Oscar Lunseth Papers, 1917-1972

Oscar Lunseth Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Oscar Lunseth Papers, 1917-1972

Predominant Dates:1940-1970

ID: OGLMC372

Primary Creator: Lunseth, Oscar (1894-1976)

Extent: 15.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1976

Subjects: Politics and Government - Grand Forks

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Oscar Lunseth Papers are divided into five series.

Collection Historical Note

Oscar Lunseth was born August 14, 1894, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was the son of John and Caroline (Olsen) Lunseth. His father came to Grand Forks in 1887, and served as the City Superintendent of Water Works. Oscar Lunseth attended public schools in Grand Forks.

Lunseth joined the United States Navy during World War I, enlisting at Grand Forks December 10, 1917. He served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois until his discharge May 6, 1919. During his time in the Navy, he served as a Fireman Third Class, Plumber and Fitter, Water Tender and Chief Water Tender.

Following the war, Lunseth returned to Grand Forks and took a position with Dakota Plumbing and Heating. He first began working for this company in 1912. He worked for Dakota Plumbing and Heating for over twenty-three years, leaving in 1935. In July of that year, Oscar and his brother Rasmus founded Lunseth Plumbing and Heating. Located at 135 South Third Street, the firm specialized in "boilers-stokers-oil burners-air conditioners-water softeners-farm water systems." Oscar Lunseth served as vice president and secretary of the company until his death in 1976.

Lunseth was active in Grand Forks city government, serving as alderman from 1940 to 1952, and mayor from 1952 to 1960. On a statewide level, he was especially concerned about the issue of water conservation. He was a member of the North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission (1951-1965), and served as director of the Missouri-Souris Projects Association. He also served on the Red River Basin Planning Committee and the North Dakota Reclamation Association. He was honored by the Sertoma Club in 1975 with the "Service to Mankind Award." He was chosen for the award due to "his pioneering work in the field of water conservation and purity." He was a member of the American Legion, the Sons of Norway, the Elks and United Lutheran Church. He was active in the State Association of Master Plumbers of North Dakota, serving as both president and secretary.

He married Sophia Bergetta Bentley on December 31, 1921, in Twin Valley, Minnesota. The couple had three children: John, Lois and Louanna. Oscar Lunseth died February 23, 1976, in Grand Forks.

Subject/Index Terms

Politics and Government - Grand Forks

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Acquisition Method: Donation; the acquisition records are unavailable. A signed certificate of gift was received from John Lunseth, Cambridge, Minnesota, on January 12, 1987.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item).Oscar Lunseth Papers. OGLMC 372, 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 December 2013.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Water Materials],
[Series 2: Grand Forks City Materials],
[Series 3: Personal Materials],
[Series 4: Newspapers and Miscellaneous],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[All]

Series 1: Water Materials

This series consists of correspondence, minutes, hearing reports, newsletters and related materials concerning various water-related agencies both public and private. Materials from the North Dakota Water Conservation Commission comprise the bulk of this series. The materials are arranged alphabetically by agency and date from 1940 to 1974.

Box 1

Folder 1: Congressional Bills - water-related
Folder 2: Eastern ND Water Development Association - correspondence
Folder 3: Eastern ND Water Development Association - reports, etc.
Folder 4: Garrison Dam - reports, etc.
Folder 5: Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - correspondence
Folder 6: Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - minutes and resolutions
Folder 7: Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports, etc., 1960-1974
Folder 8: Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports, etc., 1957-1959
Folder 9: Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports, etc., 1952-1956
Folder 10: Grand Forks Dike - correspondence
Folder 11: Grand Forks Dike - reports, etc.
Folder 12: Greater ND Association - correspondence
Folder 13: Greater ND Association - reports, etc.
Folder 14: Hydroelectric resources
Folder 15: Jamestown Dam - reports, etc.
Folder 16: Minnesota - miscellaneous
Folder 17: Miscellaneous materials from Illinois, Idaho, Montana, and Saskatchewan

