ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTION
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

MARIUS AND CAROLINE GJELSNES PAPERS

COLLECTION : OGL#1233

DATES: 1886-1892

SIZE: .5 linear feet, and 3 photographs

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by June Gjelsness Tweten, granddaughter of Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes, June 30, 1991 (Acc.# 91-1767).

ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Marius Gjelsnes (now spelled Gjelsness) immigrated to the United States in 1880 from Sander, in Odalen, Norway, first to Wisconsin and then to Dakota Territory. Caroline Olsen immigrated from Kongsvinger, Norway in 1886. They met in Reynolds, Dakota Territory at the home of Caroline's aunt, Olivia Peterson, who was married to Marius' cousin, Peter Peterson. Marius worked as a railroad section hand, primarily from Larimore to Devils Lake. Caroline worked as a housekeeper for Grand Forks Sheriff Swan and one or two families in Crookston, MN. Marius and Caroline were married on August 21, 1888 in Hillsboro, Dakota Territory.. They farmed near Reynolds, ND and had six children, Clara Mabel, Rudolph, Fred, Helen, Ruth, and Walter. The later two children died as infants.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes Papers document the Norwegian immigrant experience in North Dakota's Red River Valley. The collection consists of letters written in Norwegian that date from December 12, 1886 through September 16, 1892. The first portion of the collection contains love letters written between Marius and Caroline dated December 12, 1886 through April 19, 1888. The collection holds both photocopies of the original letters and their English translation.

The second portion of the collection holds both original letters written during Caroline's trip to Konsvinger, Norway to celebrate her parents 25th wedding anniversary and their translation. These letters are dated May 24 through September 16, 1892.

Also included is a copy of articles from the Grand Forks Herald, June 30 and November 17, 1991, which describe the collection and the Gjelsness family reunion.

3 photographs in the Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes Papers have been separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photographic Collection.

BOX/FOLDER LISTING

Box 1
Folder
LOVE LETTERS
  1. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, January 14, 1887
  2. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 16, 1887
  3. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, January 25, 1887
  4. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 25, 1887
  5. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 27, 1887
  6. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 29, 1887
  7. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, February 4, 1887
  8. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, February 6, 1887
  9. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, February 10, 1887
  10. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, February 19, 1887
  11. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 5, 1887
  12. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 6, 1887
  13. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 7, 1887
  14. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 19, 1887
  15. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, March 23, 1887
  16. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 30, 1887
  17. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, April 9, 1887
  18. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, April 11, 1887
  19. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, April 20, 1887
  20. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, April 22, 1887
  21. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, April 26, 1887
  22. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 3, 1887
  23. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, June 21, 1887
  24. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 7, 1887
  25. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, December 10, 1887
  26. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, December 13, 1887
  27. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, December 19, 1887
  28. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, December 22, 1887
  29. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, January 7, 1888
  30. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 12, 1888
  31. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, January 22, 1888
  32. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, January 25, 1888
  33. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, February 5, 1888
  34. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, February 12, 1888
  35. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, February 16, 1888
  36. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, February 26, 1888
  37. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, March 11, 1888
  38. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 23, 1888
  39. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, March 29, 1888
  40. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, March 31, 1888
  41. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, April 6, 1888
  42. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, April 16, 1888
  43. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, April 19, 1888
  44. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, Date unknown
  45. Translation of love letters, December 12, 1886 through April 19, 1888

LETTERS WRITTEN DURING CAROLINE'S TRIP TO NORWAY IN 1892

  1. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, May 24, 1892
  2. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, May 31, 1892
  3. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 4, 1892
  4. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 6, 1892
  5. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 14, 1892
  6. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, June 15, 1892
  7. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, June 18, 1892
  8. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 22, 1892
  9. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, June 27, 1892
  10. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, June 28, 1892 (Parts of the June 28th letter is translated and filed under the June 30th letter. The last paragraph; About the weather now..., should be in the June 28th letter.)
  11. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, June 30, 1892
  12. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 2, 1892
  13. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 3, 1892
  14. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 4, 1892
  15. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 6, 1892
  16. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 8, 1892
  17. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 10, 1892
  18. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 12, 1892
  19. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 16, 1892
  20. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 18, 1892
  21. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 21, 1892
  22. Correspondence; Marius to Caroline, July 22, 1892
  23. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 25, 1892
  24. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, July 29, 1892
  25. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 2, 1892
  26. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 7, 1892
  27. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 14, 1892
  28. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 19, 1892
  29. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 25, 1892
  30. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, August 29, 1892
  31. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, September 2, 1892
  32. Correspondence; Caroline to Marius, September 16, 1892
  33. Translation of letters written during the summer of 1892. (May 24 through September 16, 1892)
  34. Newspaper articles from the Grand Forks Herald, June 30 and November 17, 1991

SEPARATIONS RECORD

3 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photographic Collection.

Photographs:

  1. Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes marriage photograph, August 21, 1888
  2. Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes marriage photograph, August 21, 1888
  3. Marius and Caroline Gjelsnes with their children; Mabel, Rudolph, Fred, and Helen. The photograph was taken around 1896.

Return to: Pioneer Life
Return to: Women's Papers

Special Collections Home Page Contact Special Collections Chester Fritz Library Home Page