Special Collections Finding Aids

Scope and Contents The Northern States Power photographic collection, tells the history of electric power and natural gas production in the city of Fargo from the 1910s to the early 1980s. The photographs featured in this collection document how the two plants changed through time and technology. The collection has been organized into six series: Gas plant, Steam plant, Subject files, Gas plant lawsuit, Personnel, and Events. Some of the images were removed from a display at the Fargo NSP office. These...

Abstract The Olaf Sand photograph collection consists mainly of portraiture, including of Dr. Sand, Dr. Sand with family or friends, portraits of people in Dr. Sand’s family, and two images of Dr. Sand in medical rooms. There are six images of Dr. Sand’s birth town in Norway. Also included is a postcard with a Native American picture on front. These photographs were accessioned with Dr. Olaf Sand’s papers in 1956. The papers have been processed separately as Manuscript 570.

Abstract The Oscar Forness Photograph Collection originally consisted of eight albums that contained detailed images of Fargo-Moorhead through the medium of photography. The albums were purchased by the donor at a Fargo antique store and then presented to the Institute. The photographer attempted to capture as many storefronts and streets as appeared during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Abstract The photographic prints detail Richard Critchfield’s career as journalist and author. The prints mainly cover Critchfield’s coverage and study of village life in the Third World.

Abstract The Ronald Olin Postcard Collection comprises over 1,200 postcards documenting Fargo, N.D. The postcards in the collection date mainly from the early to mid-twentieth century, although there are also postcards from throughout the later part of the twentieth century. They hey-day of postcards was from 1907 to 1915. Most of the cards in the collection were commercially produced and represent well-known Fargo buildings, monuments, and views. A small number of the cards, though, document town life,...

Abstract The Roy P. Johnson Photograph Collection is an eclectic collection of original and copy photographic prints gathered by Mr. Johnson in connection with his historical research and articles published in the Fargo Forum newspaper. They were accessioned with his papers that were donated by Forum Communications in 1983 and have been processed as Manuscript 147. The photographs have been organized into three series: General images, People, and Early Fargo newspapers.

Abstract The photograph collection consists of photographs of the Ostbye family, Norway, friends and acquaintances, Moorhead, Minn., and some unidentified portraits. The time period ranges from the 1880s to pre-World War II.

Abstract The West Fargo Union Stockyards Photograph Collection gives a fairly comprehensive overview of the operation of the stockyards. The collection has been arranged alphabetically by topic. The topics varying from aerial views of the stockyard to stockyard workers.

Abstract The William Stern Photograph Collection consists of items located at the time of donation at Dakota Bank and Trust and given to the Institute prior to the bank’s merger with another bank. The images have been organized into three series: Dakota National Bank, Presidential portraits, and General portraits. Most have no specific identification on the back and many taken by Dan Olsen, Fargo photographer.

Abstract The W. J. Lane Company photograph collection gives an insight into the broad involvement of William J. Lane in the community of Fargo, N.D. and the State of North Dakota. William J. Lane was not only involved in real estate, but he was involved in politics, and many groups and organizations in the city.