Norwegians in Texas

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.

Norwegians in Texas highlights the often-overlooked history of Norwegian settlers that came to Texas. Though these settlements have not had the same lasting power as other, better-known settlements in the Midwest, cultural heritage persists in the areas that the Norwegians settlers inhabited. Several notable figures in the movement from Norway to America were longtime residents of Texas and argued that more Norwegian settlers should choose to make Texas their new home. Despite colonies that were initially strong and the push in many newspapers and other written sources advocating for Norwegians to come to Texas, the settlements did not last long-term. This exhibit will dive into the main endeavors of Texas-Norwegians, the figures that made them happen, and the conditions that led to their decline.

Compiled by Helen White (St. Olaf College, Class of 2023).

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