DAUGHTERS OF NORWAY (US). ORNEN LODGE NO.25 (LA CROSSE, WIS.). RECORDS, 1908-1969. 1.2 cubic feet (1 archives box and 8 volumes)

Abstract

The La Crosse, Wisconsin, chapter of the Daughters of Norway, Ornen Lodge #25, organized in 1908, was part of a national fraternal organization dedicated to the socialization, mutual assistance, and preservation of the Norwegian language and heritage in the United States. The group was most active from 1908-1951 when women nationally were allowed to join the Sons of Norway lodges, but some members of Ornen Lodge continued to meet until 1969. Locally, women joined the Sons of Norway, Wergeland Lodge #28.

Records include a constitution, ritual books, meeting minutes and financial materials. Much of the records are written in the Norwegian language.

Acc. No. X-18 (pre 1983)

Processed by Nancy Steinhoff, November 1989

History

Ornen Lodge #25, Daughters of Norway organized in La Crosse in 1908. It was a sister organization of Sons of Norway, which first met in La Crosse in 1903. Both Sons and Daughters of Norway were part of a national movement begun in Minneapolis in 1895 and 1897. Nationally and locally both groups stressed some of the same goals - socialization, mutual assistance, and preservation of Norwegian language and heritage.

Sixteen members joined at the first meeting on March 18, 1908. Thereafter they met twice a month. As a fraternal organization members followed a national ritual at their meetings and called each other sisters. By the end of 1908 there were thirty-five members of Ornen Lodge #25. They paid dues regularly and were assessed for insurance quarterly.

In 1950 Daughters of Norway merged nationwide with the Sons of Norway. Ornen Lodge #25 continued until 1951. By this time La Crosse women could join Wergeland Lodge, Sons of Norway. On April 17, 1951 Ornen Lodge #25 changed its number to #451 and maintained its financial records until July 1969.

Scope and Content

The records of Ornen Lodge #25, Daughters of Norway consist of a CONSTITUTION, two RITUAL BOOKS, two MINUTE BOOKS dated 1912-1939, and financial records dated 1908-1969. The CONSTITUTION, and meeting MINUTES were written in Norwegian. One ritual books was first published in Norwegian by the Daughters of Norway in 1905. The other ritual book was published in English by the Sons of Norway in 1948.

There are three kinds of financial records. The two MEMBERSHIP and DUES REGISTERS cover the years 1932-1951. They record dues and insurance payments by the members. There are four volumes of the FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S CASHBOOKS dated 1934-1961, which record the income for each meeting. There are two TREASURER’S CASHBOOKS dated 1908-1969, which record the lodge’s expenditures.