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Ragna Pederson Toren Papers, 1888-1987

Collection Overview

Title: Ragna Pederson Toren Papers, 1888-1987

ID: OGLMC/1643

Creator: Toren, Ragna (Pederson) (1899-?)

Extent: 7.5 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 10/20/2015

Languages: English [eng], Norwegian [nor]

Abstract

Family material related to the Pederson family which emigrated from Norway and established residency in Grand Forks, North Dakota, during the 1890s.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Ragna Pederson Toren Papers are divided into four series, including one oversized folder. The collection follows the life of the Pederson family, starting with Hans Pederson who emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1888, settling in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1891. His wife Tomine Momb Pederson emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1895. They were married in 1895 and raised their family in Grand Forks. The couple had three sons and one daughter, Ragna. The collection contains a variety of photographs and photo albums from the late 19th century through the 1980s. Included in the collection are newspaper articles in English and Norwegian, personal correspondence in English and Norwegian, personal mementos and family heirlooms, and scrapbook albums that contain memorabilia and material culture objects from the 1910s and 1930s. Of particular interest are two of Ragna's photograph scrapbooks. The first one dates from circa 1905 to 1928 and includes a variety of personal memorabilia, dance cards, various theater programs and newspaper clippings. The second one dates from circa 1916 to 1932 and pertains to activities at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. The collection in particular offers a glimpse into the cultural history of Grand Forks during the 1910s and 1930s.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the Rules and Regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Robert Dean Pederson, Spokane, Washington

