Gyda Varden Lodge No. 21, Sons of Norway Records

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Collection Overview

Title: Gyda Varden Lodge No. 21, Sons of Norway Records

ID: OGLMC752

Primary Creator: Gyda Varden Lodge No. 21, Sons of Norway

Other Creators: Sons of Norway (1895-)

Extent: 3.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1981. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Ethnicity - Norwegian, Grand Forks - Organizations, Organizational Records

Languages: English, Norwegian

Abstract

1903-; local chapter of this fraternal and ethnic heritage organization

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Gyda Varden Lodge No. 21, Sons of Norway Records, 1903-2023, consist of materials about the Gyda Varden Lodge as well as its separate predecessors, Varden Lodge of the Sons of Norway and Gyda Lodge of the Daughters of Norway. Records include meeting minutes, membership information, financial records, and newsletters.

Meeting minutes and newsletters from 2013 through 2023 are available as PDFs. These files are saved on a server in Special Collections and available for examination.

Collection Historical Note

The Sons of Norway is a fraternal and ethnic heritage society with individual lodges organized into districts in the U.S., Canada, and Norway. Gyda Varden Lodge was organized in Grand Forks as Varden Lodge in June 1903, the 21st lodge of the Sons of Norway. It is the oldest lodge in North Dakota and in District IV. It merged in 1951 with the local Gyda Lodge of the Daughters of Norway, thus forming Gyda Varden Lodge. Their building at 1401 Ninth Avenue South was constructed in 1994. Gyda Varden Lodge continues to hold regular meetings and host special events such as Syttende Mai celebrations on May 17, a potato pancake breakfast, Norwegian language lessons, and rosemaling classes. It continues to be one of the largest lodges in terms of membership in District IV.

Subject/Index Terms

Ethnicity - Norwegian
Grand Forks - Organizations
Organizational Records

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals:

Additional items were received:

Deposited on permanent loan from Phyllis Johnson, Gyda Varden Lodge, October 10, 1988 (88-1623)

Don Lanes, Grand Forks, North Dakota, June 30, 1995 (95-2023)

Transferred from the Honve House Records, UA 111, in December 2006 (2007-2879)

Donated by Sam Johnson, Gyda Varden Lodge (2024-3506) and Doug Munski, Gyda Varden Lodge (2024-3526).

In 2024, previously processed additions (88-1623 and 95-2023) were transferred to OGLMC 1491 (Sons of Norway, District IV).

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

Acquisition Source: Trustees of the Gyda Varden Lodge

Acquisition Method:

Deposited on permanent loan; 82-981

A certificate of gift eliminating the status of permanent loan was signed by Douglas Munski, Gyda Varden Lodge, on 11 October 2024.

Preferred Citation: 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 May 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Oversize Folder 1: Photograph of Junior Lodge Dancers, ca. 1980],
[All]

Box 3

Folder 1: Anniversary Programs, 1973-2003

Folder 2: Correspondence, 1989-2004

Folder 3: Daughters of Norway, 1927-1947

Folder 4: Daughters of Norway Magazines, 1938-1951

Folder 5: Guestbook, 1978-1999

Folder 6: Membership Directory, ca. 1995

Folder 7: Membership Lists, 1976-1977

Folder 8: Newsletters, 1984-1999

Folder 9: Newsletters, 2000-2008

Folder 10: Newsletters, 2009-2023

Folder 11: Newspaper Articles, 1973-2003

Folder 12: Oscar O. Odegaard Publications, 1938-1950

Grand Forks Skandinav newspaper, December 30, 1938

Norway....As We Saw It (booklet), 1950

Folder 13: Photographs

752-1: (left to right) - Mrs. Lila Nelson, Mrs. Minnie Peterson, Edwin Jacobson, October 1973

752-2: Bowlers with trophies (seated include Irene Sundeen, Judy Orsak, ? Riley, Anna Vien; standing include Norman Vien, George Orsak, ? Helgeson, Irene Sollum, Ed Jacobson, Carl Nielsen, and Roger van Duyn), ca. 1960s

752-3: Folk Dancers (seated are Cora Jacobson, Agnes Wick, Dora Lindstrom, Darlene Clemenson, Margaret Zonges?, Julia Schoen, Agnes Larson, Mona Brevik, and Dagny Alphson; standing are Ray Egeland, Erwin Gustafson, Ed Jacobson, Andy Clemenson, Marion Gustafson, Alvin Theis, Myrtle Bain, Laurel Wick, Olaf Omlid, and Omar Bain), ca. 1965

752-4: Folk Dancers in pairs (from right are Mona Brevik and Olaf Omlid; Agnes Wick and Edwin Jacobson; Agnes Larson and Raymond Egeland; Myrtle and Omar Bain; Marion and Erwin Gustafson), ca. 1965

752-5: Drill Team and Chorus (seated are Mary Vein, Bernice Flohaug, Mary Jane Riley, Irene Sundeen, Lillian Hanson, Lila Nelson, Dora (Fury) Lindstrom, Peggy Curran, Cora Jacobson, Pearl Jordahl, Agnes Wick; middle are Minnie Peterson, Anna Vien, Sophie Johnson, Helen Griffin, Dagny Alphson, Clara Meberg, Gertie Hall (Vigen), Lila Peterson, Hazel Nelson, Jenny Stjern, Olga Christiansen, Arlene Rolland, Hilma Boe, Signe Braathen; top are Louise Helgeson, Jeanette Helle, Inga Holte, Edwin Jacobson, Clarence Bye, Hans Braathen, Leonard Nelson, Oscar Helgeson, Laural Wick, Irene Warcup, Ansie Knapp, Agnes Larson), ca. 1970

Folder 14: Sons of Norway Magazines, 1925-1946

Folder 15: Special Events, 1917-1990, 2015

Ledger 1: Meeting Minutes, 1951-1958

Ledger 2: Meeting Minutes, 1977-1981

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Oversize Folder 1: Photograph of Junior Lodge Dancers, ca. 1980],
[All]

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids