Olaf Sand Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 570

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Olaf Sand Papers provide a glimpse into his career as a physician both in Norway and North Dakota. The papers also include personal family correspondence, and subject files related to medical research, his medical career and honors he received. The papers are organized into two series: Correspondence and Subject files. The Correspondence Series is arranged chronologically and covers the period 1925 to 1955 with the bulk from 1947 to 1954. It consists almost exclusively of incoming personal correspondence with friends, his grandson Olaf, and acquaintances in Norway. The letters after his death are to his wife from persons offering condolence. The Subject Files Series covers a wide variety of topics to include a handwritten autobiographical sketch, course notes from post-graduate studies, membership cards and receipts which show the extremely diverse interests of Dr. Sand, as well as newspaper clippings on his career and on St. Luke's Hospital . The speeches include his address (6 leaves) at the naturalization ceremony held in Fargo on June 14, 1949. In it Sand talks about Democracy and the opportunities and challenges that the United States faces, as well as thought about their native country and adopted state of North Dakota. Another printed speech is Dr. Sand‟s acceptance speech (3 leaves) when he received the Cross of the Knights of St. Olav in 1953. In it he gives a poignant reflection upon his medical career and both the country of his ancestors and his descendants. There are two additional typescript speeches. One was given at the funeral of Rev. Erick Ballestad at Walcott Lutheran Church in 1950 by Sand, Nils Tronnes and Olaf Hagen, the other was given by Olaf Hagen at the annual Fargo Clinic party in 1941. It includes a tribute to Sand, “And now let us all stand up and drink a toast to the one we all should hold in affectionate regard but who is unable to be here tonight – the gallant skipper who by an imperishable faith and a dynamic service has ever stood at his post to keep the keep even and colors flying throughout these many years.” The patient ledger (448 pages) covers from April 1905 to February 1907 and documents the patients he treated when he came to Fargo. Most of the entries are written in Norwegian. Each includes the date, patient‟s name, age, home town, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and charges. There is name index at the beginning. The other patient ledger, the „Syge [Sick] Journal‟ is a bound volume (235 pages) containing information on the patients he treated while practicing at Hareidlandet, Norway from 1897 to 1899. There is an alphabetical index at the beginning of the volume. Each entry includes the name of the patient, age, charge, diagnosis and treatment together with follow-up treatment. All entries are in Norwegian. The research papers on Thrombosis and Embolism were prepared for the nurses of St. Luke's Hospital.

Dates

1897-1955.

Creator

Sand, Olaf, 1871-1954. (Person)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.

Biography

Dr. Olaf Sand was born March 14, 1871 at Sand, Nord Odal, Norway, the son of Ludvig Olsen Sand and Frya Hansdatter Skieppentad. He attended school near home and in Oslo (then Christiania). In 1889 he entered the University of Christiania where he received the degree in medicine in 1897. That same year he married Eva Crawford, and they went to practice on the island of Hareidlandet near Ålesund, Norway for two years. In 1899 he returned to Christiania where he interned at the state hospital and his wife continued her medical studies receiving her degree in 1901 although she never practiced. In 1901 Dr. Sand also did post graduate work in Berlin. In 1902 they came to Pelican Rapids, Minnesota where he worked with Dr. Tufte and where their only child Hedvig was born in 1903. They moved to Fargo, N.D. in 1905 where Dr. Sand became associated with Dr. Tronnes. Together they and several other doctors organized St. Luke's Hospital and the Fargo Clinic. During his active career he did post graduate work at Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Chicago, New Orleans, and the Mayo Clinic. In June 1941 his wife died and he retired in 1944 from his practice. In 1947 in Norway he married Prudence K. Geary of Fargo. They returned to Fargo where they lived until Dr. Sand's death on September 28, 1954. In 1954 he had received the Knights Cross, First Class of the Order of Saint Olav from King Haakon of Norway.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Immigrant from Norway who was one of the founders of St. Lukes Hospital in Fargo and recipient of the Knights Cross, First Class of the Order of Saint Olav from King Haakon of Norway.

Provenance

Donated by Prudence Geary 1956 (Acc. 570).

Separation Record

The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Dr. Olaf Sand Papers and have been sent to the section indicated. Photographs (Institute Photo 2095)

31 Photographs of Dr. Sand over his lifespan, the home area in Norway, his daughter as a child and grandson Olaf Leifson.