They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir
They were brothers from Norway's "Red County." One was a guerrilla leader, the other a president of a singing association. One emigrated to America, the other stayed home to fight for Norwegian independence. Both had an impact on their nation's history. This is the story of the one who left.

Olaf Martin Oleson was among the hundreds of thousands of Norwegians who emigrated to the United States during the nineteenth century. With strongly rooted connections to the homeland, Oleson settled in the Midwest and became a successful businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He also helped form influential organizations in his new land, including the Norwegian-American Historical Association and the Norwegian Singers' Association of America. With the choir group, Oleson shared songs of his native Norway throughout North America—while raising money to support the illegal army and new political party forming back home in the fight for liberation from Sweden.

In They Sang for Norway, Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset tells the story of O. M. Oleson—her great-grand-uncle—and his contributions to the politics and culture of two nations. It is an immigrant's tale, an exploration of Norwegian-American life, and the story of music's importance to a community and people.
"1125328781"
They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir
They were brothers from Norway's "Red County." One was a guerrilla leader, the other a president of a singing association. One emigrated to America, the other stayed home to fight for Norwegian independence. Both had an impact on their nation's history. This is the story of the one who left.

Olaf Martin Oleson was among the hundreds of thousands of Norwegians who emigrated to the United States during the nineteenth century. With strongly rooted connections to the homeland, Oleson settled in the Midwest and became a successful businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He also helped form influential organizations in his new land, including the Norwegian-American Historical Association and the Norwegian Singers' Association of America. With the choir group, Oleson shared songs of his native Norway throughout North America—while raising money to support the illegal army and new political party forming back home in the fight for liberation from Sweden.

In They Sang for Norway, Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset tells the story of O. M. Oleson—her great-grand-uncle—and his contributions to the politics and culture of two nations. It is an immigrant's tale, an exploration of Norwegian-American life, and the story of music's importance to a community and people.
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They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir

They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir

by Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset
They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir

They Sang for Norway: Olaf Oleson's Immigrant Choir

by Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset

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Overview

They were brothers from Norway's "Red County." One was a guerrilla leader, the other a president of a singing association. One emigrated to America, the other stayed home to fight for Norwegian independence. Both had an impact on their nation's history. This is the story of the one who left.

Olaf Martin Oleson was among the hundreds of thousands of Norwegians who emigrated to the United States during the nineteenth century. With strongly rooted connections to the homeland, Oleson settled in the Midwest and became a successful businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He also helped form influential organizations in his new land, including the Norwegian-American Historical Association and the Norwegian Singers' Association of America. With the choir group, Oleson shared songs of his native Norway throughout North America—while raising money to support the illegal army and new political party forming back home in the fight for liberation from Sweden.

In They Sang for Norway, Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset tells the story of O. M. Oleson—her great-grand-uncle—and his contributions to the politics and culture of two nations. It is an immigrant's tale, an exploration of Norwegian-American life, and the story of music's importance to a community and people.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781681340487
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publication date: 06/01/2017
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 288
File size: 29 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Ane-Charlotte Five Aarset is a journalist and author in Norway. Her book Skyttergeneralen (The Marksman General) earned her Freelance Journalist of the Year honors in Norway in 2005. She is also the author of Kavaleristen (The Cavalryman).

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Radicals 1

From Inderøya to the Palace 6

Ole Rynning's True Account of America 12

Establishing Fort Dodge 16

Churches, Choruses, and Homes 20

Only a Dollar in His Pocket 23

The Singers' Associations 26

Get Rich with Pharmacy 31

Omaha and Leadville 34

Old Remedies 37

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Kristofer Janson in the Midwest 40

Uproar from Norway Reaches across the Atlantic 46

The Norwegian-American Liberal Society 51

Music Rings Out in Chicago 57

More Male Choruses Are Formed 60

Olaf Helps Establish a Church 63

Olaf Declines to Run for Congress 66

Department Store, Church, and Matrimony 69

Olaf Contacts Bjørnson and Grieg 75

War Drums Beat 83

Olaf's American Landscape Park 85

Olaf Supports Norwegian American Writers 90

Lucy Dies 92

The Norwegian Student Choral Society Tours America 95

Norwegian Independence Celebrated at the Oleson Drug Store 103

A Tribute to Norway 105

The Norwegian Chorus Meets President Roosevelt 107

The National Trønderlag of America 111

Olaf Marries the Richest Girl in Town 115

The Wahkonsa Hotel 122

The Norwegian America Line 125

Sanger-Hilsen, the Singers' Periodical 131

The Singers' Tour to Norway 138

Olaf Becomes a Composer 144

The Norwegian American Composers Competition 151

Olaf and Family Tour Europe 159

With Rotary to Hawaii 168

Fort Dodge Grows 172

Olaf Is Honored 175

The Centennial of Norwegian Emigration to America 178

The Norwegian-American Historical Association 181

In Caruso's Mausoleum and a Night at the Egyptian Opera 185

More about the Ole Bull Statue 191

The First Telephone Call to Norway and the Royal Order 193

The Gift to the Nidaros Cathedral 198

Keep Singing in Norwegian 205

Olaf and Julie Visit Norway 208

The Oleson Park Music Pavilion 213

The Norwegian Student Singers Visit Olaf Again 216

I Made My Fortune in America 220

A Monument to Olaf 225

Olaf Leaves a Legacy 230

Acknowledgments 239

Notes 241

Sources 253

Index 259

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