Grand Forks Sister City Exchange Program Records, 1984- 2012
Collection Overview
Title: Grand Forks Sister City Exchange Program Records, 1984- 2012
ID: OGLMC1259
Primary Creator: Brown, Michael
Other Creators: Roath, Bill
Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 10/03/2012
Subjects: Grand Forks
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Grand Forks established a sister city exchange program in 1984 with Ishim, Russia. At this time, Russia was part of the Soviet Union, and it was thought that such a formal exchange of information would help foster good relations between the two countries. While exchanges of information and materials did take place, visits did not occur until 1990, the year before the breakdown of the Soviet Union. After about fifteen years, this exchange was suspended.
In 1999, Grand Forks formalized a sister city relationship with Awano, Japan. This relationship was the culmination of a homestay program, established in 1993, with visits by teachers and students between the two communities. One lasting reminder of the sister city program with Awano is the Japanese garden in Sertoma Park. This sister city relationship ended when Awano was annexed by a nearby, larger city.
Exchanges between community leaders of Grand Forks and Sarpsborg, Norway, developed into a sister city agreement in October, 2005. Various visits and tours have taken place since this relationship was formalized. Given the significant Norwegian-American heritage of the Grand Forks community and surrounding area, supported by exchanges of students and professors of the University of North Dakota with institutions in Norway, this sister city agreement will probably be long-lived.
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: University of North Dakota personnel
Acquisition Method:
Donation; 92-1843 and 2012-3201
Additional materials received by Peg O'Leary, Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission, in January 2014 (2014-3249)
Related Materials:
President's Office Records; UA 43 - Box 85, Folder 2 (Awano, Japan-Sister City 2000)
Center For Teaching and Learning, Dean Vito Perrone Records; UA 57 - Box 24, Folder 20 (Mayor's Task Force on Nuclear War - Sister City Program)
Center For Peace Studies Records; UA 87 - Box 23, Folder 9 (Sister City- Ishim)
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Grand Forks Sister City Exchange Program Records. OGLMC 1259. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Processing Information: Processed by Amber Bouret, Special Collections work study student, in March 2013.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in 2013.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Folder:
[Folder 1: Sarpsborg, Norway, 2002-2012],
[Folder 2: Ishim, Russia, 1984],
[Folder 3: Russian language books, including poetry],
[All]
- Folder 1: Sarpsborg, Norway, 2002-2012
- Item 1: Postcard, July 2016
- About the 1000 anniversary of Sarpsborg in 2016.
- Item 2: Brochure, July 2016
- Item 3: Grand Forks Herald Clipping, October 3, 1012
- Some choir students visiting from Norway visited local schools.
- Item 4: Photo from Grand Forks Herald, October 3, 1012
- A picture of some of the visiting students from Sarpsborg.
- Item 5: South Middle School Choir concert program, October 2, 1012
- Listing of the students and the songs they sang.
- Item 6: Sister City Agreement, October 10, 2005
- Item 1: Postcard, July 2016