10157 North Dakota Oral History Collection Inventory

In November 1973 Larry Sprunk, the North Dakota Oral History Project director, submitted a proposal for the project to the North Dakota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission. The Commission approved funding for a seven month pilot program with the intention of providing additional support later under Bicentennial grant programs. Due to the lack of funds, the North Dakota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission discontinued funding the project at the conclusion of the seven month trial period. The North Dakota Farmers Union sponsored the project from July 1974 to June 1975 as their contribution to the bicentennial activities. In July 1975 the State Historical Society of North Dakota assumed funding for the project. The project was completed in June 1977.
The primary objective of the North Dakota Oral History Project was to conduct "oral tape recorded interviews with North Dakotans who have lived through the state's history and who can speak of this history from a first-hand basis." Interviewees were photographed at the time of their interviews. Photographs of interviewees are available in the Photo Archives. In addition, the project borrowed over 6,000 historical photographs which were copied and added to the State Historical Society's collection. Many interviewees also donated family histories, documents, letters, ledgers, books, and artifacts.

The North Dakota Oral History Project Records date from 1973 to 1977 and occupy five cubic feet. The records are divided into ten series: table of contents, incomplete transcripts, old Governor's Mansion transcripts, referral files, signed releases, completed interview files, miscellaneous files, data sheets, donation and loan lists, and special collections.

The table of contents series serves as an index to individual interviews and consists of a list of subjects discussed by the interviewee with a counter number for the location on the tape. The table of contents are filed under the county where the interviewee lived. Approximately 30% of the interviews do not have a table of contents.

The incomplete transcripts series consists of transcribed interviews which were edited for possible publication in North Dakota History. There are also editorial notes concerning the interest value of a particular passage.

The old Governor's Mansion transcripts consist of transcribed interviews which were conducted with people knowledgeable about the former Governor's Mansion.

The referral files are organized by region and consist of letters and forms identifying older residents who would be good candidates for an oral history interview. The forms provide the nominee's age, past occupation, address, and personality characteristics.

The signed releases series consists of a release form signed by the interviewee governing property rights and copyrights to the oral history interviews. The signed releases are organized according to the interviewee's county of residence.

The completed interview files consist of letters and forms relating to scheduling of oral history interviews.

The miscellaneous files consist of administrative files, original forms, press releases, correspondence, deed of gift forms, research notes, financial records, photograph loans, articles on oral history techniques, county nursing home information, and miscellaneous papers. The administrative files consist of the North Dakota American Revolution Bicentennial Commission grant application and correspondence regarding funding and support of the project. The research notes contain regional historical information gathered in preparation for oral history interviews. The financial records consist of sales receipts for equipment and vouchers. The photograph loans consist of a master list of loaned photographs that were duplicated and returned. The county nursing home information consists of a list of nursing homes in North Dakota.

The data sheets series provides names of interviewees, interview number, cassette size, town, county, time and an occasional interviewee obituary.

The donation and loan lists consist of a record of when a donation or loan was received, photocopied, and returned. The sheets are filed by county and interview number.

The special collections consist of family histories, biographies, autobiographies, reminiscences, documents, poetry, newspaper clippings, maps, correspondence, and manuscripts that were donated by a number of interviewees.

Consists of a list of subjects discussed by the interviewee with a counter number for the location on the tape.

Consists of transcribed interviews which were edited for possible publication in North Dakota History.

Consists of transcribed interviews which were conducted with people knowledgeable about the former Governor's Mansion.

Consists of letters and forms identifying older residents who would be good candidates for an oral history interview.

Consists of administrative files, original forms, press releases, correspondence,

deed of gift forms, research notes, financial records, photograph loans, county nursing home information, and miscellaneous.

Consists of a sheet recording when a donation or loan was received, photocopied, and returned.

Consists of family histories, biographies, autobiographies, reminiscences, documents, poetry, newspaper clippings, maps, correspondence, and manuscripts that were donated by a number of interviewees.

Box	Folder	Description Mss 10157
Series I. Table of Contents
1	1	Adams County
	2	Barnes County
	3	Benson County
	4	Billings County
	5	Bottineau County
	6	Bowman County
	7	Burke County
	8	Burleigh County
	9	Cass County
	10	Cavalier County
	11	Dickey County
	12	Divide County
	13	Dunn County
	14	Eddy County
	15	Emmons County
	16	Foster County
	17	Golden Valley County
	18	Grand Forks County
	19	Grant County
	20	Griggs County
	21	Hettinger County
	22	Kidder County
	23	LaMoure County
	24	Logan County
	25	McHenry County
	26	McIntosh County
	27	McKenzie County
	28	McLean County
	29	Mercer County
	30	Morton County
	31	Mountrail County
	32	Nelson County
	33	Oliver County
	34	Pembina County
	35	Pierce County
	36	Ramsey County
	37	Ransom County
	38	Renville County
	39	Richland County
	40	Rolette County
	41	Sargent County
	42	Sheridan County
	43	Sioux County
	44	Slope County
	45	Stark County
	46	Steele County
	47	Stutsman County
	48	Towner County
	49	Traill County
	50	Walsh County
	51	Ward County
	52	Wells County
	53	Williams County
	54	Miscellaneous

