Betsey Brodahl papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 72

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Betsey Brodahl papers, 1967-2009 and undated, include correspondence and other records of her involvement with the Augustana Musical Theatre and international students at Augustana College. The Betsey Brodahl papers are arranged in the following series:

The Augustana Musical Theatre series, 1967-1978 and undated, is arranged in three subseries: Board, Productions, and Faculty Advisor. The Board subseries contains items created by the student board of the AMT including a statement of purpose composed at the beginning of the formation of the group, the Constitution of the organization, lists of board members at various points in the history of the group, financial statements, and board minutes. The Productions subseries includes materials from specific productions that were mounted by the AMT and includes programs, notes, press releases, schedules, and financial information pertaining to that production. The Faculty Advisor subseries contains correspondence between the faculty advisor and the board members of the group as well as outside vendors.

The International Students at Augustana College series, 1981-1997 and undated, contains general correspondence regarding international students, Brodahl's lists of international students, photographs of international students, contents of files kept on individual international students, information on the International Club, and Brodahl⁰́₉s articles on Ghana.

The Correspondence series, 1971-2009, contains a Chicago Symphony Orchestra program received with a personal letter to Brodahl, two letters written by Brodahl, and personal letters from Brodahl to Nita (Juanita) Hemke, Frederick Henke, and Mildred Borg. During her senior year at Augustana, Nita Hemke (Class of 1958) served as a secretray for Brodahl.

Video Recordings, 1989, contains one video recording of an interview conducted with Rev. K and Betsey Brodahl on 23 January 1989.

Dates

Creation: 1967-2009 and undated

Creator

Brodahl, Betsey (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from Augustana College Special Collections and the copyright holder.

Historical Note

Betsey Brodahl was born and raised in Wahoo, Nebraska, where she attended grade school and high school and one year at Luther College. Upon the urging of two instructors at Luther College, Brodahl applied at Augustana College to continue her college education. She was accepted, and graduated with a B. A. in history in 1944. Wanting a new experience, Brodahl went on to pursue graduate studies at Syracuse and Stanford. Her studies were interrupted in 1947 when Conrad Bergendoff, then president of Augustana College, asked Brodahl to return to the college to teach history due to a huge influx of students following World War II. She accepted a one-year teaching position with the intention of returning to Stanford to finish her degree. After that first year she was appointed Dean of Women; she would remain at Augustana College for the next 40 years. She retired in 1987 but remained active on the campus.

Throughout her tenure at Augustana, Brodahl took an active interest in music, arts, and historical organizations. She played violin in the Quad-City Symphony, held office in the Augustana Historical Society, American Scandinavian Association at Augustana, American Association of University Women (AAUW), and other groups. Brodahl was also a faculty advisor for the Augustana Musical Theatre (AMT). This student group was formed in 1967 with the purpose of providing acting and directing experience to students as well as entertaining and creating interest in musical theatre on campus and in the community. The proceeds from productions were donated to charity. In 1977, this student group was renamed Augustana Student Theatre (AST).

A large part of Brodahl's work as Dean of Students involved advising international students. Brodahl was dedicated to helping them through their experience at Augustana College. She also wanted to make sure that they received financial and emotional support after they graduated. In May 1976, the King of Sweden honored Brodahl with the Vasa Medal of Gold for her participation in the activities of organizations dedicated to the development of international relationships.

Extent

0.8 Cubic Feet (/ 2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials in the International Students at Augustana College series received from the Office of International Programs, October 2009. The two miscellaneous letters written by Brodahl in the Correspondence series were added to the collection by the Special Collections Librarian in 2004 and 2005. Additional letters received from Nita (Juanita) Hemke, June 2021 and April 2022.

Related Materials

MSS 375 Mary Lou Schaechter collection on Betsey Brodahl

Processing Information

Processed by Emily Hughes Dominick, 2007. Revised by Kelsey O'Connell, 2009; Caroline McPherson, February 2015; and Atticus Garrison, June 2016; and Micaela Terronez, 2022.