Rosemarie Myrdal Papers, 1966, 1975, 1984-2016

Rosemarie Myrdal Papers

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Collection Overview

Title: Rosemarie Myrdal Papers, 1966, 1975, 1984-2016

Predominant Dates:1984-2016

ID: OGLMC1541

Primary Creator: Myrdal, Rosemarie (1929-2023)

Extent: 8.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 03/03/2009. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Politics and Government - North Dakota Governor, Politics and Government - Republican Party, Women's History

Languages: English

Abstract

1929-; State legislator (1985-1992), Lieutenant Governor (1992-2000), and volunteer for many organizations throughout North Dakota

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Rosemarie Myrdal Papers, 1966-2016, have been divided into six series:

Series 1: Personal

Series 2: Legislative

Series 3: Lieutenant Governor

Series 4: Volunteer Activities

Series 5: Photographs

Series 6: Oversize Materials and Artifacts

Collection Historical Note

Rosemarie Lohse was born in 1929 in Minot, North Dakota. She graduated from Fargo Central High School, after which she attended North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC: now known as North Dakota State University). She graduated from NDAC in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She married John Myrdal on June 21, 1952, in Fargo. The couple farmed near Edinburg, North Dakota, and raised five children.

Rosemarie Myrdal was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1984. A member of the Republican Party, she served until 1992. In 1992, she was elected as North Dakota Lieutenant Governor, serving alongside Governor Ed Schafer. The duo won re-election in 1996, with a higher percentage of the vote than in 1992. They chose not to run for re-election in 2000.

Both before and after her retirement from public office, Myrdal was involved with numerous organizations and community groups. These include: the Edinburg School Board, the Icelandic Communities Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the North Dakota Diabetes Association, the North Dakota Library Coordinating Council, Preservation North Dakota, and Red River Resource Conservation and Development.

Rosemarie Myrdal died October 11, 2023. She is buried at the Gardar Cemetery.

Source:

North Dakota Blue Book: 1989, 1995, 1999

Subject/Index Terms

Politics and Government - North Dakota Governor
Politics and Government - Republican Party
Women's History

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: Additional materials were donated by Myrdal: 2012-3160, 2016-3322 and 2017-3334.

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Rosemarie Myrdal, Edinburgh, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2009-2967

Separated Materials:

Five VHS videocassettes were separated and placed in the Videotape Collection:

1541-1: North Dakota Republican State Convention, April 3-5, 1992

1541-2: "Last Place to Governor" Compilation Reel, Schafer for Governor, Capital Video Communications, January 1993

1541-3: Feature on Myrdal by KXMB TV, Bismarck

1541-4: "The Schafer Era: These Have Been Wonderful Years"

1541-5: "Marketing the Schafer Administration"

One audiocassette was separated and placed in the Audiotape Collection. The tape consists of a "Country Go 'Round" interview of Myrdal on KLTC Radio, September 23, 1992

Researchers should note that all tapes have been sent to an outside vendor for digitization. For this reason, they might not be available for immediate viewing.

Related Publications: Myrdal, Rosemarie. "My Experiences as Lieutenant Governor" in Important Voices: North Dakota's Women Elected State Officials Share Their Stories, 1893-2013. Edited by Susan E. Wefald. Institute for Regional Studies:Fargo, 2014.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Rosemarie Myrdal Papers. OGLMC 1541, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processed by Sonja Hathaway, Special Collections intern, in Fall 2012.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal],
[Series 2: Legislative],
[Series 3: Lieutenant Governor],
[Series 4: Volunteer Activities],
[Series 5: Photographs],
[Series 6: Oversize Materials and Artifacts],
[All]

Series 4: Volunteer Activities

The fourth series regards Myrdal's volunteer activities and is divided into four sub-series.

Sub-Series 1: Introduction

The first sub-series consists of a document outlining her volunteer work, a list of the organizations of which she has been involved, and the dates of her participation.

Box 3

Folder 1: Myrdal's Reflections on Community Service, 2001-2012

Sub-Series 2: History and Preservation

Myrdal was passionate about preserving the history and culture of North Dakota and this is the subject of the second sub-series. Documents relating to the Heritage Association are contained in one folder and are mainly newsletters, particularly ones in which Myrdal wrote a column.

Myrdal was involved with Preservation North Dakota from 2003 to 2007. These folders contain information on meetings, correspondence between the board members, planning for the organization, fundraising, grant proposals and awards, bylaws, and an incomplete collection of newsletters.

Myrdal served as state representative for the National Trust for Historic Preservation from 2001 to 2007. There are seven folders highlighting Myrdal’s involvement with the organization, as well as the connections between the National Trust and Preservation North Dakota.

Her involvement in Icelandic Communities Association shows not only her interest in preservation, but also links these efforts to programs to encourage tourism. Nine folders contain notes from meetings, project plans, board members correspondence, and newsletters.

Box 3

Folder 2: Heritage Association, Home Quarter, 1989-1991
Folder 3: Preservation ND, Bylaws, 1999-2005
Folder 4: Preservation ND, 1991 Conference
Folder 5: Preservation ND, Newsletters, 2001-2003, 2008, 2009
Folder 6: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2001
Folder 7: Preservation ND, Meeting and Correspondence, 2002
Folder 8: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2003
Folder 9: Preservation ND, Prairie Churches Grant Proposal, 2003
Folder 10: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2004
Folder 11: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2005
Folder 12: Preservation ND, Bush Grant Proposal, 2005
Folder 13: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2006
Folder 14: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2007
Folder 15: Preservation ND, Hutmacher Complex, 2007
Folder 16: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2008
Folder 17: Preservation ND, Meetings and Correspondence, 2009
Folder 18: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2000
Folder 19: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2001
Folder 20: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2002
Folder 21: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2003
Folder 22: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2004
Folder 23: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2005
Folder 24: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2006
Folder 25: Icelandic Communities Association, 1991 and 2001
Folder 26: Icelandic Communities Association, 2002
Folder 27: Icelandic Communities Association, 2003
Folder 28: Icelandic Communities Association, 2004
Folder 29: Icelandic Communities Association, 2005
Folder 30: Icelandic Communities Association, 2006
Folder 31: Icelandic Communities Association, 2007
Folder 32: Icelandic Communities Association, 2008
Folder 33: Fjalla Blad, Icelandic Communities Newsletter, 2002-2009

Box 5

Folder 12: Icelandic Communities Association, By-Laws, 2003
Folder 13: Icelandic Communities Association, 2009
Folder 14: Icelandic Communities Association, 2010
Folder 15: Icelandic Communities Association, 2011
Folder 16: Icelandic Communities Association, 2012
Folder 17: Icelandic Communities Association, 2013
Folder 18: Icelandic Communities Association, 2014
Folder 19: Icelandic Communities Association, 2015
Folder 20: Icelandic Communities Association, 2016
Folder 21: Northeastern North Dakota Heritage Association, 2016

Sub-Series 3: Community Development

Myrdal was also concerned with community development. She was not only interested in basic infrastructure, but also the resources needed to provide health, education, and economic opportunities. Several folders document her work with the Wellness Outreach Without Walls Network, as well as First Care Health Center in Park River, North Dakota. Documents related to the North Dakota Library Coordinating Council are contained in eight folders, which include correspondence, bylaws, program development and implementation, and the grants that Myrdal was directly involved in either writing or granting. Information on North Dakota Communities Foundation, including meeting notes, correspondence, and financial statements, are divided between three folders.

Box 3

Folder 34: Wellness Outreach Without Walls Network Grant, 2010-2011
Folder 35: First Care Health Center, Strategic Planning 2003-2008
Folder 36: First Care Health Center, Personnel Audit by the UND Center for Rural Health, 2009
Folder 37: First Care Health Center, Strategic Plan, June 2011
Folder 38: First Care Health Center, Governing Board Meeting Minutes, 2011-2012
Folder 39: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2004
Folder 40: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2005
Folder 41: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2006
Folder 42: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2007
Folder 43: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2008

Box 4

Folder 1: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2009
Folder 2: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2010
Folder 3: ND Library Coordinating Council, 2011
Folder 4: ND Community Foundation, Meetings, Records, Correspondence, 2003-2006
Folder 5: ND Community Foundation, Meetings, Records, Correspondence, 2007
Folder 6: ND Community Foundation, Meetings, Records, Correspondence, 2008-2009

Sub-Series 4: Environment and Tourism

Myrdal was also deeply interested in improving the environment and encouraging tourism. One file of material documents Myrdal’s service with the North Dakota Centennial Trees Program from 1989 to 2001. Documents pertaining to the North Dakota Water Commission are contained in one folder and deal with the legislative proposals and correspondence related to flooding in the state. Nine folders detail Myrdal’s activities with Red River Resource and Conservation Development. These files date from 2002 to 2009 and include grant applications, financial and project reports, planning documents and correspondence. Myrdal was also a member of the International Peace Garden Board of Directors from 2004 to 2008. Materials from this organization include financial reports, correspondence, and meeting minutes.

Box 4

Folder 7: ND Centennial Trees Program Binder, 1989-2001
Folder 8: ND State Water Commission, Red River Valley, 2001-2003
Folder 9: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, Planning Documents, 2001-2003
Folder 10: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2002
Folder 11: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2003
Folder 12: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2004
Folder 13: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2005
Folder 14: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2006
Folder 15: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2007
Folder 16: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2008
Folder 17: Red River Resource Conservation and Development, 2009
Folder 18: International Peace Garden Board of Directors, 2004
Folder 19: International Peace Garden Board of Directors, 2005
Folder 20: International Peace Garden Board of Directors, 2006
Folder 21: International Peace Garden Board of Directors, 2007
Folder 22: International Peace Garden Board of Directors, 2008

Box 5

Folder 22: International Peace Gardens, Historical Information, 1966-1992
Folder 23: International Peace Gardens, By-Law Committee, 2006
Folder 24: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2008
Folder 25: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2009
Folder 26: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2010
Folder 27: International Peace Gardens, Financial Materials, 2010
Folder 28: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2011
Folder 29: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2012
Folder 30: International Peace Gardens, Financial Materials, 2012
Folder 31: International Peace Gardens, Peace and Conflict Resolution Center, 2012
Folder 32: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2013
Folder 33: International Peace Gardens, Financial Materials, 2013
Folder 34: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2014
Folder 35: International Peace Gardens, Financial Materials, 2014
Folder 36: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2015
Folder 37: International Peace Gardens, Financial Materials, 2015
Folder 38: International Peace Gardens, Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, 2016
Folder 39: North Dakota State Federation of Garden Clubs, 1970s: Material in this folder takes the form of a scrapbook in a 3 ring binder. The title on the front reads "The Gardeners' Guide to the Enjoyment of Natural Beauty in North Dakota." Myrdal served as the group's Scenic Sites chair from 1973 to 1975.

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids