Herman O. Fjelde Family Photograph Collection
Collection
Identifier: Photo 523-Photo Folio 1
Scope and Content
The Herman O. Fjelde Family Photograph Collection is composed of two folders. The first folder contains 3 images of Herman, his parents and siblings back in Norway. They are all copy photographic prints. The second folder contains 11 photographic prints, mostly of dedications of statues and sculptures, some done by Herman's brother Jacob Fjelde. Many of the photographs appear to have been taken during Norwegian Heritage events. There is one copy photographic print of Theodore Roosevelt. An oversize photograph of the Herman Fjelde and others standing in front of the Henrik Wergeland statue in Island Park, Fargo. Due to it's size it is house separately in the Institute's Folio Photograph Collection, folder 1.
Dates
- 1866-1930s
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 or in the public domain.
Biography
Dr. Herman O. Fjelde (1865-1818) practiced medicine in North Dakota for more than 21 years. He came to Minneapolis from Norway in 1889. He earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota. After graduation, he moved to Abercrombie, then to Cooperstown, Fargo, and finally to Rolla. But he is better known for his cultural efforts than for his medical career.
Fjelde identified strongly with his Norwegian roots. He did not want the culture of immigrants to be lost in the United States. He was recognized as an authority on Norse history and culture. He was determined to bring Norwegian art to Fargo. He was responsible for erecting many statues in Fargo, including the Bjornson Obelisk at NDSU, the statue of Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland in Island Park, and the statue of Rollo the Viking. In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt sat for a statue by Gustav Vigeland. Fjelde hoped to turn this into a life-size statue, but that never came to fruition. The small statue is currently in Old Main at North Dakota State University.
Fjelde was recognized in Europe for his efforts. He was invited to the coronation of King Haakon in 1906.A street in the town of St. Clair-sur-Epte is named for him. This is where Rollo is said to have signed a treaty with the King of France creating the Duchy of Normandy. Fjelde hoped to establish a Norwegian Museum in Fargo. He returned from Norway with a collection of items he purchased for that purpose. Unfortunately, when the collection was housed at Grand Forks, the building burned and the entire collection was lost.
Dr. Fjelde’s brother Jacob (1855-1896) was a noted sculptor. One of his better known works is the monument dedicated to the 1st Minnesota Infantry at Gettysburg. He also created a life-size bronze bust of Henrik Ibsen which stands on a pedestal in Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jacob’s son Paul (1892-1984) was also a noted sculptor. He created a bust of Abraham Lincoln which was a gift from the people of North Dakota to the people of Norway. During the Nazi occupation, the bust became a symbol of resistance. Paul’s son Rolf was a well-known Ibsen scholar and translator.
Herman and Jacob’s sister Pauline (1861-1923) was also an artist. She was known as a talented painter, seamstress, embroiderer, and weaver. In 1910, she traveled to Europe to study weaving in Copenhagen and Paris. Her “Hiawatha” tapestry is said to have taken 10-13 years to create. In 1893, the United States prepared to participate in the World’s Columbian Exposition. Each state was supposed to be represented by a flag. It was then that officials realized that Minnesota had never adopted a state flag. Pauline and her sister Thomane were contracted to embroider the first Minnesota flag. It won a gold medal for embroidery at the Chicago exposition.
Herman’s son Olaf S. Fjelde (1899-1961) was born in Abercrombie, ND. He was a well-known architect, watercolor artist, and pianist. He taught architecture at the University of Illinois. He studied buildings in Europe, and became an authority on stave churches and Viking boats. He wrote and lectured extensively. Pauline’s niece, Mrs. Parke (Pauline) Pratt of Gardner, ND, also became a well-recognized weaver.
Fjelde identified strongly with his Norwegian roots. He did not want the culture of immigrants to be lost in the United States. He was recognized as an authority on Norse history and culture. He was determined to bring Norwegian art to Fargo. He was responsible for erecting many statues in Fargo, including the Bjornson Obelisk at NDSU, the statue of Norwegian poet Henrik Wergeland in Island Park, and the statue of Rollo the Viking. In 1910, Theodore Roosevelt sat for a statue by Gustav Vigeland. Fjelde hoped to turn this into a life-size statue, but that never came to fruition. The small statue is currently in Old Main at North Dakota State University.
Fjelde was recognized in Europe for his efforts. He was invited to the coronation of King Haakon in 1906.A street in the town of St. Clair-sur-Epte is named for him. This is where Rollo is said to have signed a treaty with the King of France creating the Duchy of Normandy. Fjelde hoped to establish a Norwegian Museum in Fargo. He returned from Norway with a collection of items he purchased for that purpose. Unfortunately, when the collection was housed at Grand Forks, the building burned and the entire collection was lost.
Dr. Fjelde’s brother Jacob (1855-1896) was a noted sculptor. One of his better known works is the monument dedicated to the 1st Minnesota Infantry at Gettysburg. He also created a life-size bronze bust of Henrik Ibsen which stands on a pedestal in Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Jacob’s son Paul (1892-1984) was also a noted sculptor. He created a bust of Abraham Lincoln which was a gift from the people of North Dakota to the people of Norway. During the Nazi occupation, the bust became a symbol of resistance. Paul’s son Rolf was a well-known Ibsen scholar and translator.
Herman and Jacob’s sister Pauline (1861-1923) was also an artist. She was known as a talented painter, seamstress, embroiderer, and weaver. In 1910, she traveled to Europe to study weaving in Copenhagen and Paris. Her “Hiawatha” tapestry is said to have taken 10-13 years to create. In 1893, the United States prepared to participate in the World’s Columbian Exposition. Each state was supposed to be represented by a flag. It was then that officials realized that Minnesota had never adopted a state flag. Pauline and her sister Thomane were contracted to embroider the first Minnesota flag. It won a gold medal for embroidery at the Chicago exposition.
Herman’s son Olaf S. Fjelde (1899-1961) was born in Abercrombie, ND. He was a well-known architect, watercolor artist, and pianist. He taught architecture at the University of Illinois. He studied buildings in Europe, and became an authority on stave churches and Viking boats. He wrote and lectured extensively. Pauline’s niece, Mrs. Parke (Pauline) Pratt of Gardner, ND, also became a well-recognized weaver.
Extent
15 Photographic Prints (15 photographic prints)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Norwegian American medical doctor and pioneer, of Abercrombie, N.D. who was recognized as an authority on Norse history and culture.
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Parke (Pauline) Pratt, 1953 (Acc. 38).
Separation Record - Manuscript Collection
Sepearted manuscript materials including scrapbook pages, articles, clippings, and photos, relating to Fjelde and his wife, Fredrikke Fjelde; Minnesota sculptor Jacob Fjelde; family members, including Paul, Olaf and Pauline Fjelde; and statues in the region honoring Norwegian Americans. Organized into Mss 82 38.
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Herman O. Fjelde Family Photograph Collection
- 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