mtlmc362.xml Guide to Sons of Norway. Fedraheimen Lodge No. 140 (Kalispell, Mont.) records 1913-2006 Sons of Norway. Fedraheimen Lodge No. 140 (Kalispell, Mont.) records Finding aid prepared by Ellie Arguimbau Montana Historical Society Research Center 2010
Helena, MT
Finding aid encoded by Ellie Arguimbau 2010 Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on APPM ( Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts : A Cataloging Manual for Archival Repositories, Historical Societies, and Manuscript Libraries ) Montana Historical Society, Research Center Archives Archives
225 N. Roberts PO Box 201201 Helena MT 59620-1201 (406) 444-2681 MHSlibrary@mt.gov
MC 362 Sons of Norway. Fedraheimen Lodge No. 140 (Kalispell, Mont.) Sons of Norway. Fedraheimen Lodge No. 140 (Kalispell, Mont.) records 1913-2006 7 linear foot of shelf space The Sons of Norway is a fraternal benefit association. Records include correspondence, financial records, organizational records including membership records and minutes, published materials, subject files, scrapbooks, miscellany, and clippings. English and Norwegian Administrative Note

The Sons of Norway is a fraternal benefit society with home offices in Minneapolis. It was founded in 1895 and has members in the United States, Canada, and Norway. It provides fraternal insurance, scholarships, travel and educational opportunities, and publications.

The Fedraheimen lodge, number 140 was founded in Somers, Montana, in March 1913, with 25 members. The lodge prospered until World War I, when foreign-name associations were viewed with suspicion and many of the members dropped out. Between the wars, the lodge grew in membership. But during World War II, the society again declined, this time because so many members left for the service. The lumber mill in Somers closed down and members of the society decided in 1966 to move the lodge to the more prosperous town of Kalispell. The organization leased the old IOOF hall. Membership boomed, growing from 44 members at the time of the move to 333 members by December 1969. The Sons of Norway purchased the IOOF hall and renovated it, adding a Norwegian flair to the architecture. The Lodge was very active in the community of Kalispell, participating in the annual parade, Scandinavian festivals, Lutefisk dinners, and other activities. They encouraged members to learn or refresh their Norwegian language and provided scholarships for study in Norway.

There are currently 18 Sons of Norway lodges around the state of Montana.

Records include correspondence; financial records, including audit reports, financial statements, hall rental records, etc.; organizational records, including charter, bylaws, Region 4 convention materials, membership records, and minutes; published materials, including brochures, the newsletter "Smorgasbord", and songbooks; subject files; scrapbooks of photographs, obituaries, activities; miscellany; and clippings.

Arranged by series

Collection is open for research

The Montana Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

[item description and date]. Name of Collection. Collection Number. [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society Research Center. Archives. Helena, Montana.

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processed in 2010

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search under these terms.