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2015-3286

Related Publications: Going Home Again: On Reclaiming Our Past. Robert Dean Pederson and Shirley Rae Pederson. 2012.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Ragna Pederson Toren Papers. OGLMC 1643, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processed by Susanne Watts, Graduate Student Intern, in Fall 2017.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Hans and Tomine PedersonAdd to your cart.
Series 1 consists of material pertaining to Ragna's parents, Hans and Tomine Pederson, and her brothers Harold and William. The series contains family pictures dating from the mid-to-late 1800s to the early 1900s and includes pictures of the family homestead in Norway. Of particular interest are Hans Pederson's personal documents from Norway: his apprenticeship graduation certificate, work related letters and certificates, and his penmanship exercise book. The collection also contains his Declaration of Intention to become a US citizen (1888), the certificate of becoming a US citizen in 1894, and his US Passport issued in 1928. Included are also personal correspondence, Norwegian newspaper articles about Tomine's family (Bjontegaard), and Hans and Tomine's marriage certificate. The series also contains the memorial books for Hans (died 1932) and Tomine (died 1954). Noteworthy is the baptismal cap and gown sewn by Tomine Pederson that was used by newborn family members.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Tomine Pederson Memorial BookAdd to your cart.
Folder 2: Hans Pederson Memorial BookAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: Hans Pederson US Citizenship Papers and US Passport 1928Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Hans Pederson diplomas/certificates/documents/apprenticeship papers from NorwayAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: Correspondence Tomine J. Momb in NorwegianAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: Correspondence Hans Pederson in Norwegian with English translationAdd to your cart.
Folder 7: Newspaper clippings (Norwegian) and Postcard (English)Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Newspaper articles in Norwegian about Bjontegaard family (Tomine Momb Pederson's family)Add to your cart.
Folder 17: Harold Pederson miscellaneous itemsAdd to your cart.
Folder contains Grand Forks High School commencement program from 1916; Rockwood Clinic Prescription pad; adoption announcement.
Item 1: Baptismal cap and gown sewn by Tomine Pederson that was used by newborn family members.Add to your cart.
Series 2: Ragna Pederson TorenAdd to your cart.
Series 2 depicts Ragna Pederson Toren's life from the early 1900s through mid-1980s. The majority of materials deal with her high school and college years. The collection contains several postcard albums, photograph albums, scrapbooks, and personal correspondence. Of particular interest is Ragna's high school graduation book. It contains comments from fellow students and well wishes, commencement programs from her brother Harold's graduation in 1916 as well as her own. It also includes an English essay by Ragna, titled "The Blot on American Civilization," from March 1917. The scrapbook holds calling cards, dance cards, and material relating to extra-curricular activities. The series also holds Ragna's scrapbook from (circa) 1916 to 1932. The album has the UND logo on a green cover and "Footprints of Fellowship dedicated to Our Alma Mater" printed on the title page. The scrapbook contains photographs of UND May Fetes beginning 1916 through the 1920s. The album includes university programs, newspaper articles, programs of various theater plays, and a variety of pictures and memorabilia of Ragna's trips.
Box 2Add to your cart.
Item 1: Ragna's photo album and scrapbook dating circa 1905 to 1928Add to your cart.
Photo album and scrapbook that allows a glimpse into Ragna's social life. It contains school records, theater programs, UND commencement booklets for 1921 to 1923, and dance cards/booklets from various university clubs and associations from 1917 to 1928. Ragna's scrapbook also includes mementos and memorabilia she picked up while traveling throughout the Midwest such as hotel cards, menus, postcards.
Item 2: Ragna's High School Graduation book "School Memories," 1917Add to your cart.
Ragna's High School Graduation book 1917. It contains student comments and well wishes, commencement programs from her brother Harold's graduation in 1916 as well as her own. It also includes an English essay by Ragna, titled "The Blot on American Civilization," from March 1917. The scrapbook also holds calling cards, dance cards, and material relating to extra-curricular activities.
Item 3: 2 penknivesAdd to your cart.
Item 4: 1 coin purseAdd to your cart.
Item 5: 2 cuff linksAdd to your cart.
Item 6: 1 advertisement note padAdd to your cart.
Item 7: 1 6-inch wooden rulerAdd to your cart.
Item 8: University of North Dakota ceramic logo medallion, made by the School of Mines, 1926Add to your cart.
Item 9: Felt pennant "1916 Grand Forks"Add to your cart.
Box 3Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Ragna's Wedding album and cardsAdd to your cart.
Folder 2: Correspondence from Kari Oien/Yarborough, nee Evanger, in English and NorwegianAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: Personal correspondence in EnglishAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Personal correspondence in NorwegianAdd to your cart.
Folder 5: Newspaper articles in English and NorwegianAdd to your cart.
Folder 6: UND correspondenceAdd to your cart.
Folder 7: UND grade recordsAdd to your cart.
