Rev. R.M. Holie Day Books
Collection
Identifier: Mss 373
Scope and Contents
The “Day Books” of Reverend R.M. Holie are each an eclectic mix of weekly planner, journal and financial ledger. The day books provide a snippet of Rev. Holie’s progression through life as a young pastor serving for predominately Norwegian language congregations, to a land owner and farmer, from his early writings solely in Norwegian to later writings solely in English, and finally his leisurely life as a Hospital Pastor nearing retirement. The day books are generally 3 inches by 4 inches, containing 100-150 pages per book.
Milnor, ND (1897-1915) The day books from Rev. Holie’s service in Milnor, North Dakota (1897-1915) are written predominately in Norwegian. Rudimentary translation of repeated words and phrases show that notes within the calendar portion of the day book refer to services performed by Rev. Holie—the most clearly translatable are those referencing baptisms, as in most cases, the sponsers (“fadder”) are listed in conjunction with the name of the child being baptized and the child’s date of birth. Funerals are also notated with descriptions (this is deduced due to the fact that later day books written in English give very descriptive notes regarding funerals—history that led to the individual’s death, birth dates, surviving relatives.) Additionally, there are probably listings of marriages (later day books contain these notes.)
In the 1901 day books through the 1918 day books, Rev. Holie begins creating a “Parish Record” of sorts, located either near the front cover or in the ruled section in the back of the day book. This record appears as grid with the congregations listed in rows and the type of service/ceremony performed in the columns. The headings are in Norwegian; it can be deduced that some refer to Confirmations (Konfir(masjon)), communion (kommuni…), funerals (Sjele(messe)), burials, (Jordfe(stelse)), worship (gudsdyr(kelse)), Sunday school (skoledag(e)), and school children (skolebarn or skolealder). The congregations served during in Milnor are listed as: Highland, Zion and De Lamere.
The early day books, 1897-1903, contain very detailed ledgers of Rev. Holies itemized expenses and salary payments in the ruled portions of each day book. From 1904 on, the ruled portions of the day books contain information regarding the sale of agricultural goods as well as notes pertaining to finances, attorney fees, correspondence, litigation, and notarized statements.
The rear pockets of the day books contain a variety of items; receipts, obituaries, newspaper clippings, and correspondence are examples of some of the items included.
Reeder, ND (1915-1919) Beginning in 1916 the congregations served by Rev. Holie have changed and increased to 15. The congregations listed are: Our Savior’s, Cedar, Buffalo Spring, St. Olaf, Grand Prairie, Ludlow, Golden Valley, Ralph, Vor Trelsers, Glendo, Bison, Lone Tree, Indian Cr., Turtle Cr., and Plain View. The day books continue to be notated in the same manner as the previous set of day books; a gridded parish report, notes regarding the services performed in the calendar portion, and notes regarding finances, agricultural sales and correspondence in the ruled portion.
The 1917 day book contains a copy of a recommendation letter written for Helda Tedjic, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Tedjic of Milnor, ND.
The rear pockets of some of these day books contain similar contents to the others: receipts, correspondence and clippings.
Minneapolis, MN (1919-1929) In this set of day books, Bergen Congregation is the only congregation being served by Rev. Holie. The 1920 day book is the only exception, it contains reference to two other congregations: Elk River (semi-regularly) and Northwood (once). The calendar portion of the day book notes whether the services were performed in Norwegian or English; for the services performed in Norwegian notes regarding the services performed are in Norwegian, those performed in English are noted in English.
This set of day books contains much more journaling, much of which is illegible due to the degradation of the ink as well as the cramped style of the writing. The later day books contain correspondence copied into the ruled portions and notes regarding litigation, possibly regarding Rev. Holie’s farm.
Minneapolis (1930-1935) It can be deduced from the notations in this set of day books that Rev. Holie served as a Hospital Pastor during this period of time.
The 1930 day book lists addressed of sanatoriums, rest homes, and hospitals in the first few pages. All the pages from the beginning of February to the end of December have been torn out. The notes in the ruled portion of the day book pertain to agricultural goods; additionally there are lists of people and addresses, possibly of parishioners he is visiting.
The rest of the day books in this set follow the style of pervious day books: notes regarding services performed in the calendar portion and notes regarding agricultural goods in the ruled portion.
The 1935 day book contains very little; there are a notes about one baptism (Jean Adele) and one marriage (Hubert P. L. Ostrander and Clara Walberg). There are a few financial notes and a copy of a warranty deed.
1936-1941 The day books in this set contain no notes regarding religious services, with the exception of one wedding in May, 1938. There is very little of anything in these day books; what is noted in the ruled portions pertains to financial concerns (correspondence from Clara Holie regarding transfer of stock) or agricultural goods.
Dates
- 1897-1941.
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are held by the Institute.
Biography
Rasmus Martinus Steffenson Holie was born May 29, 1865 in Sunnelven, Norway to Steffen and Olave (Froese) Holie. He immigrated to the United States in 1890 and taught Mathematics at a parochial school in Orfordville, Wisconsin. He attended Luther Seminary from 1893-1896. Upon graduating, he served as Pastor at a Norwegian Lutheran church in Brainerd, Minnesota from 1896-1897. After this short term of service, he returned to Orfordville, Wisconsin and married Clara Thoen (of Orfordville, Wisconsin; Knut and Olive (Goarder) Thoen, parents) on October 28, 1897 in Rock, Wisconsin.
In 1897, he was called to Milnor, North Dakota to serve as Pastor for a multipoint parish, serving between five and six congregations. His only daughter, Olga, was born while he as serving in Milnor. In 1915, Holie transitioned to serving a new set of parishes, about 15) in Reeder, North Dakota; he served there until 1919. In 1919, Holie was called to Bergen Congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He served with this congregation until 1928 or 1929. He then served as a Hospital Pastor until his retirement, sometime between 1934 and 1937.
In 1937, Rev. and Mrs. Holie moved with their daughter, Olga, and her family to Drake, North Dakota and then to Moorhead, Minnesota. Rev. Holie died in Moorhead in 1943.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
Norwegian
English
Abstract
The “Day Books” of Reverend R.M. Holie are each an eclectic mix of weekly planners, journals and financial ledgers, from 1897-1941 (gaps). They include his service in Milnor, ND, Reeder, ND, and Minneapolis, MN.
Provenance
Donated by Celeste Anne Johnson (Acc. 3004).
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Rev. R.M. Holie Day Books
- Description rules
- Appm
- 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