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- Finding Aid
Bill Gessner Papers
Collection Overview
ID: OGLMC1724
Primary Creator: Gessner, William (1947-2019)
Extent: 3.5 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 04/23/2024
Subjects: Music, University of North Dakota - Alumni
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Bill Gessner Papers consist of his obituaries, CDs of his recorded songs, articles he wrote for the Cooperative Grocer Magazine, song lyrics and poems including songs printed in his church's Christmas newsletters, notebooks full of song lyrics and personal notes, Gessner genealogy, personal letters to his parents, and information about song writing workshops.
Series 1: Biographical Materials
Series 2: Song Lyrics and Poetry
Series 3: Notebooks
Series 4: Gessner Genealogy
Series 5: Songwriting Workshops
Collection Historical Note
"William 'Bill' Gessner died unexpectedly on the evening of January 14, 2019, at Courage Kenny Rehab Center in Golden Valley, Minnesota, following a stroke on November 27, 2018. Bill was born in Fargo, ND, on July 27, 1947. He graduated from Minot High School in 1965. He was the student manager of the 1965 state championship Magicians basketball team and active in Student Council. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated with a B.A. from the University of North Dakota in 1969. He began his longtime co-op career when he managed the Grand Forks Food Co-op during the late 1970s.
Bill was a much loved figure in three national communities: food co-ops, songwriters & musicians, and amateur tennis enthusiasts. He had an extremely active life based in Minneapolis and had created a network of friends nationwide due to these interests. He helped found several key co-op organizations and worked for more than twenty years with CDS Consulting Co-op. In 2012, he was honored by being inducted by his colleagues into the Cooperative Hall of Fame. They described Bill as being 'loyal, loving, generous, unassuming, humorous, playful, even quirky.' Bill recorded two CDs with his own compositions, 'Welcome to Gessnerville, Pop. 19' and 'Wild Life.' In the fields of co-ops, music, and tennis, it would be impossible to count the number of people who would say 'I wouldn't be where I am without Bill Gessner's support.'
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Royce and Elaine Gessner. He is survived by his seven cousins, Mike and David Hoopman, Judith Hains, Fred and Pete Challoner, Blaine Shepherd, Georgia Bond, and countless dear and treasured friends. His body will be cremated and buried next to his parents in the Walhalla Cemetery in eastern North Dakota. A celebration of Bill's life will be held in Minneapolis in May."
Source: Grand Forks Herald, 1 February 2019
Subject/Index Terms
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: Carolyn King, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Acquisition Method: Donation; 2024-3507
Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Processed by Tamara Bordon, Special Collections Graduate Student Intern, in May 2024.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1991-2019],
[Series 2: Song Lyrics and Poetry, 1973-2018],
[Series 3: Gessner's Notebooks, 1972-2003],
[Series 4: Gessner Genealogy, 1963-1995],
[Series 5: Songwriting Workshops, 1997-2018],
[All]
- Series 3: Gessner's Notebooks, 1972-2003
- The third series contains Bill Gessner's notebooks full of song lyrics, poems, musical notes, and personal notes, Box 2, Folders 2-17, and Box 3, Folder 1.
- Folder 1: Notebook 1972
- Folder 2: Notebook 02/23/76 to 09/18/76
- Folder 3: Notebook 09/18/76 to 04/19/77
- Folder 4: Notebook 05/15/77 to 06/10/77
- Folder 5: Notebook 07/06/77 to 09/16/77
- Folder 6: Notebook 09/17/77 to 10/1/77
- Folder 7: Notebook 9/28/77 to 4/11/78
- Folder 8: Notebook 04/11/78 to 12/08/78
- Folder 9: Notebook 12/11/78 to 09/20/79
- Folder 10: Notebook 09/26/79 to 03/01/80
- Folder 11: Notebook 05/23/81 to 12/31/81
- Folder 12: Notebook 01/01/82 to 08/31/82
- Folder 13: Notebook 09/01/82 to 08/27/83
- Oversize notebook, Box 3
- Folder 14: Notebook 12/31/93 to 03/03/94
- Folder 15: Notebook 1997
- Folder 16: Notebook 03/26/99 to 08/29/99
- Folder 17: Notebook 2003
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1991-2019],
[Series 2: Song Lyrics and Poetry, 1973-2018],
[Series 3: Gessner's Notebooks, 1972-2003],
[Series 4: Gessner Genealogy, 1963-1995],
[Series 5: Songwriting Workshops, 1997-2018],
[All]