Irene Turli Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 3028

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Irene Turli Papers have been organized into three series: Correspondence, Notebooks, and Subject Files. The Biographical material includes copies of Irene Turli published obituaries, Certificate of Death, “Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Selected” of Will Funeral Chapel of Mitchell, SD, several photos of her from publications, a handwritten listing of her addresses from late 1940s to 2000, and photocopy from a notebook of “Irene Turli’s Writings (her list)”. The Correspondence Series includes 12 letters and postcards mailed to Irene Turli covering from 1949 to 1971. They are related to her writing career. The three undated include a handwritten letter she wrote to Robert Goulet, and two to her including from First Lady Michelle Obama with birthday wishes. The Notebooks Series consists of 15 notebooks containing handwritten short stories, notes, draft articles and listings done by Irene Turli. Some of the written articles include dates and span from 1950s into 1970s. The Subject Files Series includes “I Call It Adventure,” reminiscence concerning her father, Lars Ivarson Turli, a Norwegian immigrant from Aurland, Norway, who homesteaded in McCone County, MT. Includes mention of sheepherding and sheep behavior, finishing the construction of their house, breaking his leg, early radio programs, his fondness for arguing, and his distrust of doctors. The Lafayette Oracle Yearbook is from Lafayette High School, Buffalo, New York where Irene Turli graduated in 1944. The newspaper clippings include the June 5, 2014 issue of The Circle Banner of Circle, MT; an advertisement issued by North Dakota Motel Association regarding motels and other travel services in the state, and photo clipping from a newspaper featuring photograph of Gov. & Mrs. William L. Guy. The Real Estate documents consist of two property tax related forms (1908 & 1913) of her father Lars Turli, and copy of her ‘Escrow Agreement’ on sale of land to Erwin J. Asmussen (undated).

Dates

Majority of material found within 1908-2014

Creator

Turli, Irene. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.

Biography

Irene Anna Turli, born September 9, 1926 and died November 16, 2014 in Mitchell, SD. She was the third of three daughters born to Lars Ivarson Turli and Ingeborg Ellendsdatter Hamre Turli, both immigrants from Norway in the early 1900s. She grew up near Brockway, MT in McCone County, attended high school in Buffalo, NY and graduated in 1947 from Montana State University (now University of Montana). Irene had a long career in journalism, including writing and editing papers in Bismarck, Williston and Mandan, ND, and a number of years for the Mitchell Daily Republic in South Dakota, and was prominent in women’s career groups. She published a history of her family’s early years in Montana "I Call It Adventure" and a volume of poetry. She also wrote several novels (unpublished) including "The Three Red Hills." Her later years were spent in Mitchell, and following a stroke, for a number of years she lived at the Firesteel Health Center in Mitchell. As a resident she continued her journalistic endeavors, writing for the newsletter, and was an avid photographer. In 2012 two of her photographs won the South Dakota MasterWorks Artshow Masters Photography 80+ category. (Excerpt from obituary published in The Daily Republic, Mitchell, South Dakota. November 22, 2014)

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 linear foot)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Irene Turli Papers have been organized into three series: Correspondence, Notebooks, and Subject Files. Irene Turli was a journalist in Bismarck, Williston and Mandan, ND and in Mitchell, SD.