Guide to the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture Collection, 1960-2023

Overview of the Collection

Repository:
Special Collections & Archives
McIntyre Library
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
P.O. Box 4004
105 Garfield Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004
(715)-836-2739
http://www.uwec.edu/Library/archives/info.htm

Reference Code: USGZE UHC382

Accession Number: 23-020

Collection Number: UHC 382

Creator: Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture (Nordenfolk)

Title: Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture Collection

Dates: 1960-2023

Quantity: 3.8 linear feet (7 archives boxes, 1 oversized folder); Digital Materials: 1 File, 721 MB

Location of Collection: B6/3g (Box 1-7); Oversized Folder: Rm. 5012 Folder 01, Drawer 01; Digital Asset Preservation Storage: “UHC382_MWISC”

Languages: Collection materials are primarily in English.

Summary: The Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture (Nordenfolk) collection shows the influence of ethnic Scandinavian roots on local Midwestern culture and documents the activity of the organization both regionally and abroad. Includes meeting minutes, bylaws, program materials, correspondence, maps, annual reports, certifications, photographs, blueprints, membership lists, newsletters, and a 30-minute digitized documentary of the institute’s history, from 1961-2023 (bulk 1970s-2010s).

Biographical/Historical Note

The Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture (Nordenfolk) was founded on July 6, 1960, under the name Wisconsin Institute of Scandinavian Culture by A. Elmer Anderson, Mrs. Kempton German (also called Mrs. K. L. German), Orville Torgerson, Ralph Gilbert, Trygve Ager, Henry Christoffersen, Gerald O. Thorpe, and Lawrence Wahlstrom. Since the earliest days of the organization, the main goal was “to promote a better understanding and appreciation of Scandinavian Culture among all people regardless of race, religion, age, or ethnic background.” The founders wanted to fill a gap in opportunities for people to learn about the history and culture of Scandinavian countries. They emphasized the importance of both historical and contemporary Nordic culture on Midwestern culture. Throughout the years, they held annual programs to celebrate holidays like Syttende Mai and retreats to encourage student involvement. To help the institute afford the costs of the organization, they opened a retail Scandinavian Shop at 16 S. Barstow St in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, alongside donations from family members and supporters.

A year after their founding, the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture began their tradition of celebrating Syttende Mai, a tradition they still hold today. Alongside Syttende Mai, they have celebrated Finnish Independence Day, Midsummer, and more. The institute encouraged community interest in contemporary Scandinavian culture by inviting performance groups to get involved in local events. The organization understood the importance of student involvement and held retreats every year to educate the younger generation about their heritage. For students that could not afford to attend, they sponsored them through the Wallenberg Fund.

Their involvement extended beyond holiday programming in 1971, when they purchased 50 acres of land in Eastern Dunn County, and a few years later, they received 8 additional acres. L. Wahlstrom had the ambitious plan of creating a Nordic Center that would provide students and hobbyists with a way to study Nordic life. However, the Nordic Center was never built because they did not raise enough money and Wahlstrom refused to go into debt. After Wahlstrom’s death, Dawn Bergstrom planned to turn the land into a memorial to the original founders through signs. On May 30, 2012, the institute’s board of directors approved a resolution to enter the land into the Wisconsin Managed Forest Program and by December 29, 2022, the land was sold for $118.5k and given the name “Elk Creek Bottoms Preserve.”

As of 2023, the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture has a website that continues to update their members on their activities and community involvement. On their website, they claim to “support Scandinavian Culture with Workshops, Retreats and Presentations. Projects include a local Folk Fair, Wahlstrom Nordic Workshop for college students, and a yearly Syttende Mai celebration.” To learn more about the institute, look at their website: https://www.nordenfolk.online/

Content Description

The Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture (Norden Folk) collection shows the influence of ethnic Scandinavian roots on local Midwestern culture and documents the activity of the organization both regionally and abroad. The materials of this collection date from approximately 1960-2023, with the bulk of it falling between the 1970s and 2010s. Included in the collection are meeting minutes, correspondence, emails, maps, annual reports, certifications, director’s manuals, program statements, photographs, negatives, blueprints, program materials, membership lists, newsletters, and a 30-minute digitized videocassette documentary of the organization’s history.

