P2539 JAMES O. BERDAHL: An Inventory of His Berdahl Family Genealogy and History at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by Anne Levin. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by Anne Levin, August 27, 2002.Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Berdahl, James Othelius, b. 1881, comp. Berdahl family genealogy and history. 1750-1973. Photocopies of typed copies of genealogies and family history manuscripts created or collected by James O. Berdahl, and giving information on the family members' emigration from Norway (1856) and their subsequent experiences in the United States, especially in Iowa (1856-1859), Minnesota (1859-1872), and South Dakota (1873- ). 0.25 cu. ft. (5 folders in partial box). P2539. SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE PAPERS

Photocopies of typed copies of genealogies and family history manuscripts created or collected by James O. Berdahl, and giving information on the family members' emigration from Norway (1856) and their subsequent experiences in the United States, especially in Iowa (1856-1859), Minnesota (1859-1872), and South Dakota (1873- ). Includes autobiographical manuscripts written by Andrew J. Berdahl, James Berdahl's father, and by Erick J. Berdahl, James Berdahl's uncle. Accompanied by a photocopy of a handwritten letter from Karl F. Rolvaag (June 8, 1985) with information on his relationship to the Berdahls.

The collection contains similar genealogical information on the related Otterness family, some of whose members immigrated to Wisconsin in 1851.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Frontier and pioneer life -- Minnesota -- Houston County. Immigrants -- Minnesota. Norwegian Americans -- Iowa. Norwegian Americans -- Minnesota -- Houston County. Norwegian Americans -- South Dakota. Frontier and pioneer life -- South Dakota. Persons: Berdahl family. Otterness family. Places: Dakota Territory. Houston County (Minn.). Document Types: Genealogies. Reminiscences. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Berdahl Family Genealogy and History. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

 Accession Information:

Accession number: 13,532

 Processing Information:

Processed by: Anne Levin, August 2002

Catalog ID number: 01-00042150

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION P2539 1 aa. Letter from Karl F. Rolvaag to Mr. Jessee, 8 June 1985. 2 p. Photocopy of handwritten letter.

Contains information on the collection and on Rolvaag's relationship to Berdahl family.

 a. Genealogical Listings of Berdahl and Related Families, 1750-[ca. 1938], compiled by James O. Berdahl. 20 p.

Traces the family of Ole Erikson Hamre (Berdahl) from 1750 to about 1938.

 b. "The Election of 1860," by Andrew J. Berdahl. 1 p.

Reminiscent account of Berdahl's participation in voting in the 1860 election. A version of this is also incorporated into the manuscript filed in folder 1c, p. 10.

 c. "The Berdahl Family," by Andrew J. Berdahl, with additions by James O. Berdahl. 29 p.

Detailed historical sketch of the family's origins in Norway; their emigration to the United States; pioneer experiences in Iowa, Minnesota, and Dakota Territory; and Andrew Berdahl's activities until about 1915.

 d. "Beginnings of the 'Slip Up Creek' Settlement," by Andrew J. Berdahl. 14 p.

Reminiscent account of finding claims and settlement at "Slip Up Creek," with information on the homesteading families and a map of "plat of land homesteaded by those in Berdahl Party."

 e. Autobiography, by Erick J. Berdahl. 46 p. Accompanied by 2 p. of notes on the manuscript by James O. Berdahl.

Erick J. Berdahl's reminiscences of his family in Norway and their arrival in the United States, and of his pioneer experiences in the Sioux Falls area.

P2539 2 Berdahl Family Record, 1750-1973," by Julian Henry and Alma Berdahl. 22 p.

Genealogical listings of the Ole Erickson and Tuve (Hove) Hamre (Berdahl) Family. It was compiled for the centennial celebration of the arrival of the Berdahl family in South Dakota. The listings are fairly detailed.

 P2539 3 a. "Members of the Eleven-Covered-Wagons Train Who Came to Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory, June 1873," by James O. Berdahl. 14 p.

Prepared for the 80th anniversary celebration of the Berdahl family's arrival in Dakota Territory. Held at Sioux Falls, Aug. 2, 1953. Includes listings of all family members of the wagon train.

 b. "Members of the Eleven-Covered-Wagons Caravan...," by James O. Berdahl. 17 p.

Prepared for the 90th anniversary celebration held at Garretson, South Dakota, on Aug. 4, 1963. Also includes listings of family members. Information is similar to, but not identical to 3a above.

 P2539 4 a. "A Sketch of Our Boyhood Pioneer History From 80 Years Ago Dedicated to the Berdahl Clan Meeting, July 26th [1953?]," by Erick J. Berdahl. 4 p. b. "An Early So[uth] Dak[ota] History by E. J. Berdahl." 4 p.

An account of Berdahl's activities as a South Dakota state legislator, 1892 session, relating to prohibition legislation in South Dakota. Delivered at a Minnehaha County Historical Society meeting, [ca.1936].

 c. Otterness Family Genealogy, 1766-1952, compiled by James O. Berdahl. 19 p.

Genealogy of the family of Ole Olson Otterness (1766-1851). Also contains a short family history by Marie Otterness Karlsbroten, describing the family's emigration from Norway to Wisconsin in 1851, and their removal to Houston County, Minnesota, in 1853.

 P2539 5 Berdahl family histories, compiled by James O. Berdahl. 1 v.

Includes typed photocopies of "The Berdahl Family," by Andrew J. Berdahl; "Beginnings of the 'Slip Up Creek' Settlement," by Andrew J. Berdahl; and Erick J. Berdahl's Autobiography, with notes by James O. Berdahl. This compilation was transferred from the library. Copies are also in Folder 1, above.