Arne G. Brekke Papers, 1966-2019

Arne G. Brekke Papers

Overview

Abstract

Scope and Contents

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Box 1

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Collection Overview

Title: Arne G. Brekke Papers, 1966-2019

ID: OGLMC1720

Primary Creator: Brekke, Arne G. (1927-2018)

Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/2018

Subjects: Genealogy and Family History, Norway, University of North Dakota - Faculty

Languages: English, Norwegian

Abstract

1927-2018; UND Languages Professor and namesake for the Arne G. Brekke Bygdebok Collection

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Arne G. Brekke Papers date from 1966 until 2019 and contain biographical information, newspaper clippings, publications, correspondence, and photographs regarding his life, career, and accomplishments.

Collection Historical Note

Arne G. Brekke was born in 1927 on a goat farm in Flåm Parish in the municipality of Aurland, Norway. He completed his mandatory schooling and military service in Norway then came to the United States as a student in 1949, enrolling at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. Brekke entered graduate studies first at the University of Colorado, receiving an M.A. degree in 1952, then at the University of Chicago, earning a Ph.D. in Comparative Germanic and Indo-European Languages in 1962. To finance his studies, he led summer tours in Europe. Brekke joined the Languages Department at the University of North Dakota in 1962, teaching courses in Norwegian and German. He organized a charter flight to Norway for a Sons of Norway Lodge in North Dakota in 1967. His success in this venture ultimately led to the formation of Brekke Tours & Travel, a full service travel agency specializing in heritage tours to Norway. In recognition of his work to foster connections between people with Norwegian ancestry and their homeland, Brekke was awarded the St. Olav Medal from the Norwegian government in 1977. In 2011, he was named Major Benefactor of the Year by the North Dakota Library Association for his work in establishing the bygdebok collection at the University of North Dakota.

Brekke was an expert in the interpretation (etymology) of Norwegian place names. He maintained his interest in language study throughout his life, regularly reading the news in different languages. He was always willing to assist others and enjoyed introducing people to his beautiful homeland of Norway on Brekke-led tours. Arne Brekke, 90, passed away June 25, 2018, after a brief illness. He is survived by his former wife of 32 years, three daughters and their husbands, a daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, and nieces and nephews in Norway.

Subject/Index Terms

Genealogy and Family History
Norway
University of North Dakota - Faculty

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson 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: The Brekke Family and Brekke Tours and Travel

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2024-3501. The collection contents were obtained from Brekke's homes and office at Brekke Tours and Travel.

Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Box and Folder Listing

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Box 1

Folder 1: Biographical Materials

Item 1: "Academic Record," circa 1966
Item 2: "Arne Brekke Biography," undated

Folder 2: 1960s

Item 1: Grand Forks Herald, featuring a photograph of Andrew Honve, Dean Bernard O'Kelly, and Brekke: 20 June 1968

Folder 3: 1980s

Item 1: "Dr. Arne Brekke har hjelpt tusenvis av norsk-amerikanarar a finna tilbake til slektsrøter i Noreg." 2 October 1980
Item 2: "Ættesenter med enorm boksamling far hele Norge skal reises i Grand Forks." 1980
Item 3: "Unge norsk-amerikanere interessert i Norge." 19 December 1981
Item 4: "Universitetet i Grand Forks: Norsk kraftsentrum i North Dakota." 12 January 1983.
Item 5: "To Arne Brekke upon his 56th Birthday, October 19, 1983." by Bjanre Slapgard
Item 6: "The University in Grand Forks: a Norwegian Power Center in North Dakota." Levanger-Avisa. 1 December 1983

Folder 4: 1990s

Item 1: "Arne Featured." 16 July 1995

Folder 5: 2000s

Item 1: "Undredal: What the Place Names Tell Us." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2000
Item 2: "The Farm Names in Bakka and Nærøyfjord." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2000
Item 3: "The World's Largest Road Tunnel, Lærdal-Aurland, Opened." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2001
Item 4: "The Farm Names in Flåm." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2001
Item 5: "The Eldhus on the Old Norwegian Farm." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2002
Item 6: "Heyerdahl: the Kensington Rune Stone is Genuine!" by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2002
Item 7: "The Sognefjord: One of the World's Greatest Natural Attractions." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2003
Item 8: "Background Concerning the Bygdebok Collection at UND, Grand Forks, ND, USA." by Arne Brekke. 2005
Item 9: "Norwegian Heritage in the United States: Resources and the Research Experiences." (conference program). UND. 2005
Item 10: "Norwegian Heritage in the United States: Resources and the Research Experiences." Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2005
Item 11: "Background Concerning the Bygdebok Collection at UND." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2005
Item 12: "Norwegian Collection Milestone." Lux et Lex (Chester Fritz Library publication). by Sandy Slater and Wilbur Stolt. 2006
Item 13: "Norsk Knowhow." by Joseph Marks. Grand Forks Herald. 2006
Item 14: "Descendants of Askjell Nilsen Flåm/Flom, 1803-1886." by Arne Brekke. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2006
Item 15: "Norwegian Heritage and Family History Conference" (conference program). UND. 2007
Item 16: "Travel: Norsk Knowhow." by Joseph Marks. Aurland Newsletter Past and Present. 2007

