Title: Simon Johnson Papers, 1874-1980

ID: OGLMC612

Primary Creator: Johnson, Simon (1874-1970)

Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet

Subjects: Ethnicity - Norwegian, Literary

Languages: English, Norwegian

Simon Johnson, also known as the "Prairie's Author," was born September 26, 1874, in Øyer, Gudbrandsdalen, Norway. In 1883, his family emigrated, settling in Norway Township, Traill County, near Hillsboro, North Dakota. As the only male child, Johnson remained on the family farm until the death of his mother in 1919. By this point, he had already published four novels as well as several stories. In 1911, he was awarded the Norwegian Literary Award for the piece "Lonea."

Johnson then went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to edit Normanden, a Norwegian-language newspaper. He resigned in 1924 and later become editor of the Decorah Posten in Decorah, Iowa, in 1929. After 1925, Johnson published no additional major works. Simon Johnson died in July 1970.

Ethnicity - Norwegian
Literary

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 Method: Donation by various donors (81-713, 81-799, 81-884, 82-958) and by Playford Thorson, Grand Forks, on May 7, 1999 (99-2326)

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Simon Johnson Papers. OGLMC 612, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in May 2014.