Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990

Oral History Interviews Collection

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Collection Overview

Title: Oral History Interviews Collection, 1974-1990

ID: OGLMC1213

Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 00/00/1990

Subjects: Civil Rights, Great Depression, Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL), University of North Dakota - Administration, University of North Dakota - Camp Depression

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains oral history interviews recorded on audio cassettes, as well as transcripts of most of the interviews. The interviews were conducted from 1974 to 1990, mostly by members of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Subject/Index Terms

Civil Rights
Great Depression
Politics and Government - Nonpartisan League (NPL)
University of North Dakota - Administration
University of North Dakota - Camp Depression

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 Method: Donation; 90-1723

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Oral History Interviews Collection. OGLMC 1213, 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 October 2015.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Item:

[Item 1: Camp Depression - Paul Benson and Raymond Rund],
[Item 2: Camp Depression - John Holodick, Ray Ness, and Ken Gulmon],
[Item 3: Camp Depression - Algot Johnson],
[Item 4: Camp Depression - Mel Johnson],
[Item 5: Camp Depression Interview - Ralph Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, O.A. Hove, Walt Styer, and Franklin Vecon],
[Item 6: Agnes Geelan],
[Item 7: Leroy Goodwater and Hilda Goodwater],
[Item 8: Harold Groth and Grace Groth],
[Item 9: UND History Department Faculty - John Parker, Elwyn B. Robinson, Robert Wilkins, and Louis Geiger],
[Item 10: Elsie Brown],
[Item 11: Marian Meyers],
[Item 12: Frank Kelly],
[Item 13: Merle Kidder],
[Item 14: William Koenker],
[Item 15: William Koenker],
[Item 16: Soren Kolstoe],
[Item 17: Charles Libby and Margaret Libby Barr],
[Item 18: Henry Martinson],
[Item 19: Henry Martinson],
[Item 20: S.W. Melzer],
[Item 21: Ken Porter],
[Item 22: Benjamin Ring],
[Item 23: Elwyn and Eva Robinson],
[Item 24: Clarence Sande],
[Item 25: Gerald Skogley],
[Item 26: O.A. Stevens],
[Item 27: Robert Wilkins],
[Item 28: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[Item 29: John R. Salter, Jr.],
[All]

Item 18: Henry Martinson

Interviewed by Robert Carlson, October 7, 1974

Henry Martinson was secretary of the Socialist Party in North Dakota, publisher of the Iconoclast, and was an organizer for the Nonpartisan League. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor from 1937 to 1965.

Martinson homesteaded in northwestern North Dakota in 1906. There were many Norwegian immigrants in the Williams and Divide County area, and they were used to socialism. Appeal to Reason was reported to be a popular socialist newspaper.

Around 1915, the socialist party in North Dakota began to divide into two factions: some were opportunistic, and some were Marxist. He was in the Scandinavian branch which was closer to pure Marxist. They wanted to educate people until they could understand real socialism. The opportunists wanted to be politically active, and they wanted power. Equal suffrage and elimination of child labor were immediate demands of both factions. Some of the people Martinson commented on included A.C. Townley, William Lemke, William Langer, Alfred Knutson, and L.L. Griffith.

Most of the interview focuses on events between 1910 and 1940.

Interview: Audio Cassette Tape 801, 803, and 805

Transcript: None

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids