Collection Overview
Title: Ralph Engelstad Papers, 1988-2004
ID: OGLMC/1451
Creator: Engelstad, Ralph (1930-2002)
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 08/26/2002
Languages: English [eng]
Abstract
1930-2002; UND Class of 1954. Donated over $100 million to UND, 1987-2002. Both the "old" and "new" Ralph Engelstad Arenas were named in his honor
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Ralph Engelstad Papers consist of seven folders documenting several events from late in Engelstad’s life: the controversy over Nazi memorabilia at his casino, the Imperial Palace; announcement, construction and controversy over the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks; donation of funds to send a Sakakawea statue to Washington D.C.; his induction into the North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame; news of his death, including obituaries; and UND Hockey’s retirement of #23, Engelstad’s former jersey number.
Material on the controversy over Engelstad’s "Hitler parties" and Nazi memorabilia include Engelstad’s 1988 letter to the Grand Forks Herald and a series of articles from October 1988 in the Dakota Student. Also regarding this topic is an article in People Weekly magazine and photocopies from Jeff Burbank’s 2000 book, License to Steal.
All material regarding the construction of the Ralph Engelstad Arena comes from the Grand Forks Herald, except for one article from the Chronicle of Higher Education. These materials date from 2001 to 2004.
The Center for Innovation in Grand Forks inducted Engelstad into the North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fall in August 2002, and it is the source of the materials regarding that honor, along with the accompanying Grand Forks Herald article.
President Charles Kupchella’s statement following Engelstad’s death was posted on the UND website and released in an email.
All other records are newspaper clippings. The majority comes from the Grand Forks Herald, but obituaries are also included from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Fargo Forum, Bismarck Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Ralph Engelstad Arena website.
Administrative Information
Accruals:
Additional materials were added by the staff of the Department of Special Collections.
Access Restrictions:
Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source:
Bruce Gjovig, UND Center for Innovation
Acquisition Method:
Donation; Acc. #2002-2585
Separated Materials:
Two photographs of a tank advertising Ralph Engelstad’s Vintage Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.
One videotape regarding Ralph Engelstad’s induction into the North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2002 was also separated from the collection. In the video Bruce Gjovig, Russ Brown, John Cook, and former UND President Thomas Clifford spoke about the life and career of Ralph Engelstad. The tape was placed in the video collection and given number 1840.
Preferred Citation:
(Description of Item). Ralph Engelstad Papers. OGLMC 1451, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota.
Finding Aid Revision History:
Finding aid migrated to Archon in March 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Engelstad Nazi controversy, October 1988-2000
- Folder 2: Ralph Engelstad Arena newspaper clippings, January 2001-November 2004
- Folder 3: Charitable donation, Sakakawea Statue, clipping from Grand Forks Herald, August 27, 2002
- Folder 4: North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, August 2002
- Folder 5: Engelstad death, UND President Charles Kupchella’s Statement, November 2002
- Folder 6: Engelstad death, various newspaper clippings, November-December 2002
- Folder 7: Jersey retirement clipping, Grand Forks Herald, December 8, 2002
- Separated Materials :
- Photograph 1: Ralph Engelstad’s Vintage Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace
- Placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.
- Photograph 2: Ralph Engelstad’s Vintage Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace
- Placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.
- Videotape 1: Ralph Engelstad’s induction into the North Dakota Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2002 was also separated from the collection. In it Bruce Gjovig discussed the Hall of Fame and told about Engelstad’s accomplishments. Russ Brown, John Cook, and former UND President Thomas Clifford talked about the life and career of Ralph Engelstad. The tape was placed in the video collection and given number 1840.
- Placed in the Videotape Collection.