NIA Biographical Collection
The NIA private collection of immigrant stories began in 1999 as a prelude to the upcoming exhibit, Norwegians In New York 1825-2000. Nordisk Tidende and the NIA announced a year long contest calling for immigrant stories. Nostalgic readers sent more than 100 submissions, which were printed in the weekly editions of Nordisk Tidende.
You can read these engrossing tales here. The NIA continues to receive written stories from immigrants to the area and their family, even if they have moved long ago and far away. Please consider sending your family’s narrative.
Oral Histories
The NIA oral collection began when a not-for–profit- organization StoryCorps, gave Americans a chance to record interviews about their lives, to leave a legacy for the future. They have recorded over a million stories. StoryCorps offered to help the NIA create an invaluable archive for future generations. First they came to the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center and recorded and videotaped a series of interviews from a number of our members in Brooklyn. They gave us instructions on how to continue collecting these powerful stories. If you will volunteer to interview a person with a story for this collection contact us! We’ll provide structure.
Immigrant Stories
In 1999, the NIA and the Norway Times, announced a contest which had as it’s prize–a round trip to Norway. Immigrants and/or their relatives were invited to submit the stories of their lives in the “colony” in New York.
One Hundred submissions were received, some with photos. Additional stories come to us regularly. In this space, you will find new stories from our archive – and hopefully, stories submitted by you, our readers and contributors. Enjoy these stories--and consider sending us your/your family's own story.
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Working on Erie Canal Boats, By Ragna Johansen Tetamore
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Tug Boat Andy, By Birgit Wendelken
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True Love Crosses the Ocean, By by Dorothea Walker
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THE VERY FIRST IMPRESSIONS, By By Ranveig Jacobsen, Princeton, NJ
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Solveig Keeps Norwegian New York in Action, By Solveig Eileen Johansen
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Settling in New York, By Elsie Edwardson Willumsen
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Sailing the Seven Seas, By Odd Andersen
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Reflections of a Second-Generation Norwegian, By Mrs. Carma Pedersen
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October, 2016-The 150th Anniversary of the First Norwegian Church in New York, By Rev. Kjell Jordheim
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My Varied Careers in New York, By Solveig Sagedahl Johnson
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My Father, the Master Builder, By Helen Berge McMichael
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My Father, Captain Nels Helgesen of the National Maritime Hall of Fame, By Captain Henry N. Helgesen, US Coast Guard (Ret.)
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Morfar, By Tor Pinney
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Life in the Lighthouse, Norway to Long Island, New York, By Vivian Jensen Chapin
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Images of an Immigrant Life, By Ragnhild Synnøve Risholt Kleppe, former Editor-in-Chief, Norway Times
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Growing Up Pentecostal in Brooklyn 1935-1951, By Lester Hoel
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GROWING UP PENTECOSTAL IN BROOKLYN 1935-1951 PART 2, By Lester Hoel
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Grandpa Johan Alfred Olsen and the Tall Ships, By Craig Johnsen
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From Brooklyn to Norseville, By Esther Olsen
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Else Hvistendahl – Portrait of a Freelancer, By Rigmor Swensen and Rolf Stang
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Coming back to America, By William G. Foss
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Cashbook of Mathias Knutsen Kjolseth, By Elsa Kjolseth Church, Schenectady, New York
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Back to Norway Only to Return, By Bernt ( Ben Benson )
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Another Bay Ridge Saga: Sandoya Social Welfare Club of Brooklyn, By Kay Morch Langeland
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Accordion Player, By Artie Nilsen
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A Remembrance, and an in Memoriam to a Vanishing Immigrant Generation, By Gilbert Kenneth Gulbrandsen
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A Letter Home, By Stian Skjaevesland
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1893 Viking Ship Visit
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“Scandinavian Echoes” in the Norwegian Community, Part Two, By Hans B. Berggren
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“Scandinavian Echoes” in the Norwegian Community, Part One, By Hans B. Berggren
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“Moving Around the Country, but Always Back to Brooklyn”, By Anna Hanssen