This collection is arranged into six series. Series 1 of Administrative Materials shows the history of the institute, constitution and bylaws, director’s manuals, dedications, blueprints, maps, photographs, a 30-minute digitized videocassette documentary of the organization’s history, and certifications, ranging from 1968-2022. Series 2 includes meeting minutes and related correspondence from 1968-2023; Series 3 includes correspondence letters and emails from 1962-2013; Series 4 includes program materials that are associated with the various public activities of the institute (some papers are written in English and Swedish/Norwegian) from 1961-2018; Series 5 and 6 include membership lists and newsletters from 1971-2022.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Transferred to the University Archives by Timothy Siverston in December 2022.

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public.

Use Restrictions: Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright owned by the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.

Processing Note: Processed by Guinevere Fischer in August 2023.

Arrangement: By series.

OCLC #: 1409529055

Subjects

Personal Names:
Aalto, Alvar
Ager, Trygve
Anderson, A. Elmer
Bergstrom, Dawn
Bergstrom, Mr. Everett
Borssen, Per-Ake
Christoffersen, Henry
Eichinger, Evadine
German, Mrs. Kempton
Gilbert, Ralph
Ingwerson, Niels
Mr. Stapleman
Proctor, David
Shakelford, Jole
Thorpe, Gerald O.
Thorpe, Gordon
Torgerson, Orville
Wahlstrom, Jon
Wahlstrom, Lawrence

Corporate Names:
Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture
Sons of Norway
Wisconsin Institute of Scandinavian Culture

Subject Terms:
Architecture
ASI
Charitable Organization
Conservation
Finnish Independence Day
Folk Fair
Green Thumb Project
Leif Erikson Day
Midsummer
Midwestern Culture
Nordic Center
Nordic Culture
Scandinavian American Organizations
Scandinavian Americans
Scandinavian Cookbook
Scandinavian Culture
Scandinavian Dance
Scandinavian Music
Scandinavian Studies Minor
Scandinavian-American food
Student involvement
Study Abroad
Swedes in Town
Swedish costumes
Swedish Folklore
Syttende Mai
Wahlstrom Nordic Workshop
Wallenberg Fund
Wisconsin Managed Forest Program

Geographical Terms:
Dunn County, Wisconsin
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Elk Creek Bottoms Preserve
Elk Creek, Wisconsin
Finland
Scandinavia
Scandinavian Countries
Sweden

Detailed List of Contents

Series 1: Administrative Material

History of the institute, constitution and bylaws, director’s manuals, dedications, blueprints, maps, photographs, negatives, a 30-minute digitized videocassette documentary of the organization’s history, and certifications that show the administrative history of the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture (MWISC).

Dates: 1968-2022, bulk 1971-2005

Extent: 1.4 linear feet (1 archives box, 1 oversized folder); Digital Materials: 721 MB (1 videocassette)

Series 2: Meeting Minutes
Detailed overviews of each meeting, alongside related correspondence.

Dates: 1968-2023, bulk 1975-2023

Extent: 0.4 linear feet (1 archives boxes)

Series 3: Correspondence

Letters and emails associated with the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture.

Dates: 1962-2013, bulk 1968-2009

Extent: 0.8 linear feet (2 archives boxes)

Series 4: Program Material

Papers, letters, emails, brochures, and meeting minutes that are associated with the various public activities of the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture. Some papers are written in English and Swedish/Norwegian.

Dates: 1961-2018, bulk 1968-2016

Extent: 1.1 linear feet (2.75 archives boxes)

Series 5: Membership Lists
Lists of people involved with the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture, including general membership, board members, donators, and directors.
Dates: 1971-2003
Extent: .1 linear feet (.25 archives boxes)

Series 6: Newsletters
Materials that were published by the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture.
Dates: 1993-2022
Extent: 1 folder