Series II. Incomplete Transcripts
	55	Ole Abelseth
	56	John Baird
	57	Dr. James Blunt
	58	Oscar W.H. Bode
	59	William Bosanco
	60	Alfred O. Brown
	61	Wilbur Chapin
	62	Dr. Charles R. Chapman
	63	Ivan Christianson
	64	Alice Conitz
	65	William E. Cook
	66	Mrs. L.E. Correll
	67	Matt Dahl
	68	Ronald N. Davies
	69	William T. DePuy
	70	Ada Engen
	71	Winifred Erdmann
	72	Dr. M.G. Flath
	73	Jim Gayton, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gayton
	74	William L. Gipp
	75	Earl Henderson
	76	Rudolph Haugen
	77	Mildred Isakson
	78	Margaret Johnson
	79	Ernest and Lena Kohlmeier
	80	Grace Lambert
	81	Stella Long
	82	Mabel Lorshbough
	83	Henry Martinson
	84	Frank Meier

2	1	Dr. S.W. Melzer
	2	H.C. "Hugh" O'Conner
	3	O. Leonard Orvedahl
	4	Janet Penny
	5	Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Powell
	6	Ray and Hilda Putney
	7	Dr. John W. Robinson
	8	Mr. and Mrs. J.A. (Burt) Rock
	9	Ed and Olga Sherlock
	10	Don Short
	11	William L. Smith
	12	Charles and Collie Stedman
	13	Olaf Tagestad
	14	R.P. Taralseth
	15	Edith Thompson
	16	Henry Timm
	17	Clarence Tweet
	18	Esther Vaagen
	19	Al J. Vohs
	20	Hanna Walther
	21	H.E. and Francis Winzenburg
	22	Gilbert and Pearl Wick
	23	Ted and Ralph Williams
	24	Ray Zinsli

Series III. Old Governor's Mansion Transcripts
	25	Luella Aandahl
	26	Mr. and Mrs. Jay Bryant
	27	Marion Burke
	28	John E. Davis
	29	Mary Langer Gokey
	30	Edna Moser
	31	James Moses and Mary Jean Moses Schwichtenberg
	32	Frances Kellogg Shafer
	33	Louise Aandahl Stockman
	34	Jack and Thelma Vantine and Emerson Liessman

Series IV. Referral Files
	35	Region 1
	36	Region 2
	37	Region 3
	38	Region 4
	39	Region 5
	40	Region 6
	41	Region 7
	42	Region 8
	43	Region 9
	44	Region 10
	45	Region 11
	46	Region 12
	47	Region 13
	48	Region 14
	49	Region 15
	50	Region 16
	51	Region 17
	52	Region 18

Series V. Signed Releases
	53	Adams County
	54	Barnes County
	55	Benson County
	56	Billings County
	57	Bottineau County
	58	Bowman County
	59	Burke County
	60	Burleigh County
	61	Cass County
	62	Cavalier County
	63	Dickey County
	64	Divide County
	65	Dunn County
	66	Eddy County
	67	Emmons County
	68	Foster County
	69	Golden Valley County
	70	Grand Forks County
	71	Grant County
	72	Griggs County
	73	Hettinger County

3	1	Kidder County
	2	LaMoure County
	3	Logan County
	4	McHenry County
	5	McIntosh County
	6	McKenzie County
	7	McLean County
	8	Mercer County
	9	Morton County
	10	Mountrail County
	11	Nelson County
	12	Oliver County
	13	Pembina County
	14	Pierce County
	15	Ramsey County
	16	Ransom County
	17	Renville County
	18	Richland County
	19	Rolette County
	20	Sargent County
	21	Sheridan County
	22	Sioux County
	23	Slope County
	24	Stark County
	25	Steele County
	26	Stutsman County
	27	Towner County
	28	Traill County
	29	Walsh County
	30	Ward County
	31	Wells County
	32	Williams County
	33	Governor's Mansion
	34	Miscellaneous

