- Browse:
- Collections
- Subjects
- Creators
- Record Groups
Olger B. Burtness Papers, 1911-1968
Collection Overview
Title: Olger B. Burtness Papers, 1911-1968
ID: OGLMC175
Primary Creator: Burtness, Olger B. (1884-1960)
Extent: 2.25 Linear Feet
Subjects: University of North Dakota - Alumni, University of North Dakota - Benefactors, University of North Dakota - Theater
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Olger B. Burtness was born March 14, 1884, on a farm near Mekinock, North Dakota. He was the son of Ole O. and Mary (Anderson) Burtness. He attended public schools in Grand Forks County and graduated from the Preparatory Department at University of North Dakota .
He next enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at UND. He graduated with a B.A. on June 14, 1906, and added a Bachelor of Law the following year. While a student at UND, Burtness was president of the A.D.T. literary and debating society. He represented the University in several intercollegiate debates, and was also active in The "Mimer" Society, a Scandinavian literary society. He was also on the football team, a member of the Varsity Bachelor Club, and editor in chief of the Dacotah annual.
He formed a law partnership in Grand Forks with Bardi G. Skulason in 1907. He married Zoe Ensign on September 8, 1909, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. In 1911, he first ran for public office, and was elected the States Attorney for Grand Forks County. He served in this capacity until 1916. In 1918 he campaigned for a seat in the North Dakota House of Representatives, running as a Republican. He won the election and served from 1919 to 1920.
Burtness entered politics on a national scale when he won a seat in the United States House of Representatives on November 2, 1920. He was re-elected six times, serving from 1921 to 1933.
In 1930, he was honored by the King of Denmark with an Order of the Falcon with a star. He also represented the President of the United States at the 100th anniversary of the Icelandic Parliament.
Following his career in Congress, Burtness returned to Grand Forks to practice law. He was appointed judge of the First Judicial District, North Dakota District Court, by Governor Fred G. Aandahl in 1950. He was re-elected twice, in 1952 and 1958. He was a member of the North Dakota Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He was also a member of the Order of the Coif, an honorary law fraternity. On the local scene, he was the director of the Red River National Bank, and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Sons of Norway, and the Masons. Burtness was one of the founders of the UND Alumni Association, and helped organize the UND Development Fund in 1946. He sat on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for over thirty five years.
Olger Burtness died January 20, 1960, in Grand Forks, and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery. Following his death, Zoe Burtness donated $100,000 to the University to construct an assembly hall for plays, lectures, and concerts, in honor of her husband. The Burtness Theater was dedicated April 28, 1963.
Subject/Index Terms
University of North Dakota - Alumni
University of North Dakota - Benefactors
University of North Dakota - Theater
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 Method: Donation; the original acquisition records are unavailable
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Olger B. Burtness Papers. OGLMC 175, 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 January 2015.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Photograph Albums],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Dakota Playmakers - box office reports, 1953-1963
- Folder 2: Dakota Playmakers, correspondence about "The Boor" and road trip, 1951
- Folder 3: Dakota Playmakers - Callboard, vol. 1, nos. 1-7, 1952
- Folder 4: Correspondence concerning Oxford debate team, 1956
- Folder 5: Correspondence concerning Cambridge debate team, 1957
- Folder 6: Correspondence concerning invitation to Long University Debate Team, 1958
- Folder 7: Dakota Playmakers - correspondence, 1962
- Folder 8: Burtness Theater - season ticket holders, 1963-1968
- Folder 9: Lists of National Collegiate players and alumni
- Folder 10: Burtness Theater - theater use, 1963-1966
- Folder 11: Burtness Theater - box office reports
- Folder 12: Burtness Theater - dedication, correspondence, and pamphlets
- Folder 13: Burtness Theater - seat fund
- Folder 14: Burtness Theater - improvements
- Folder 15: Dakota Playmakers - tour memos, 1959-1963
- Folder 16: Notes about European tour
- Folder 17: Diary, 1921
- Folder 18: Diary, 1927
- Folder 19: Dakota Playmakers - theater handbook, ca. 1955
- Folder 20: Dakota Playmakers - plays written, 1920-1923
- Folder 21: Dakota Playmakers - James Forbes, The Famous Mrs. Fair and Other Plays (New York: George H. Doran Co.), ca. 1920
- Folder 22: Sock and Buskin Society - notebook of members and plays, 1910-1948
- Folder 23: Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
- Folder 24: Funeral Book
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Financial ledger pages, 1935-1959
- Folder 2: Financial ledger, 1911-1957
- Folder 3: Checks and stubs
- Folder 4: Financial materials, letters, and records
- Folder 5: Sock and Buskin Society - constitution and minutes, 1913-1920
- Folder 6: Biographical materials, memorabilia, and awards
- Folder 7: Loose photographs (175-543 through 175-560)
- Missing 175-552
- Folder 8: Loose photographs (175-561 through 175-580)
- Folder 9: Loose photographs (175-581 through 175-606)
- Photograph Albums
- Located in photograph file cabinets
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Photograph Albums],
[All]