Folder 8: Ragna's postcard scrapbook, circa 1908-1913Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Ragna's Birth CertificateAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: Sigma Kappa Sorority 1928 annualAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: Hans Pederson photo album circa 1913-1917Add to your cart.
Hans Pederson family photo album, pictures of Grand Forks, Utah, and Spokane, WA.
Folder 12: Hans Pederson photo album circa 1935-1942Add to your cart.
Hans Pederson family photo album, pictures of Spokane, WA, Grand Forks, and Chicago.
Folder 13: Ragna Pederson Toren photo album circa 1913-1915Add to your cart.
Album contains photos of Ragna, her friends and family around Grand Forks.
Folder 14: Ragna Pederson Toren photo album 1918-1919Add to your cart.
Album contains photos of Gackle, ND where Ragna taught school.
Folder 15: Ragna Pederson Toren photo album circa 1929-1937Add to your cart.
Ragna's photo album, pictures of her honeymoon with Clifford, pictures of vacation/travel around the country, visiting friends and family.
Box 4Add to your cart.
Item 1: Ragna's postcard scrapbook circa 1907-1913Add to your cart.
Item 2: Hans Pederson family photo album circa 1913-1930Add to your cart.
Item 3: Photo album circa 1938-1950Add to your cart.
Item 4: Ragna Pederson Toren photo album circa 1953-1969Add to your cart.
Box 5Add to your cart.
Item 1: Ragna's scrapbook circa 1916 to 1932Add to your cart.
The album has the UND logo on a green cover and "Footprints of Fellowship dedicated to Our Alma Mater" printed on the title page. The scrapbook contains photographs of UND Spring Fetes beginning 1916 (May Fete) through the 1920s. The album also includes university programs, newspaper articles, programs of various theater plays, and a variety of pictures and memorabilia of Ragna's trips.
Series 3: PhotographsAdd to your cart.
Series 3 contains a variety of photographs, dating from the late 1800s to late 1980s. The series holds mostly pictures of the Pederson family in the US and in Norway, as well as friends and relatives. Photographs also show the Norwegian homestead of Tomine Pederson's family.
Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Momb family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 10: Johnson family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 11: Larson family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 12: Paulsen family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 13: Miscellaneous photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder contains various photographs of people who have been identified on back.
Folder 14: Hans Pederson family photographs circa 1880s-1930sAdd to your cart.
Folder 15: Bjontegaard family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 16: Pictures of relatives and family homestead in NorwayAdd to your cart.
Folder 18: Harold Pederson family photographsAdd to your cart.
Folder 19: William Pederson family photographs and newspaper articlesAdd to your cart.
Box 2Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Miscellaneous photographs circa 1977-1987Add to your cart.
Album contains photos of Ragna's grandchildren.
Folder 2: Holiday greetings photo cardsAdd to your cart.
Folder 3: Photographs of Ragna's sons' weddingsAdd to your cart.
Folder 4: Photographs of RagnaAdd to your cart.
Album contains 3 photographs: Ragna's wedding portrait, Ragna in 1921, Ragna's grade school picture.
Series 4: Oversized MaterialAdd to your cart.
Series 4 includes one oversized documents folder that holds a hand-drawn family tree dating back to the early 1500s, as well as high school and university diplomas, certificates, and licenses from Harold and Ragna. Included are also Baptismal and Confirmation certificates, and Hans and Tomine Pederson's marriage certificate.
Folder 1: Oversized documentsAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Ragna's Baptismal Certificate (in Norwegian), dated December 29, 1899Add to your cart.
Item 2: "Daabs Attest" (Norwegian) for Ragna, dated December 29, 1900Add to your cart.
Item 3: Ragna's Confirmation Certificate (Norwegian) 05/24/1914Add to your cart.
Item 4: Ragna's Grand Forks High School Diploma - Latin 06/07/1917Add to your cart.
Item 5: Ragna Pederson University of North Dakota School of Education Teacher Certificate, 06/15/1020Add to your cart.
Item 6: Ragna Pederson State of North Dakota Second Grade Professional Certificate, 09/10/1921Add to your cart.
Item 7: Ragna Pederson University of North Dakota School of Education Physical Education Certificate , 06/12/1923Add to your cart.
Item 8: Ragna Pederson University of North Dakota Bachelor of Arts Degree, 06/10/1924Add to your cart.
Item 9: Ragna Pederson University of North Dakota Bachelors Diploma in Teaching - Major Norse, 06/10/1924Add to your cart.
Item 10: Ragna Pederson State of North Dakota Special Certificate Physical Education, 05/28/1926Add to your cart.
Item 11: Ragna Pederson State of North Dakota First Grade Professional Certificate, 05/28/1926Add to your cart.
Item 12: Hans and Tomine Pederson's Marriage Certificate, dated November 21, 1895Add to your cart.
Item 13: Rockwood Clinic Staff panoramic photographAdd to your cart.
Item 14: Harold Pederson Collegium Medicale Rush Certificate 03/23/1923Add to your cart.
Item 15: Harold Pederson Confirmation Certificate 10/16/1897Add to your cart.
Item 16: Harold Pederson Grand Forks High School Diploma - Latin 06/08/1906Add to your cart.
Item 17: Harold Pederson Presbyterain Hospital Chicago Resident Staff Poster, 1922Add to your cart.
Item 18: Harold Pederson State of Illinois Physician and Surgeon License, 03/27/1923Add to your cart.
Item 19: Harold Pederson, State of Utah Medicine and Surgery License, 08/07/1925Add to your cart.
Item 20: Harold Pederson US Army Certificate First Lieutenant, 07/31/1926Add to your cart.
Item 21: Ragna Pederson Toren family tree, dating back to early 1500s.Add to your cart.