Theodore C. Blegen Correspondence

ST. OLAF COLLEGE NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA

O E. RÖLVAAG DEPARTMENT OF NORWEGIAN

our own history in America. I would, however, like to see you publish the history first. We need that more than any of the other two books. "The Gleanings" would also naturally follow the history, and then -- the volume of letters! That would surely be fine!

But please hurry the work on the history! I hope sincerely that good fortune will throw us together in the near future so that we may have a chance to get better acquainted.

I don't happen to have a copy of my last novel "Længselens Baat" on hand, otherwise I should have sent you one.

Sincerely yours

O. E. Rölvaag

Minnesota Historical Society

SAINT PAUL

SOLON J. BUCK SUPERINTENDENT

THEODORE C. BLEGEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

September 26, 1925

Professor O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota

My dear Mr. Rölvaag:--

I have received from Mr. Prestgard a copy of the printed notice of the meeting at Northfield on October 6. I am writing to say that I expect to attend both the afternoon meeting and the dinner though I shall have to get back to St. Paul that evening.

By the way, the proposed name of the society is monstrous. It is heavy and verbose. I think a much simpler title would be desirable.

Sincerely yours

Theodore C. Blegen

TCB:D

Minnesota Historical Society

SAINT PAUL

SOLON J. BUCK SUPERINTENDENT

THEODORE C. BLEGEN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT

October 24, 1925

Prof. O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota

Dear Professor Rölvaag:--

This is merely to confirm our telephone conversation of the other night. I have decided to attend the Chicago meeting on November 4 and if you will let me know which train you are going down on, I shall be delighted to meet you and travel with you.

Sincerely yours

Theodore C. Blegen

TCB/B

NAHA

November 10, 1925

Prof. O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota

My dear Professor Rölvaag:

I am writing to ask you if you will get someone at St. Olaf College to do a little piece of translating for the Year Book of the Norwegian- American Historical Association.

I suppose that you have in your library a file of Nordmands-Forbundt. In the first volume, for 1908, pages 51 - 57, there is an interesting little article by H. Cook-Jenson which describes conditions on board an immigrant packet in the fifties. It is a piece of first-hand material and is well worth putting into English form. Possibly Miss Larson might be willing to prepare an English version of it, or perhaps you have some first-class student who could do it. In bringing it out, I would of course give publicity to the name of the translator.

By the way, someone apparently got the idea at Chicago that the Year Book would be issued in a great hurry. We must not encourage this notion. I certainly shall not rush the work and I think it will be desirable to bring it out without much delay, but the first consideration, it seems to me, is that it should be a first-class work and plans have already been carried so far that I think I can assure you that the first volume will arouse a good deal of interest.

Sincerely yours

TCB:GH

NOV 12 1925

ST. OLAF COLLEGE NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA

Nov 11. 1925

O. E. RÖLVAAG DEPARTMENT OF NORWEGIAN

Dr. Theo. C. Blegen St. Paul Minn.

My Dear Doctor Blegen:

Tak for sidst! -- Yes, I'll get that article translated for you. Shall try Miss Larson first, and if she says no, I shall try one of my students.

I wouldn't pay a great deal of attention to the businessmen on our board in matters of literary interest; they don't understand. -- It would of course be desirable to get the year book out as soon as possible, but what is of far greater consequence, is to bring out a piece of work that all may justly be proud of. It must be our slogan in all our publication matters: Nothing but the best will do! I trust our Editorial staff will be guided by that principle.

Sincerely yours

O. E. Rölvaag