Thorstina Jackson Walters and Emile Walters Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 2010
Scope and Content
The Thorstina and Emile Walters Series (Files 1 through 7) contains photographs of Thorstina and her family; of her husband Emile, and his family; and of the two of them and their final home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The file containing the photographs of Thorstina show her as a young girl, growing up through adulthood from her graduation photo to standing in front of her home upon retirement with her husband. This series also has a sample of Émile’s artwork, as he was a relatively well-known artist.
The Iceland Series (Files 8 through 61) concentrate on the various aspects of Icelandic life. This encompasses their entertainment (actors & actresses), their artwork (specifically their sculptures and carvings), livestock, farmsteads, the countryside which includes both glaciers and geysers, to the main city of Reykjavik. Of special interest is the photograph sub-series within this series of Iceland’s Millennial Celebration. Dignitaries of the time from Iceland and Denmark, England, the United States and several other countries are shown attending this event. Another photograph of special interest is the signing of the Icelandic Treaty for Independence, signed December 1st, 1929.
The Icelandic Americans Series (Files 62 through 88) has photographs of Americans of Icelandic decent. Two notable individuals in this series are Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Steffansson and Dr. Harriet McGraw.
The North America Series (Files 89 through 93) contains various photographs of North Dakota in the Icelandic community of Mountain, North Dakota. Of special note is a photograph of the school in Mountain, N.D. where Vilhjalmur Steffansson received his early schooling. There is also a photograph of a school in Saskatchewan and a photographic postcard of sign over entrance to Gimli Park.
The Iceland Series (Files 8 through 61) concentrate on the various aspects of Icelandic life. This encompasses their entertainment (actors & actresses), their artwork (specifically their sculptures and carvings), livestock, farmsteads, the countryside which includes both glaciers and geysers, to the main city of Reykjavik. Of special interest is the photograph sub-series within this series of Iceland’s Millennial Celebration. Dignitaries of the time from Iceland and Denmark, England, the United States and several other countries are shown attending this event. Another photograph of special interest is the signing of the Icelandic Treaty for Independence, signed December 1st, 1929.
The Icelandic Americans Series (Files 62 through 88) has photographs of Americans of Icelandic decent. Two notable individuals in this series are Arctic explorer Vilhjalmur Steffansson and Dr. Harriet McGraw.
The North America Series (Files 89 through 93) contains various photographs of North Dakota in the Icelandic community of Mountain, North Dakota. Of special note is a photograph of the school in Mountain, N.D. where Vilhjalmur Steffansson received his early schooling. There is also a photograph of a school in Saskatchewan and a photographic postcard of sign over entrance to Gimli Park.
Dates
- 1920s-1950s.
Creator
- Jackson, Thorstina. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection remain with original creator or are in the public domain.
Biography
Thorstina Jackson was born, according to the 1910 Census, July 1887 in Pembina County, N.D., the daughter of Icelandic immigrants, Thorleifur Jóakimsson and Gudrún (Jónsdóttir) Jackson. In 1903, the family homesteaded near Leslie, Saskatchewan. Thorstina attended United College in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she obtained a B.A. in modern languages. She taught several years at the high school and junior college level and following World War I, she served as a social worker in France and Germany. In 1924, Thorstina did post-graduate work at Columbia University and began her lecture and writing career. In 1926, she lectured in Iceland on the Icelandic settlements in America, for which she received the Icelandic Order of the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon, from King Kristian of Denmark and Iceland. In 1928, Miss Jackson married Émile Walters. For having taken a prominent part in the Millennial Celebration in Iceland in 1930, Mrs. Walters was awarded the Order of the Millennial Celebration. From 1933 to 1942, Thorstina was employed as a social worker for the New York City Department of Welfare, and thereafter served in the Censorship and War Information Department until June 1944. She was then forced to resign due to the advancement of multiple sclerosis. That same year, Mrs. Walters was awarded a fellowship from the University of Minnesota to compile a history of the Icelandic settlements in North Dakota, which resulted in her book, Modern Sagas, published in 1953. In 1926, Thorstina had published Saga Íslendinga Nordur-Dakota and in 1930, she had translated and prepared for publication Matthias Thordarson's Vinland Voyages. Mrs. Walters also did a considerable amount of free-lance writing. She lived with her husband, Émile, on their farm at Poughkeepsie, New York, until her death on February 2, 1959.
Émile Walters was born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on January 31, 1893, the son of Icelandic immigrants, Paul and Bjorg (Jónsdóttir) Valtyr. Since his father died very young, Émile was brought to Gardar, North Dakota, in 1898, where he grew up, and later became a naturalized United States citizen. Having always wanted to become a painter, Émile studied at the Art Institute in Chicago, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Tiffany Foundation.
In 1928, he married Thorstina Jackson. Mr. Walters became a well-known landscape artist, especially noted as a painter of Iceland and Greenland. He exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States, Canada, and England. His works of art are represented in permanent collections throughout the world including the Smithsonian Institution, Fogg Museum, the National Museum of Iceland, and the University Museum at Bangkok, Thailand. He has received many prizes and decorations, including the Icelandic Order, and the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon, in 1939, from King Kristian of Denmark and Iceland. Mr. Walters died in 1977.
Émile Walters was born at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on January 31, 1893, the son of Icelandic immigrants, Paul and Bjorg (Jónsdóttir) Valtyr. Since his father died very young, Émile was brought to Gardar, North Dakota, in 1898, where he grew up, and later became a naturalized United States citizen. Having always wanted to become a painter, Émile studied at the Art Institute in Chicago, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Tiffany Foundation.
In 1928, he married Thorstina Jackson. Mr. Walters became a well-known landscape artist, especially noted as a painter of Iceland and Greenland. He exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States, Canada, and England. His works of art are represented in permanent collections throughout the world including the Smithsonian Institution, Fogg Museum, the National Museum of Iceland, and the University Museum at Bangkok, Thailand. He has received many prizes and decorations, including the Icelandic Order, and the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Falcon, in 1939, from King Kristian of Denmark and Iceland. Mr. Walters died in 1977.
Extent
476 Photographic Prints (476 photographic prints.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection compiled by Thorstina Jackson Walters includes various photographs of Iceland, Icelandic Americans and Icelandic heritage in America. Includes various portraits of Thorstina and Emile Walters including some of his art work and their home at Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Provenance
Donated by Émile and Thorstina Walters, Poughkeepsie, N.Y, 1956 (Acc. 630)
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection
Creator
- Jackson, Thorstina. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Thorstina Jackson Walters and Émile Walters Photograph Collection
- Description rules
- Rda
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu