Title: Stella Fritzell Papers, 1956-1984

ID: OGLMC1287

Primary Creator: Fritzell, Stella (1909-1984)

Extent: 1.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 05/27/1994

Subjects: Politics and Government - 1972 North Dakota Constitutional Convention, Politics and Government - Republican Party, Women's History

Languages: English

The Stella Fritzell Papers date from 1956 to 1984 and have been divided into six series.

Series 1:  Biographical Materials

Series 2:  Political Papers

Series 3:  Conservation and Environment

Series 4:  Speeches and Publications

Series 5:  Clubs, Committees, and Hobbies

Series 6:  Newspaper Clippings

Stella (Houge) Fritzell was born October 3, 1909, in Bucyrus, North Dakota.  She was educated at Cando, North Dakota, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1930.  She worked as a dietician intern at the University of Minnesota Hospitals.  In 1933, she married Dr. Kenneth Fritzell at Aneta, North Dakota.  In 1946, they moved to Grand Forks, after having lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as Menlo Park, California, and Glenwood Spring, Colorado.  They raised two sons, Peter and Erik, and two daughters, Sara and Anne, who died at the age of 18.

Stella was a stockbroker with Piper, Jaffray, and Hopwood in Grand Forks from 1959 to 1971.  In 1972, she was elected to the North Dakota Senate, and re-elected in 1976 and 1980.  Fritzell was also a delegate to the state Constitutional Convention in 1972.  In addition, she served on many boards and committees, including the state Board of Park Commissioners, the Grand Forks Park Board, the Grand Forks Planning and Zoning Commission, and in 1979, she was appointed a permanent member of the state judicial nominating committee. In 1975, she was elected chair-woman of the legislative bi-partisan women's caucus.  The North Dakota Wildlife Federation named her Legislative Conservationist of the Year for 1976.  Fritzell enjoyed hunting, golfing, and painting.  Stella Fritzell died April 4, 1984, in Grand Forks at the age of 74.

Politics and Government - 1972 North Dakota Constitutional Convention
Politics and Government - Republican Party
Women's History

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: Sara Hanhan (daughter of Stella Fritzell), Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; Acc.94-1956 and Acc.94-1988

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Stella Fritzell Papers.  OGLMC 1287, Box #, Folder #.  Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid migrated to Archon in March 2014.