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

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