Box 2

Folder 1: Miscellaneous water-related materials, 1955-1966
Folder 2: Miscellaneous water-related materials, 1946-1954
Folder 3: Miscellaneous water-related materials, 1944-1945
Folder 4: Miscellaneous water-related materials, 1940 and undated
Folder 5: Mississippi Valley Association - miscellaneous
Folder 6: Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee - reports, etc.
Folder 7: Missouri-Souris Projects Association - correspondence
Folder 8: Missouri-Souris Projects Association - minutes and resolutions
Folder 9: Missouri-Souris Projects Association - reports, etc., 1953-1958
Folder 10: Missouri-Souris Projects Association - reports, etc., 1946-1952
Folder 11: National Reclamation Association (Bureau of Reclamation) - correspondence, etc.
Folder 12: National Reclamation Association - reports, etc., 1955-1961
Folder 13: National Reclamation Association - reports, etc., 1947-1953
Folder 14: National Reclamation Association - reports, etc., 1944-1946 and undated

Box 3

Folder 1: National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters, etc., 1955-1958
Folder 2: National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters, etc., 1953-1955
Folder 3: National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters, etc., 1944-1953
Folder 4: North Dakota Reclamation Association - correspondence
Folder 5: North Dakota Reclamation Association - meetings and resolutions
Folder 6: North Dakota Reclamation Association - reports and information
Folder 7: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 1964-1968
Folder 8: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 1962-1963
Folder 9: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 1960-1961
Folder 10: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 1958-1959
Folder 11: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, January-December 1957
Folder 12: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, January-December 1956
Folder 13: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, January-December 1954
Folder 14: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, 1945-1953
Folder 15: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, undated
Folder 16: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission, August 5, 1964
Folder 17: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - memos, undated
Folder 18: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - agenda, 1964-1965

Box 4

Folder 1: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - minutes of meetings- agenda Jan. 1963-Dec. 1963
Folder 2: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1962-Dec. 1962
Folder 3: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Feb. 1962-Dec. 1961
Folder 4: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1960-Dec. 1960
Folder 5: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1958-Oct. 1959
Folder 6: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1957-Dec. 1957
Folder 7: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1956-Dec. 1956
Folder 8: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1955-Nov. 1955
Folder 9: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1953-Dec. 1954
Folder 10: North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda May 1951-Dec. 1952
Folder 11: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Jan. 1962- April 1965
Folder 12: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Jan. 1960- Dec. 1961
Folder 13: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Feb. 1956- Dec. 1959
Folder 14: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations April 1951-Dec. 1955

Box 5

Folder 1: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, Aug. 1952- Feb. 1971
Folder 2: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, 1950-1951
Folder 3: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, undated
Folder 4: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1964-1966
Folder 5: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1963
Folder 6: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1959-1962
Folder 7: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1955-1958
Folder 8: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information Nov. 1942-Jan. 1955
Folder 9: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information undated.
Folder 10: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - resolutions, April 1945- April 1965
Folder 11: North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - resolutions, April 1945- April 1965
Folder 12: North Dakota State Water Conservation statements
Folder 13: North Dakota State Water Conservation water-rights material

Box 6

Folder 1: North Dakota Water Users Association - correspondence
Folder 2: North Dakota Water Users Association - minutes, resolutions, budgets
Folder 3: North Dakota Water Users Association - reports and information, 1964-1971
Folder 4: North Dakota Water Users Association - reports and information, 1958-1963
Folder 5: Pembina River Flood Control Association - correspondence
Folder 6: Pembina River Flood Control Association - reports and information
Folder 7: Red Lake River Development Association - correspondence
Folder 8: Red Lake River Development Association - minutes, resolutions
Folder 9: Red Lake River Development Association - reports and information
Folder 10: Red River Basin Planning Committee - correspondence
Folder 11: Red River Basin Planning Committee - minutes, resolutions
Folder 12: Red River Basin Planning Committee - reports and information
Folder 13: South Dakota Coordinating Committee for Missouri Basin Development - minutes and reports, 1952-1954
Folder 14: Upper Colorado River Commission - miscellaneous
Folder 15: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - statements, information

Series 2: Grand Forks City Materials

This series contains correspondence, proceedings of the City Council, reports, city ordinances, and department files from Oscar Lunseth's tenure as a Grand Forks city official. The files are arranged alphabetically and cover 1934-1975.