Series VI. Completed Interview Files
	35	Region 1
	36	Region 2
	37	Region 3
	38	Region 4
	39	Region 5
	40	Region 6
	41	Region 7
	42	Region 8
	43	Region 9
	44	Region 10
	45	Region 11
	46	Region 12
	47	Region 13
	48	Region 14
	49	Region 15
	50	Region 16
	51	Region 17
	52	Region 18

Series VII. Miscellaneous Files
	53	Administrative File
	54	Original Forms
	55	Press Releases
	56	Correspondence, A-I
	57	Correspondence, J-R
	58	Correspondence, S-Z
	59	Deed of Gift Forms
	60	Research Notes

4	1	Governor's Mansion Information
	2	Financial Records
	3	Photograph Loans
	4	Oral History Techniques
	5	County Nursing Home Information
	6	Miscellaneous

Series VIII. Data Sheets
	7	A
	8	B
	9	C
	10	D
	11	E
	12	F
	13	G
	14	H
	15	I
	16	J
	17	K
	18	L
	19	M
	20	N
	21	O
	22	P, Q
	23	R
	24	S
	25	T
	26	U, V
	27	W
	28	X, Y, Z
	29	Special Collections

Series IX. Donation and Loan Lists
	30	Adams County - Grand Forks County
	31	Grant County - Nelson County
	32	Oliver County - Williams County

Series X. Special Collections
	33	Henry Anderberg - correspondence, 1942; 1944; 1968
	34	Carol Anderson - letter, 1910
	35	Alice Arnegard - reminiscences
	36	Enid Bern - reminiscences
	37	Joseph L. Bina - biography; document, 1896
	38	Mary Bishop - family history; documents
	39	Boschee - autobiography
	40	Frances Braaten - family history
	41	Edward V. Brown - stock certificate, 1921
	42	Mrs. Fred Bryans - family history
	43	LeRoy Burnstad - correspondence; documents, 1905-1908
	44	Alice Conitz - family history
	45	Eva Connors - "South Prairie Saga"
	46	Eva Connors - "Pictures of South Prairie"
	47	G.M. Christensen - manuscript
	48	Mary Christopherson - reminiscences

5	1	Gilbert S. Cryne - poetry
	2	Gilbert S. Cryne - poetry
	3	Peter Deutscher - reminiscences
	4	Mrs. Alfred Domier - manuscripts
	5	John Leslie Easton - reminiscences
	6	Martha Espeseth
	7	Ralph Fisher - family history
	8	Fred Fleck - "Personal and Family History"
	9	Clifton Foye - account book, n.d.
	10	Mr. and Mrs. Charles Friese - reminiscences
	11	Inga Geinager - family history
	12	Anders Hagburg - family history
	13	Lillian Haig - reminiscences
	14	Sybil Hall - reminiscences
	15	Ernest Halverson - miscellaneous
	16	Mrs. Minard Halverson - newspaper clippings
	17	Jean M. Hill - Valley City records; an account sheet and Christmas greetings
	18	Rudolph Hoefs - reminiscences
	19	Lewis Hoffman - mine location maps
	20	Mrs. John Holbach - postmaster appointment
	21	Mrs. Martin Holter - family history
	22	Bernard Hultstrand - reminiscences
	23	Fred Jeffries - "Washburn and McLean County"
	24	Clarence Jensen - "Life of Elling and Hannah Jensen"
	25	Cliff Jensen - Tales, 1896
	26	Harvey Jenson - reminiscences
	27	Frank Johnson - Dickey County newspaper list
	28	Fred Kurle - reminiscences
	29	Lee Leftwich - "History of Early Days in Sidney Township"
	30	Edwin Leiby - letter, 1885
	31	Issac and Dora Loeppke - family history
	32	Oscar Lund - letters discussing family history, 1971-1976
	33	George and Myrtle McHugh - "Mapes, D.T."
	34	Harriet MacDonald - family history
	35	Walter Martin - family history
	36	Mrs. George Mitchell - family history
	37	Mrs. Olaf Moen - family history
	38	Gordon Olson - military documents
	39	Ole A. Olson - poetry
	40	Ole A. Olson - poetry
	41	Mrs. William Overby - "Glimpses Into My Past" by Morten Mortenson
	42	Mr. and Mrs. George Overn - periodical clipping
	43	M.G. and Ida Pederson - autobiography, "History of Baldwin Township"
	44	Kathryn J. Peters - song sheet "Our Hilltop Home"
	45	Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Pierson - family history
	46	Mary Pittsley - "Western North Dakota An Introduction to a Far County" by Rev. Ronald Korfmacher
	47	S. Anne Preszler - "St. Mary's Catholic Church"
	48	Ray Putney - poetry
	49	Esther Rode - "Adrian: Just Passing Through" by Paulette Rode
	50	Jennie Schindler - Indian stories
	51	Otto Skager - family history
	52	Horton Starke - land information
	53	Charles Stedamn - "Early and Later History of Business Establishments in Sheyenne, ND"
	54	Mrs. James Sullivan - "Pioneering in Eddy County 1854-1954"
	55	Louis Thorstad - documents
	56	Ernest Utke - family history
	57	Joseph Volk - "Oral History of St. Anselm's Church"
	58	Al J. Vohs - reminiscences
	59	Mrs. M.E. Walsh - military documents
	60	Meade D. Ward - military documents
	61	Ole Watne - biography
	62	Jacob P. Westby - Fairdale, ND history
	63	Thomas B. White - "Narrative of James Sweeney"
	64	Opal Wothe - "Prairie Smoke Tayles"
	65	Philip Woutat - "Pioneer Medicine" by Dr. W. H. Witherstine

