Introduction
With one of the oldest and largest ethnic manuscript collections in the United States, the Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA) is a leader in the field of ethnic migration studies. Its mission is to locate, collect, preserve and interpret the Norwegian-American experience with accuracy, integrity, and liveliness. The NAHA archival collection includes letters, ledgers, books, periodicals, photographs, diaries, and audio and video recordings. The materials bring life to thousands of individuals, organizations, and businesses comprising the Norwegian diaspora in North America since migration began in the early 19th century.
Since its founding in 1925, NAHA has been located on the campus of St. Olaf College. Although both institutions are independent entities, they maintain close cooperation on common causes. NAHA maintains close ties to NAHA-Norge, known in Norway as Det norske-amerikanske historielaget i Norge. As an independent, non-profit organization, NAHA-Norge aims to promote scholarly interests in Norwegian-American studies in Norway, as well as to encourage Norwegian contributions to this field of study.
The 1925 Norse-American Centennial exhibit highlights the story and context surrounding the 1925 commemoration of organized Norwegian migration. In 2022, NAHA undertook a project to digitize the Norse-American Centennial papers, a project that was financed with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Compiled by two Norwegian majors at St. Olaf College (Erik Moe, ‘23 and Ryan Kiser, ‘25), the digital exhibit explores the inner workings of planning for a large celebration, the politics leading up to 1925, and the outcomes of the event.