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p0584_05673
University of Minnesota College of Science, Literature, and the Arts Minneapolis
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
October 16, 1931
Professor O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota
Dear Professor Rölvaag:
I have just read the announcement in Skandinaven concerning the publication of a series of "America letters." I note that the right of publication has been sold to Skandinaven and that that newspaper announces that reproduction of the originals by others is forbidden!
How can we go out in the field in the attempt to collect documentary materials for the Association, when one person thus commercializes letters written by Norwegian pioneers nearly a hundred years ago? When a person sells to a newspaper the authority to deny to others the privilege of reproducing letters that have come down from the earliest pioneer days? When all this is done with a bit of sentimental gloss -- the gloss that the proceeds are to go to a deserving person!
May I inquire who now owns the originals? Is it now illegal to make new transcripts from the originals and to publish them? I ask as a point of principle, for I do not contemplate doing anything with these originals.
The whole business is very painful to me. It is the kind of thing that tempts me to withdraw from the field.
Sincerely yours,
Theodore C. Blegen
TCB/L
p0584_05674
The Norwegian-American Historical Association
OFFICE OF MANAGING EDITOR St. Paul, Minnesota
Executive Board
HON. MAGNUS SWENSON, President, Madison, Wis.
REV. D. G. RISTAD, Vice President, Manitowoc, Wisc.
DR. O. E. RØLVAAG, Secretary, Northfield, Minn.
MAJOR BIRGER OSLAND, Treasurer, 120 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill.
MAJOR S. J. ARNESON, Publisher "Nordisk Tidende" 4808 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
DR. KNUT GJERSET, Decorah, Ia.
MR. FREDERIC SCHAEFER, Koppers Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Board of Finance
HON. O. M. OLESON, Fort Dodge, Ia.
MAJOR BIRGER OSLAND.
MR. A. N. RYGG, Brooklyn, N. Y.
DR. T. STABO, Decorah, Ia.
MR. E. G. QUAMME, St. Paul, Minn.
PROF. P. O. HOLLAND, Northfield, Minn.
DEAN J. JØRGEN THOMPSON, Financial Secy., Northfield, Minn.
Board of Editors
DR. THEO. C. BLEGEN, Managing Editor, Minn. State Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn.
KRISTIAN PRESTGARD, Editor, "Decorah Posten," Decorah, Ia.
DR. KNUT GJERSET.
DR. L. M. LARSON, Urbana, Ill.
DR. PAUL KNAPLUND, Madison, Wis.
Local Vice Presidents
DR. E. NYMAN FIGVED, Boston, Mass.
MR. PETER BERGE, New York, N. Y.
CONSUL M. MOE, Philadelphia, Pa.
PROF. C. MARTIN ALSAGER, Chicago, Ill.
MR. CHRISTIAN OLSEN, Chicago, Ill.
MRS. ALICE R. SONSTEBY, Chicago, Ill.
MR. J. A. QUAM, Sheridan, Ill.
CONSUL OLAF J. ROVE, Milwaukee, Wis.
PROF. JULIUS E. OLSON, Madison, Wis.
MR. HJ. R. HOLAND, Ephraim, Wis.
ATTY. B. L. WICK, Cedar Rapids, Ia.
DR. G. T. LEE, Editor, "Lutheran Church Herald," Minneapolis, Minn.
ATTY. JOHN HEITMANN, Duluth, Minn.
PROF HERMAN C. NORDLIE, Moorhead, Minn.
MR. HANS USTRUD, Baltic, S. D.
MRS. FRIDA BUE-HOMNES, Crosby, N. D.
HON. R. A. NESTOS, Minot, N. D.
GUNNAR LUND, Publisher, "Washington Posten," Seattle, Wash.
MR. AXEL ARNESON, Ft. Worth, Texas.
MR. OLAF HALVORSEN, Huntington Park, Calif.
October 19, 1931
Professor O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota
Dear Professor Rölvaag:
I shall be glad to write to Dr. Max Farrand. I can assure you that I am most desirous of seeing Mr. Anderson's work encouraged and promoted.
Sincerely yours
Theodore C. Blegen
TCB/S
p0584_05675
The Norwegian-American Historical Association
OFFICE OF MANAGING EDITOR St. Paul, Minnesota
Executive Board
HON. MAGNUS SWENSON, President, Madison, Wis.
REV. D. G. RISTAD, Vice President, Manitowoc, Wisc.
DR. O. E. RØLVAAG, Secretary, Northfield, Minn.
MAJOR BIRGER OSLAND, Treasurer, 120 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, Ill.
MAJOR S. J. ARNESON, Publisher "Nordisk Tidende" 4808 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
DR. KNUT GJERSET, Decorah, Ia.
MR. FREDERIC SCHAEFER, Koppers Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa.
Board of Finance
HON. O. M. OLESON, Fort Dodge, Ia.
MAJOR BIRGER OSLAND.
MR. A. N. RYGG, Brooklyn, N. Y.
DR. T. STABO, Decorah, Ia.
MR. E. G. QUAMME, St. Paul, Minn.
PROF. P. O. HOLLAND, Northfield, Minn.
DEAN J. JØRGEN THOMPSON, Financial Secy., Northfield, Minn.
Board of Editors
DR. THEO. C. BLEGEN, Managing Editor, Minn. State Historical Society, St. Paul, Minn.
KRISTIAN PRESTGARD, Editor, "Decorah Posten," Decorah, Ia.
DR. KNUT GJERSET.
DR. L. M. LARSON, Urbana, Ill.
DR. PAUL KNAPLUND, Madison, Wis.
Local Vice Presidents
DR. E. NYMAN FIGVED, Boston, Mass.
MR. PETER BERGE, New York, N. Y.
CONSUL M. MOE, Philadelphia, Pa.
PROF. C. MARTIN ALSAGER, Chicago, Ill.
MR. CHRISTIAN OLSEN, Chicago, Ill.
MRS. ALICE R. SONSTEBY, Chicago, Ill.
MR. J. A. QUAM, Sheridan, Ill.
CONSUL OLAF J. ROVE, Milwaukee, Wis.
PROF. JULIUS E. OLSON, Madison, Wis.
MR. HJ. R. HOLAND, Ephraim, Wis.
ATTY. B. L. WICK, Cedar Rapids, Ia.
DR. G. T. LEE, Editor, "Lutheran Church Herald," Minneapolis, Minn.
ATTY. JOHN HEITMANN, Duluth, Minn.
PROF HERMAN C. NORDLIE, Moorhead, Minn.
MR. HANS USTRUD, Baltic, S. D.
MRS. FRIDA BUE-HOMNES, Crosby, N. D.
HON. R. A. NESTOS, Minot, N. D.
GUNNAR LUND, Publisher, "Washington Posten," Seattle, Wash.
MR. AXEL ARNESON, Ft. Worth, Texas.
MR. OLAF HALVORSEN, Huntington Park, Calif.
October 21, 1931
Professor O. E. Rölvaag St. Olaf College Northfield, Minnesota
Dear Professor Rölvaag:
Thank you very much for your letter of October 19. In connection with such matters as the publication of the "America letters," I usually become more philosophic the longer I think over the question. That has happened in the present case. Do not write a letter to Skandinaven. Let us not cross bridges until we come to them.
Your letter has helped to quiet my mind, and I am very grateful to you.
Sincerely yours
Theodore C. Blegen
TCB/S