Box 7

Folder 1: Grand Forks Air Force Base - miscellaneous
Folder 2: Grand Forks International Airport, 1957-1959
Folder 3: Airport - miscellaneous, 1943-1956
Folder 4: Armory Auditorium, 1937-1958
Folder 5: Attorney - correspondence, 1946-1960
Folder 6: Auditor, 1940-1975
Folder 7: Bacon vs. City
Folder 8: Board of City Commissioners - committees (see also City Council Committees)
Folder 9: Bridges, Highways, and New Airport - reports, etc., 1956-1962
Folder 10: Bridges, Highways, and New Airport - reports, etc., 1956-1962
Folder 11: Budgets, 1955-1959
Folder 12: Budgets, 1934-1955
Folder 13: Chamber of Commerce - miscellaneous
Folder 14: City Civil Service and Pensions
Folder 15: City Council Committees - correspondence
Folder 16: City Council Committee materials - salary committee and miscellaneous
Folder 17: City Council - miscellaneous
Folder 18: City Council - Revised Ordinances of 1948
Folder 19: City Council - ordinances
Folder 20: City Council - ordinances

Box 8

Folder 1: City Council proceedings, Jan. 4, 1960-April 18, 1960
Folder 2: City Council proceedings, July 6, 1959-Dec. 21, 1959
Folder 3: City Council proceedings, Jan. 5, 1959-June 30, 1959
Folder 4: City Council proceedings, Jan. 6, 1958-Dec. 15, 1958
Folder 5: City Council proceedings, March 4, 1957-Dec. 18, 1957
Folder 6: City Council proceedings, Jan. 3, 1955-May, 1956
Folder 7: City Council proceedings, Feb. 4, 1952-Feb. 23, 1953
Folder 8: City Council proceedings, Jan. 5, 1942-Oct. 18, 1943
Folder 9: City Council proceedings, July 8, 1940-Dec. 15, 1941
Folder 10: City Council - reports on examination June 30, 1955 and June 30, 1957
Folder 11: City Council - reports on examination June 30, 1958 and June 30, 1959
Folder 12: Dakota Plumbing and Heating annual reports, 1924-1934
Folder 13: Engineering Department, 1940-1959
Folder 14: Fire Department, 1940-1960
Folder 15: Health Department

Box 9

Folder 1: League of North Dakota Municipalities bulletins, 1956-1959
Folder 2: League of North Dakota Municipalities bulletins, 1952-1953
Folder 3: League of North Dakota Municipalities - correspondence, etc.
Folder 4: League of North Dakota Municipalities - municipal officers conference and taxes 1952, 1958, and 1960
Folder 5: City Manager correspondence, April 25, 1953-Dec. 4, 1962
Folder 6: City Manager - “Monday's News”, July 16, 1954-Dept. 15, 1958
Folder 7: City Manager, undated
Folder 8: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1958-1960
Folder 9: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1956-1957
Folder 10: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1954-1955
Folder 11: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1940-1953 and undated
Folder 12: Mayor's Office - date books, 1954-1958
Folder 13: Mayor's Office - proclamations
Folder 14: Mayor and City Council - voucher lists
Folder 15: Miscellaneous, 1954-1972
Folder 16: Miscellaneous, 1939-1953
Folder 17: Miscellaneous, undated

Box 10

Folder 1: Parking, 1954-1961
Folder 2: Petitions to change Government
Folder 3: Planning Commission, 1958-1960
Folder 4: Planning Commission, 1948-1957
Folder 5: Police Department, 1943-1960
Folder 6: Recognition Night - correspondence, etc.
Folder 7: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1959-1960
Folder 8: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1956-1958
Folder 9: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1940-1942
Folder 10: Sewage Department - undated
Folder 11: Sewage Treatment Plant statements, 1940-1944
Folder 12: Street Department, 1957-1959
Folder 13: Street Lighting Systems
Folder 14: Tax Proposals and Information - Mill Levies
Folder 15: Township and Zoning Commission (see also Planning Commission)
Folder 16: Treasurer, 1941-1959 (see also Auditor)
Folder 17: University of North Dakota, 1953-1971
Folder 18: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1957-1960
Folder 19: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1955-1956
Folder 20: Waterworks/Water Department - engineering reports, 1956
Folder 21: Waterworks/Water Department - contracts, 1956
Folder 22: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1939-1954
Folder 23: Waterworks/Water Department - monthly reports, 1940
Folder 24: Waterworks/Water Department, undated
Folder 25: Welfare Tickets, 1933-1935

Series 3: Personal Materials

This series consists of correspondence, personal files, and financial and business materials relating to Oscar Lunseth. The materials are arranged alphabetically and range from 1934 to 1963.