Folder 6: 2010s

Item 1: Arne G. Brekke Endowment, UND Foundation. 2010
Item 2: "Arne G. Brekke Bygdebok Collection." by Jean Marthaler. Vestlandet. 2010
Item 3: "UND Library Names Norwegian Book Collection in Honor of Arne G. Brekke" (press release). 2010
Item 4: "Our History - Brekke Tours and Travel" (from their website). 2010
Item 5: "Dr. Arne G. Brekke to Speak at Stevne." Vestlandet. 2011
Item 6: Letter from Wilbur Stolt (Director, UND Chester Fritz Library) to Laurie McHenry (North Dakota Library Association) nominating Arne Brekke for the NDLA Benefactor of the Year Award. 29 March 2011: This award is displayed in the Family History Room in Special Collections.
Item 7: "Feature Story." by Larrie Wanberg. Norwegian-American Weekly. 11 November 2011.
Item 8: "Arne G. Brekke Bygdebok Collection at the University of North Dakota." by Michael Swanson. Glåma Ekko. 2011
Item 9: "Finn din bygdebok." by Aina Johnsen Rønning. Slekt og Data. 2012
Item 10: "Strengthening the Bonds." by David Dodds. UND Discovery. 2012
Item 11: "Arne Brekke: His Work Bridges Two Cultures." by David Dodds. Scandinavian Press. 2014
Item 12: Untitled remarks by Michael Swanson regarding the Arne G. Brekke Bygdebok Collection. 2014
Item 13: "Notes for Bygdebok Event, October 23, 2014." remarks by Arne Brekke
Item 14: "Happy 90th Birthday" (program). 2017
Item 15: "Arne Brekke Dies at 90." by Pamela Knudson. Grand Forks Herald. 27 June 2018
Item 16: Celebration of Life program. 2 July 2018
Item 17: "Remembering Arne" remarks by Michael Swanson at the Celebration of Life. 2 July 2018
Item 18: "In Memory of Dr. Arne G. Brekke" (bookmark). 2018
Item 19: "Genealogical Treasure Trove." by Christine Johnson. Viking Magazine. 2019

Folder 7: Undated

Item 1: "Nordmenn til Amerika."
Item 2: "The Arne G. Brekke Bygdebok Collection at UND in Grand Forks, ND"
Item 3: "Telemark Godt Representert: Norske bygdebøker og ættesoger ved Midt-Vesten-universitet." by R.H.
Item 4: "UND Collection Brings Gift of Family History to World." by Jo Ann Winistorfer
Item 5: "Norske Bygdebøker i Amerika." by Arne Brekke

Folder 8: Photographs

Photograph 1: UND students who studied in Norway, 1969. Front row: Lydia Ravnaas, Gaile Knudsvig, Ilene Monda, Diane Everts. Second row: Mary Manger, Steven Trandem, Annette Kjelshus. Back row: Odd Lovoll, Andrew Honve, Arne Brekke, UND President George Starcher
Photograph 2: UND dignitaries at Honve House, undated. Presidents Tom Clifford and George Starcher are to the left of the Honve House sign. Andrew Honve and Arne Brekke are to the right.
Photograph 3: Arne Brekke with unidentified students, undated
Photograph 4: Unidentified group, undated. UND President George Starcher is in the front row on the far right. Arne Brekke is in the back row, second from the left. Andrew Honve and UND President Tom Clifford are next to Brekke.
Photograph 5: Arne Brekke with unidentified students, undated

Folder 9: "The Brekke Farm, Flåm, Norway." Painting by Sheri Ramsey, Springfield, Illinois. (Number 82 of 500)

An additional copy of this painting (Number 137 of 500) is displayed in the Family History Room in Special Collections.

Item 1: Photograph Album/Scrapbook, St. Olav Medal, 1977

Arne Brekke was awarded the St. Olav Medal by King Olav V in 1977. The medal was conferred as “a reward for services in advancing knowledge of Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their descendants and their country of residence”. The album contains several photographs and many congratulatory letters.

The medal is displayed in the Family History Room in Special Collections.

Item 2: "Enlightenment Reason Balance." Brekke Tours and Travel promotional DVD. circa 2011

Item 3: "Enlightenment Reason Balance." Brekke Tours and Travel promotional DVD. circa 2011

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