Iver Udgaard Papers

Collection

Identifier: Mss 349

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Iver Udgaard Papers contain business papers concerning Mr. Udgaard’s business affairs, as well as the affairs of the First National Bank of Cooperstown. This collection also contains several papers and items relating to Mr. Udgaard’s life history and Masonic activities. The papers have been organized into four series: Biographical materials, Business correspondence, Business papers, and North Dakota. The Biographical Materials Series includes Mr. Udgaard’s eulogy, Masonic certificates, a pinback button from the 1917 opening of the Masonic lodge in Cooperstown, and clippings concerning the deaths of Mr. Udgaard and members of his immediate family. The Business Correspondence Series consists of correspondences received by Udgaard during the period of 1903-1932. Folders 3-35 have been arranged alphabetically by the name of the business (as these were kept together in this order); the contents of Folders 36-52 have been arranged chronologically by year. These papers concern banking and various accounts and debts held by banks in Cooperstown and other banks in North Dakota. Correspondences concerning Udgaard’s personal banking, business, and insurance affairs also are present. The Business Papers Series consists of ledgers, legal documents, and balance sheets related to accounts held at the First National Bank of Cooperstown, other banks, and also Udgaard’s personal accounts. These date from 1903-1930, with Folder 55 being undated. The North Dakota Series consists of three folders of materials related to Cooperstown and Griggs County. Folder 56 contains materials relating to Cooperstown High School, dating from the period of 1907-1920, which includes two sheets of handwritten football cheers, graduation notices, and a Cooperstown High School annual from 1907. Folder 57 includes materials relating to North Dakota, including several typewritten histories of Cooperstown and Griggs County and a 1925 toast written to North Dakota. Folder 58 contains periodical clippings that primarily concern activities at the school.

Dates

1903-1931

Creator

Udgaard, Iver, 1863-1935. (Person)

Access

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

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the Institute.

Biography

Iver Udgaard was born on October 10, 1863 in Lesje, Norway. He immigrated to the United States at the age of nineteen and lived in Minnesota for a year before moving to Mardell, North Dakota, located east of Cooperstown in Griggs County. He worked as a mail carrier during the pioneer era of the area, working a route in North Dakota between the towns of Tower City and Lee. He then moved to Cooperstown and worked as a salesman and bookkeeper for Knud Thompson, a machine shop operator. From 1887 until 1890, Udgaard was employed by Odegaard & Thompson as a banker and in 1894 he was elected treasurer of Griggs County, a position he held for two years. After briefly relocating to Centralia, Washington, Udgaard returned to the Cooperstown area to farm and did so from the period of 1897-1900. He was then employed as a cashier for the First National Bank of Cooperstown until 1910, when he returned to farming, the career he maintained until the end of his life. Mr. Udgaard was an active Mason. In 1902, Udgaard married Gena Helling (1879-1966), of Cooperstown, and this union produced two children, Mildred (Udgaard) Johnson (1903-1985) and Edwin Udgaard (1904-1968). Iver Udgaard died on November 17, 1935 after a period of illness that resulted from a stroke the previous year.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (0.4 linear feet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Provenance

Donated by Jan Jackson, 2006 (Acc. 2789).

Separation Record

The following material has been separated from the manuscript collection and placed in the appropriate area. Photographs (Institute Photo collection 2112)

35 photographic prints related to the Udgaard family, friends and Cooperstown, N.D.