashbook 1965-1968 10 8 Secretary's Cashbook 1969-1974 11 1 Secretary's Cashbook 1975-1996 11 2 Cash Book 1970-1973 11 3 Cash Book 1973-1976 11 4 Cash Book 1976-1979 11 5 Cash Book 1980-1983 11 6 Cash Book 1983-1987 11 7 Cash Book 1987-1992 11 8 Cash Book 1992-1995 11 9 Check Register 1977-1989 12 1 Receipt Books 1983-1986 12 2 Receipt Books 1994-1997 12 3 Receipt Books 1997-2000 12 4 Receipt Books 1987-1994 12 5 Record of Bills 1991-2008 12 6 Newsletters Series 3 1985-2005 International Newsletter 1985-1998 13 1 National Newsletters 1996-1998 13 2 District 2 Newsletters 1991-1999 13 3 Wergeland Newsletters 1980-1999 13 4 Wergeland Newsletters 1983-1995 13 5 Wergeland Newsletters + Articles 1985-1999 13 6 Wergeland Newsletters 1995-1999 13 7 Wergeland Newsletters 1996-1999 13 8 Wergeland Newsletters + USPS Service Guide 1997-1998 13 9 News of Norway and Wergeland 21 Drafts 1993-2005 13 10 Misc. Newsletters 1998 13 11 Viking Magazine / Wergeland Newsletters 1998 13 12 Wergeland Newsletter Materials 1995-1996 13 13 Wergeland Newsletter Materials 1996 14 1 Lyle and Erliss Buss Materials 1994-1995 14 2 Newsletter Materials 1995 14 3 Newsletter Planning / Design 1995 undated 14 4 Wergeland Newsletter Editor Materials 1995-1999 14 5 Articles for Newsletter 1995-1998 14 6 Member Submissions 1997 14 7 Newspapers 1995-1998 14 8 Events and Activities Series 4 approximately 1965-2007 Lodge Events and District Boundaries 1965-1973 14 9 Misc. Materials 1968-1994 14 10 Correspondence re: 50th Lodge Anniversary 1977 14 11 65th / 66th Anniversary Materials + Belinda Hovde Correspondence 1992-1993 2001 14 12 Event Planning and Programing 1992-1994 14 13 Wergeland Anniversary Celebrations 1992-1998 14 14 Trollhaugen undated 14 15 Merit Awards 1996-1997 14 16 Norway Hall Event Planning 1997 undated 14 17 Lodge of the Year Award 1997 14 18 Lodge of the Year Rating Form 1998 14 19 Anniversary Planning 1998-2000 14 20 UFFDA Awards Dinner CD 2004 14 21 Public Relations 2005 14 22 Cultural Programs and Election Materials undated 14 23 Anniversary Celebration Invite 2007 14 24 Cultural Resources Series 5 approximately 1984-1992 Geneaology Resources 1984 undated 14 25 Norwegian Cultural Skills Program 1991-1992 14 26 Recipes undated 14 27 Scandinavian Travel Brochures undated 14 28 Wergeland History undated 14 29 Norweigan Culture Articles undated 14 30 Norse Mythology and Viking History undated 14 31 Norwegian Studies Resources undated 14 32 Song Book undated 14 33 Photographs, Clippings and Display Materials Series 6 approximately 1908-2017 Festivals and Historic Photos 1908-2016 14 34 Cultural Events / Member Photos 1959-1993 14 35 Clippings 1960s-2010s 14 36 Correspondence to Lisa Tofsrud + Norweigan Clippings 1982-1986 14 37 Scrapbook Pages 1980s-1990s 14 38 Photos of Members / Activities 1989 1997 14 39 Family / Personal Photos 1990s undated 14 40 Anniversary Celebration Photos 1992 14 41 Members and Events 1999-2003 14 42 Elaine Grasdock Photos 2011 14 43 Album (unidentified event) undated 14A 1 90th Anniversary Celebrations 2017 14A 2 Framed Past Presidents Photos 1927-1960 15 1 Framed Past Presidents Photos 1960-2011 16 1 Scrapbook: Photos of Lodge Members / Events 1990s 17 1 Photo Album: Members and Events 1950s-1970s 17 2 Scrapbook: Clippings and Photos 1980s 17 3 Wooden Gavel undated 17 4 Lodge Scrapbook 1980s 18 1 Lodge Scrapbook: History and Photos 1948-2000 18 2 Scrapbook: Clippings and Drawings 1950s-1970s 18 3 Historic Photos 1927-1953 1 Posterboards (3) undated 2 3 4