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Henriette Naeseth papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 85

Scope and Contents

The Henriette Naeseth papers, 1925-1974 and udnated, contains a scrapbook and several years of correspondence. The scrapbook contains letters of congratulations from colleagues and friends upon Naeseth's retirement from Augustana College in 1968. Several loose items were interleaved in the final pages of the scrapbook, including birthday cards and other notes dating to 1974.

The correspondence consists of personal and business letters, 1925-1941 and undated. Newspaper clippings and photographs are included with many of the letters. Personal letters written in Norwegian, signed by "Mama," frequently occur within the correspondence. Also, the correspondence contains several love letters written by a man named Roger. These letters often include romantic and clever expressions such as "even keep away orders are a delight when you write" (27 April 1937).

Dates

  • Creation: 1925-1974 and undated

Creator

Language of Materials

English and Norwegian

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Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright.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

Henriette Christiane Koren Naeseth was born 6 Aprill 1899 in Decorah, Iowa, to parents Caroline Mathilde Koren and Christen Andreas Naeseth. Naeseth received her B. A. from Grinnell College (1922), M. A. from University of Minnesota (1924), and Ph. D. from the University of Chicago (1931). She taught at the University of Chicago, Groucher College, and Chadron State College before accepting a position as Associate Professor of English at Augustana College in 1934. Naeseth served as Head of the Department of English at Augustana College from 1936 until she retired in 1968. She was also chairman of the Division of Humanities starting in 1945.

Naeseth had a major impact on the Department of English as well as the college as a whole. She was founder of the Augustana Writer's Club and its literary magazine, Saga. She also helped establish the Phi Beta Kappa chapter on campus and was instrumental in getting Augustana recognized by the American Association of University Women. Naeseth authored the book The Swedish Theatre of Chicago, 1868-1950 and several journal articles and reviews. She also translated Return to the Future, by Norwegian author Sigrid Undset.

Naeseth came from a well-educated Norwegian family steeped in the academic tradition. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. U. V. Koren was president of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod and helped found Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Her father, C. A. Naeseth taught English at Luther College and served as librarian for over 40 years. Naeseth was proud of her Norwegian ancestry and actively researched the field of Norwegian-American culture. She was awarded the St. Olav's Medal on behalf of King Olaf V of Norway in 1970 for her "work in furthering the knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture in the United States, and for furthering the relations and solidarity between Norwegian America and the old country."

Other honors bestowed upon Naeseth during her life include an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from Luther College in 1961, and citations in Who's Who of America, Who's Who in Education, and Who's Who American Women.

Naeseth passed away in 1987 at the age of 88.

Extent

1.0 Cubic Feet (/ 3 boxes)

Abstract

Henriette Christiane Koren Naeseth served as Head of the Department of English at Augustana College from 1936 until she retired in 1968. She was also chairman of the Division of Humanities starting in 1945. Naeseth came from a well-educated Norwegian family steeped in the academic tradition.Naeseth was proud of her Norwegian ancestry and actively researched the field of Norwegian-American culture. She was awarded the St. Olav's Medal on behalf of King Olaf V of Norway in 1970 for her "work in furthering the knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture in the United States, and for furthering the relations and solidarity between Norwegian America and the old country." Other honors bestowed upon Naeseth during her life include citations in Who's Who of America, Who's Who in Education, and Who's Who American Women. The Henriette Naeseth papers, 1925-1974 and udnated, contains a scrapbook and several years of correspondence. The scrapbook contains letters of congratulations from colleagues and friends upon Naeseth's retirement from Augustana College in 1968. The correspondence includes love letters from a man named Roger and several letters from Naeseth's mother.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Immediate source of acquisition unknown.

Processing Information

Processed by Emily Hughes Dominick, 2007. Updated by Micaela Terronez, January 2015. Revised by Atticus Garrison, June 2016.

Title
Henriette Naeseth papers, 1925-1974 and undated.
Status
Completed
Author
Atticus Garrison
Date
June 2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Augustana College Special Collections Repository

Contact:
639 38th Street
Thomas Tredway Library
Rock Island Illinois 61201 United States