Box 11

Folder 1: American Legion
Folder 2: Personal Correspondence, 1961-1975
Folder 3: Personal Correspondence, 1951-1960
Folder 4: Personal Correspondence, 1934-1950
Folder 5: Personal Correspondence, undated
Folder 6: Financial Materials, 1952-1974
Folder 7: Financial Materials, 1917-1950
Folder 8: Freemasonry
Folder 9: Membership Cards
Folder 10: Miscellaneous
Folder 11: North Dakota Association - soil conservation districts, Resources Council, and Industrial Development
Folder 12: North Dakota State and County Fair Association - correspondence
Folder 13: North Dakota State and County Fair Association - minutes, resolutions, and court cases
Folder 14: North Dakota State and County Fair - reports and information
Folder 15: Plumbing and Heating Company - information, reports, and licenses
Folder 16: Plumbing and Heating Company - correspondence and meetings
Folder 17: Religion
Folder 18: Rotary Club - correspondence, etc.
Folder 19: Rotary Club - weekly bulletins, 1961-1963
Folder 20: Rotary Club - weekly bulletins, 1954-1961
Folder 21: American Scandinavian Foundation
Folder 22: Sons of Norway, etc.
Folder 23: University of North Dakota

Series 4: Newspapers and Miscellaneous

This series contains newspaper clippings about the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, water-related subjects, and personal events. Also included are files containing general miscellaneous materials (1942-1960).

Box 12

Folder 1: Grand Forks articles
Folder 2: Grand Forks articles
Folder 3: Grand Forks articles
Folder 4: Grand Forks articles
Folder 5: North Dakota articles
Folder 6: Personal articles
Folder 7: Water articles
Folder 8: Miscellaneous, 1955-1960
Folder 9: Miscellaneous, 1942-1954 and undated

Series 5: Photographs

The photographs were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets.

Photograph 1: Unidentified, undated musical at UND (three copies)

Photograph 2: Intake pipe at Water Works, August 28, 1910 (three copies)

Photograph 3: Red River, Grand Forks North Dakota: undated (three copies)

Photograph 4: North Dakota officials meeting with Senator Milton Young and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Fred Aandahl, undated

Photograph 5: Unidentified group

Photograph 6: Monument: "North Dakota's Oldest Concrete Pavement"

Photograph 7: Gordon Caldis, Marlin Obie, Bill Micklin, Leonard Egstrom, Dale Cox, Lyle Anderson, Oscar Lunseth, March 14, 1962

Photograph 8: Unidentified Grand Forks street scene

Photograph 9: Grand Forks Builders & Traders - Old Timers Night, May 2, 1972 (group picture)

Photograph 10: First State Plumbing Board (L.G. Hanson, J.B. Rapaport, Rasmus Lunseth, Bernard Thompson), July 1, 1941

Photograph 11: Lunseth Plumbing and Heating, undated group picture

Photograph 12: Autographed picture of Senator Mark Andrews, undated

Photograph 13: Oscar Lunseth, undated (four copies)

Photograph 14: Oscar Lunseth and Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant, undated

Photograph 15: Oscar Lunseth and other Grand Forks city officials, undated

Photograph 16: Oscar Lunseth and other Grand Forks city officials, undated

Photograph 17: Oscar Lunseth playing checkers, February 1951

Photograph 18: Oscar Lunseth at the unveiling of the "North Dakota's Oldest Concrete Pavement" monument

Photograph 19: Oscar Lunseth and unidentified, undated

Oversize Folder 1: Oversized photographs

Separated and placed in the Oversize File Cabinets.

Photograph 1: "Henry Roeder Rig" (farm machinery), September 1915
Photograph 2: Bjarne Male Chorus
Photograph 3: Bjarne Male Chorus
Photograph 4: Master Plumbers of North Dakota Convention in Minot, 1926
Photograph 5: Aaker's Business College
Photograph 6: Unidentified group (possibly the Sons of Norway)
Photograph 7: Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, May 1931
Photograph 8: Bjarne Male Chorus
Photograph 9: Unidentified group (possibly the Bjarne Male Chorus)

Department of Special Collections
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