Fraternal organizations--Montana--Kalispell Fraternal organizations--Montana--Somers Norwegian Americans--Montana--Kalispell Norwegian Americans--Montana--Somers Kalispell (Mont.)--Social life and customs. Somers (Mont.)--Social life and customs. Montana Scandinavian Americans Detailed Description of the Collection General Correspondence 1 / 1-4 Chronological 1943-2000 Financial Records 1 / 5 Auditing Committee manual 1935 1 / 6 Building insurance 1968-1999 1 / 7 Building inventory and appraisal 1972-1973 1 / 8 Building mortgage payments 1971-1974 1 / 9 Building renovation [architectural plans in OVERSIZE FOLDER] 1985-1989, 1995 1 / 10-14 Building rental 1973-2001 1 / 15 Building repair and maintenance 1968-1997 2 / 1-4 Cash books, Financial Secretary's 1955-1986 2 / 5-9 Cash books, Treasurer's 1964-1987 3 / 1-2 Cash books, Treasurer's 1988-1995 3 / 3 Check authorization orders 1971-1972 3 / 4-7 Financial and audit reports: semi-annual 1949-1950, 1957-1985 3 / 8-10 Financial Secretary's reports to Treasurer 1965-1986 3 / 11 Financial statements [incomplete set] 1974-1999 3 / 12 Insurance dues receipts 1966-1978 OvBx / 1 Insurance dues collections 1977-1984 3 / 13 Insurance rate book 1943 3 / 14 Invoices [scattered] 1951-1952, 1969-1999 3 / 15 Memo book: Aid Fund 1947-1958 4 / 1 Promissory note 1969 4 / 2 Property taxes 1971-1991 4 / 3-4 Receipt books 1968-1995 Legal Documents 4 / 5 Right of way agreement 1977 Organizational Records 4 / 6 Annual report of corporation 1973-1984 4 / 7 Bylaws: Fedraheimen Corporation 1997 4 / 8 Charter, constitution, bylaws 1938-2004 4 / 9 Committees 1974-1994 4 / 10 Convention planning and programs: District 4 (Montana, North Dakota, Alberta) 1975-1994 4 / 11-13 Convention programs: District 4 1938, 1974-1982, 2006 4 / 14 Convention program: Lodge 86 (Williston, UNDATED) 1983 4 / 15 Convention program: District 8 (Norway) 1998 4 / 16 Directories: District 4 (Montana, North Dakota, Alberta) 2002-2005, undated 4 / 17 Directory of lodges: entire organization 1995, 2002, 2003 4 / 18-19 Membership: dues ledgers, A-Z 1952-1969 5 / 1 Membership: lifetime 1979-1981 5 / 2 Membership: list 1970 5 / 3-10 Membership record: A-Z 1968-1989 5 / 11 Membership record: record of applications 1913-1995 6 / 1-3 Membership rosters [1975-1979, 1986 is in OVERSIZE BOX, Folder 2] 1967-1998 6 / 4 Memberships: secretary's report of new members 1969-1982 6 / 5-7 Minute books 1936-1984 7 / 1-2 Minute books 1984-1999 7 / 3 Minutes: District 4 1970, 1975 7 / 4-5 Minutes: international 1976-1982 7 / 6 Officer lists [scattered] 1947-1999 7 / 7 Officers roll book 1969-1977 7 / 8 Rituals, order of business [national] 1982 7 / 9 Trustees 1990s Printed Materials 7 / 10 Brochures (primarily Norwegian travel) undated 7 / 11 Norwegian song books (includes an explanation of the background of the Sons of Norway logo) undated 7 / 12 The Smorgasbord [newsletter: incomplete run] 1971-1980 8 / 1-2 The Smorgasbord [newsletter: incomplete run] 1981-2001 8 / 3 Non-local newsletters: District 4: "Fabulous 4th Footnotes" [scattered issues only] 1995-1999 8 / 4 Non-Montana newsletters [scattered issues only] 1995-1997 8 / 5 National Sons of Norway newsletter [2 issues only] 1985 Reports 8 / 6 Dun and Bradstreet report 1992 8 / 7 Reports of local unit activity 1991-1998, undated 8 / 8 Ways and Means Committee report 1974 Subject Files 8 / 9 Activities undated 8 / 10 Fire Department inspection of hall 1991 8 / 11 Fort Belknap / Norway cultural exchange 1979-1980 8 / 12 Health Department licenses and inspections 1970-1986 8 / 13 History of the lodge 1972 8 / 14 Junior lodges 1972 8 / 15-16 Lutefisk dinners 1973, 1995-1997 8 / 17 Norwegian language and history lessons undated 8 / 18 Norwegian language class: Eastern Montana College via Telecom 1980 8 / 19 Scholarships 1990, undated 8 / 20 Unge Venner [youth organization of the Sons of Norway] undated Miscellany 8 / 21 Blank stationery and forms undated 8 / 22 Book borrowing and booklist 1914-1952 8 / 23 Certificates 1993-2004 8 / 24 District 4: "Program ideas for District 4 lodges" undated 8 / 25 List of regional managers and representatives 1979 8 / 26 Lodge supply catalogs 2004, undated 9 / 1 Memorial service materials (includes songs, poems, etc.) undated 9 / 2 Programs 1993-1994 9 / 3 Scandinavian Art and Craft Show guest register 1997 1-3 Scrapbooks (include clippings, obituaries, photos, cards, etc.) 1969-1997 OvBx / 3 "Sons of Norway line dancers" (humorous drawing by David Kristoffersen) 2002 9 / 4 Tubfrim stamps (selling used stamps to donate proceeds for eradication of tuberculosis) undated 9 / 5 Miscellaneous undated Clippings 9 / 6 Cartoons "Han Ola og han Per" in Norwegian; article "Pungent lutefisk enough to attract neighbors' wrath," by John Engen 1960?, 1985 Transfers to other programs 96 / 7 List of photos and artifacts transferred to Photograph Archives and Museum respectively undated