Preserving the Immigrant Experience: A Request on Behalf of Humanities Collections at St. Olaf College
FAIN: CHA-264407-19
St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN 55057-1574)
Mary E. Barbosa-Jerez (Project Director: August 2018 to present)
Renovations to the Rølvaag Memorial Library to ensure the preservation of two archives
documenting Norwegian American history and the history of St. Olaf College, as
well as the library’s special collections.
St. Olaf College requests a $300,000 award to construct a 4,253 SF common vault for three humanities collections: 1) the holdings of the Norwegian-American Historical Association; 2) the Shaw-Olson Center for College History (St. Olaf College Archives); and 3) Rølvaag Library Special Collections. Each collection now occupies separate space. The shared vault is essential to preserve more than 1 million documents, photographic images and artifacts by and about Norwegian immigrants who settled the upper Midwest. The aspirations of 19th century immigrants resonate with St. Olaf’s current students, including the children of 20th and 21st century immigrants from Vietnam and Somalia, international students, and those who are the first in their family to seek a college degree. Current humanities programming at St. Olaf, including summer programs for youth and elders, academic conferences, and undergraduate instruction, will be enriched by the collections.