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Aagot Raaen Papers

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 8

Scope and Content

The Aagot Raaen Papers consists mainly of correspondence, various drafts of Grass of the Earth, Measure of My Days, and extensive genealogical material. The papers have been organized into four series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Genealogy, Subject files. A later accession of photocopies of Raaen papers were processed as Mss 177.

The Correspondence Series, arranged chronologically, is with Erling Rolfsrud dealing with his historical research, as well as copies of the letters sent to the teachers and school officers by Miss Raaen while she was the Superintendent of Schools of Steele County, N.D. The Manuscripts Series includes a typed draft, galley proof and page proof of her book, Measure of My Days. There is also a galley proof of Rolfsrud’s Lanterns over the Prairies, Book II.

The Genealogy Series of the Hamarsbøn family includes correspondence, notes, hand written drafts by generation, plus a typed draft for the first seven generations. Almost all the material is in Norwegian.

The Subject File Series includes several handwritten historical sketches regarding Halvor Lerberg, Ole Mølnedalen, and the early Lutheran churches in North Dakota. The file also includes copies of Rolfsrud’s, The Top Drawer

Dates

  • 1915-1953.

Creator

Access

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

Access

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

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are not held by the NDSU Archives.

Biography

Aagot Raaen was born in Iowa on December 3, 1873, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, Thomas and Ragnhild (Rødningen) Raaen. In 1874 the family moved to Dakota Territory, settling in Newburgh Township, Steele County, near present day Hatton, N.D. Aagot attended the local schools and in 1903 was graduated from the Mayville (N.D.) Normal School. In 1913, she graduated from the University of Minnesota. She later did graduate work at the Universities of Berlin and Hawaii. She taught rural schools in the area and also at the Oak Grove Seminary in Fargo. From 1917 to 1922, Aagot was Superintendent of Schools of Steele County. She was later employed at the Honolulu Teachers’ College in Hawaii.

Miss Raaen traveled extensively and was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and secretary of the Hallinglaget. She died on January 7, 1957, at Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and was buried in the Goose River Cemetery at Hatton N. D.

Miss Raaen was the author of several books, including Grass of the Earth, Measure of My Days, and Hamarsbön-Raaen Genealogy. She also wrote a series of historical articles for local newspapers.

Extent

.8 Linear Feet (.8 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Overview

The Aagot Raaen Papers contain research material and manuscripts for her book Grass of the Earth, correspondence including letters sent to the teachers and school officers by Miss Raaen while she was the Superintendent of Schools of Steele County, N.D., research on the the Hamarsbøn family in Norway and America, and several articles written by Raaen.

Provenance

Donated by Aagot Raaen, 1954 (Acc 8).

Separation Record - Books

The following non-manuscript items were removed from the Aagot Raaen papers and have been sent to the section indicated.

Books (Institute book collection, consult catalog for the call number and location.)

Groth Family Record, including Haug, Gulbransgaard, Nastby, Halstenson, and Finnesgaard Branches, 1724-1934, by Anton C. Groth.

A Brief Historical Sketch of the Heskin Family, Norwegian Pioneers of Wisconsin and North Dakota, by Melvin Luchen, Sophie Thales Kjos, Agnes Brenden, Gurie Amb, June, 1939.

Separated Photographs

13 photographs placed in the Aagot Raaen Photograph Collection (Photo 527)

Property rights

The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection.
Title
Finding Aid to the Aagot Raaen Papers
Description rules
Appm
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository

Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States