Title:	North Dakota Oral History Collection
Date:	1973-1977
Collection Number:	Mss 10157
Quantity:	5 linear feet
Abstract:	Consists of oral history interview transcripts, indexes to recorded oral history interviews, interview referral files, interview files, photographs, lists of donations to the Project, oral history interview transcripts relating to the Governor�s Mansion, family histories, biographies, reminiscences, and manuscripts. Most of the records document administration of the Project. Genealogical information and oral history interview transcripts make up the remainder of the collection. See also the list of recorded interviews (see link above).
Provenance:	The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the North Dakota Oral History Project Records as a gift from project director Larry Sprunk in June 1977. Juliann Henriksen prepared the inventory to the North Dakota Oral History Project Records in January 1984.
Property Rights:	The State Historical Society of North Dakota owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights:	Much of the material in this collection consists of state government records and is accessible to researchers under provision of the North Dakota Century Code, 55-02.1-08. Copyrights to other materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researchers should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94-553, Title 17, U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access:	This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation:	Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnotes and bibliographic references.
Transfer:	Twenty-seven publications were transferred to the Library in January 1984. A list of transferred publications and donors is located at the end of the inventory. One hundred ninety-three photographs donated to the project were removed from the records and transferred to the Photo Archives in January 1984. Over eleven hundred photographs of interviewees were also transferred to the Photo Archives.

Publications Transferred to the Library Collections Mss 10157
Co. No	Donor	Description
MZ-22	Margaret A. Johnson	History of William Charles Johnson and Wife Catherine and Their Descendents, July 1970.
MZ-17	Solveig J. Stedseth	Echos, Anna O. Bertinuson, 1962 LO-16
	John Gross	Schmaltz Family History, 1971; Gross Family History, 1970
WE-15	L.W. Bower	Just An Ordinary Family, Mary Twist,
TR-19	Wallace Haugom	Diamond Jubilee, 1882-1957, Portland, ND
TR-5	Peter O. Paulson	The Evenson-Moen Family, 1785-1958
TR-2	C. Norman Burnsdale	"Facts about North Dakota's New Laws."
RI-19	Rudolph Hoefs	Area Fact Survey, Hankinson, North Dakota, 1964
OL-10	Ralph Hickle	My Family Tree - Seven Generations High, Sherman Hickle, 1952
DU-20	Grace Smith	The David Juzeler Family
DU-1	Mrs. Harold Lee	The David Juzeler Family
DI-20	Mrs. Alfred Johnson	Seventy-Fifth Anniversary - Our Savior's Lutheran Congregation, 1884-1959, Clement,
		North Dakota; Fortieth Anniversary - St.John's Lutheran Church, 1905-1945, Oakes, North Dakota
BI-14	Hazel Schlangen	Along Paupay Creek, Hazel Bendix Schlangen
BA-24	Mrs. John O. Hanson	Thanks Be To God, 1885-1960, The 75th Anniversary of Eidfjold Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hannaford, North Dakota and St. Olaf Evangelical Lutheran Church, Walum, North Dakota.
BA-22	Jean M. Hill	The First Sibylline Book of Valley City High School, 1907
BA-8	George & Esther Overn	Kathryn Alumni, 1925-1975; Kathryn, North Dakota 75th Anniversary,1900-1975; Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, 1886-1961, Waldheim American Lutheran Church, Kathryn, North Dakota
		St. Pauli Lutheran Church, 1903-1953, Kathryn, North Dakota
	Unknown	The Chenoweth Trailblazers
RI-10	John Barner	Poems, Agnes Stowell Pinkney; Vocational Adjustment of Ex-Prisoners in the District of Columbia, Sister Helen Angela Hurley, 1938.
		Resources of Dakota, Commissioner of Immigration, 1887
RM-6	Mrs. Minard Halverson	"Historic Ramsey County."