From America to Norway III

Norwegian-American Immigrant Letters 1838-1914, Volume III: 1893-1914

2016

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Orm Øverland, Editor
Foreword by Todd W. Nichol
Preface by Orm Øverland

The experience of early Norwegian–American immigrants, told in their letters home

The third volume of From American to Norway is the final book of collected letters written by Norwegian–American immigrants from 1893 to 1914. The intended audience for letters home gradually transitioned from the expectation that the intensely personal letters were to be shared and published in local Norwegian communities to their recognition as a private form of communication.

Tags

Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, History, Scandinavia

The third volume of From American to Norway is the final book of collected letters written by Norwegian–American immigrants from the years 1893 to 1914. During this time many Norwegians had left their homeland, traveled to America, and settled in the Midwest. The intended audience for letters home gradually transitioned from the expectation that letters were to be shared and published in local Norwegian communities to their recognition as a private form of communication.

The challenges and opportunities that immigrants faced are described in these letters. The funny, sad, poignant, and inspirational experiences of the settlers are related from an intensely personal point of view.

Orm Øverland is professor emeritus of American studies at the University of Bergen in Norway. Among his books are The Western Home: A Literary History of Norwegian America and Immigrant Minds, American Identities: Making the United States Home, 1870-1930.