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.
Unpacking: Material Culture and Skills Among Norwegian Americans explores the rich material heritage and folk skills that Norwegian immigrants carried with them when they came to America. Drawing from NAHA’s extensive manuscript collections, this digital exhibit highlights the rich connection between material culture and personal experience through writings, photographs, and documentation of folk artifacts, frontier architecture, and the everyday objects that shaped Norwegian American life. It is important to note that this digital exhibit is not an all encompassing history of Norwegian American contributions to material culture. Rather, it showcases select documentation from the NAHA archives that offer insight into these contributions.
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.
Unpacking: Material Culture and Skills Among Norwegian Americans explores the rich material heritage and folk skills that Norwegian immigrants carried with them when they came to America. Drawing from NAHA’s extensive manuscript collections, this digital exhibit highlights the rich connection between material culture and personal experience through writings, photographs, and documentation of folk artifacts, frontier architecture, and the everyday objects that shaped Norwegian American life. It is important to note that this digital exhibit is not an all encompassing history of Norwegian American contributions to material culture. Rather, it showcases select documentation from the NAHA archives that offer insight into these contributions.