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 2: Grand Forks City Materials

This series contains correspondence, proceedings of the City Council, reports, city ordinances, and department files from Oscar Lunseth's tenure as a Grand Forks city official. The files are arranged alphabetically and cover 1934-1975.

Box 7

Folder 1: Grand Forks Air Force Base - miscellaneous
Folder 2: Grand Forks International Airport, 1957-1959
Folder 3: Airport - miscellaneous, 1943-1956
Folder 4: Armory Auditorium, 1937-1958
Folder 5: Attorney - correspondence, 1946-1960
Folder 6: Auditor, 1940-1975
Folder 7: Bacon vs. City
Folder 8: Board of City Commissioners - committees (see also City Council Committees)
Folder 9: Bridges, Highways, and New Airport - reports, etc., 1956-1962
Folder 10: Bridges, Highways, and New Airport - reports, etc., 1956-1962
Folder 11: Budgets, 1955-1959
Folder 12: Budgets, 1934-1955
Folder 13: Chamber of Commerce - miscellaneous
Folder 14: City Civil Service and Pensions
Folder 15: City Council Committees - correspondence
Folder 16: City Council Committee materials - salary committee and miscellaneous
Folder 17: City Council - miscellaneous
Folder 18: City Council - Revised Ordinances of 1948
Folder 19: City Council - ordinances
Folder 20: City Council - ordinances

Box 8

Folder 1: City Council proceedings, Jan. 4, 1960-April 18, 1960
Folder 2: City Council proceedings, July 6, 1959-Dec. 21, 1959
Folder 3: City Council proceedings, Jan. 5, 1959-June 30, 1959
Folder 4: City Council proceedings, Jan. 6, 1958-Dec. 15, 1958
Folder 5: City Council proceedings, March 4, 1957-Dec. 18, 1957
Folder 6: City Council proceedings, Jan. 3, 1955-May, 1956
Folder 7: City Council proceedings, Feb. 4, 1952-Feb. 23, 1953
Folder 8: City Council proceedings, Jan. 5, 1942-Oct. 18, 1943
Folder 9: City Council proceedings, July 8, 1940-Dec. 15, 1941
Folder 10: City Council - reports on examination June 30, 1955 and June 30, 1957
Folder 11: City Council - reports on examination June 30, 1958 and June 30, 1959
Folder 12: Dakota Plumbing and Heating annual reports, 1924-1934
Folder 13: Engineering Department, 1940-1959
Folder 14: Fire Department, 1940-1960
Folder 15: Health Department

Box 9

Folder 1: League of North Dakota Municipalities bulletins, 1956-1959
Folder 2: League of North Dakota Municipalities bulletins, 1952-1953
Folder 3: League of North Dakota Municipalities - correspondence, etc.
Folder 4: League of North Dakota Municipalities - municipal officers conference and taxes 1952, 1958, and 1960
Folder 5: City Manager correspondence, April 25, 1953-Dec. 4, 1962
Folder 6: City Manager - “Monday's News”, July 16, 1954-Dept. 15, 1958
Folder 7: City Manager, undated
Folder 8: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1958-1960
Folder 9: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1956-1957
Folder 10: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1954-1955
Folder 11: Mayor's Office - correspondence, 1940-1953 and undated
Folder 12: Mayor's Office - date books, 1954-1958
Folder 13: Mayor's Office - proclamations
Folder 14: Mayor and City Council - voucher lists
Folder 15: Miscellaneous, 1954-1972
Folder 16: Miscellaneous, 1939-1953
Folder 17: Miscellaneous, undated

Box 10

Folder 1: Parking, 1954-1961
Folder 2: Petitions to change Government
Folder 3: Planning Commission, 1958-1960
Folder 4: Planning Commission, 1948-1957
Folder 5: Police Department, 1943-1960
Folder 6: Recognition Night - correspondence, etc.
Folder 7: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1959-1960
Folder 8: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1956-1958
Folder 9: Sewage Department - correspondence, etc., 1940-1942
Folder 10: Sewage Department - undated
Folder 11: Sewage Treatment Plant statements, 1940-1944
Folder 12: Street Department, 1957-1959
Folder 13: Street Lighting Systems
Folder 14: Tax Proposals and Information - Mill Levies
Folder 15: Township and Zoning Commission (see also Planning Commission)
Folder 16: Treasurer, 1941-1959 (see also Auditor)
Folder 17: University of North Dakota, 1953-1971
Folder 18: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1957-1960
Folder 19: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1955-1956
Folder 20: Waterworks/Water Department - engineering reports, 1956
Folder 21: Waterworks/Water Department - contracts, 1956
Folder 22: Waterworks/Water Department - correspondence, etc., 1939-1954
Folder 23: Waterworks/Water Department - monthly reports, 1940
Folder 24: Waterworks/Water Department, undated
Folder 25: Welfare Tickets, 1933-1935

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids