ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202
COLLECTION: OGL #397
DATES: 1937-1974
SIZE: 7 folders
ACQUISITION: The Rosanna Gutterud Johnsrud Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection in the Spring of 1977 (Acc.#77-403) and on February 22, 1979 (Acc.#79- 575). The depositor for the first donation is unknown; the second was donated by Rosanna Gutterud Johnsrud.
ACCESS: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.
RELATED PUBLICATIONS:
Rosanna Gutterud Johnsrud, 50th Anniversary of Dahlen, North Dakota: 1912-1962
"The Fabulous Fourth:" Sons of Norway, 1970
Rosanna Gutterud was born on a farm near Fairdale, North Dakota, on March 19, 1912. She was the oldest daughter of Thorvald and Minnie Gutterud. She married Emore Johnsrud on November 26, 1937, in Grafton. Emore was a native of Fertile, Minnesota, born September 26, 1904. The couple had one daughter and one son. Sonja was born April 2, 1939, followed by her brother Robert on November 3, 1940.
Emore worked for the Soo Line Railroad for over 39 years, 28 of which were spent in Dahlen, North Dakota. He also spent two years as Dahlen’s constable. The Johnsruds moved to Grand Forks following Emore’s retirement. Both were active in the Dahlen Lutheran Church and the Sons of Norway. The entire family was very interested in music, and each member of the family played a different instrument: Emore–accordion; Rosanna–violin; Sonja–piano; and Robert–guitar.
Rosanna also had a special interest in writing. She composed her first play, Dronning Aase fra Slottek, (English translation: Queen Aase from the Castle) in January1937. The play was entirely written, composed and performed in Norwegian, and debuted at the 17th of May celebration in Dahlen in 1937. The play was also performed in Fargo, as well as Moorhead and Fergus Falls, Minnesota. A one page entry regarding the play was incorporated into “The Fabulous Fourth:” Sons of Norway, the official history of the Fourth District Sons of Norway. This title is available in the Department’s North Dakota Book Collection.
Her second play, The King and the Kingdom, was performed several times by the Dahlen Lutheran Church, in addition to being seen in Fordville and Nash, North Dakota. A third play, Restauration, was written in 1975. Both of these titles were written in English. Rosanna also composed and published poetry. Her first published poem was written when she was only 17 years old. She has also written several articles which have appeared in various Norwegian- American publications. In addition, she also co-authored 50th Anniversary of Dahlen, North Dakota: 1912-1962, which is also available in the Department’s North Dakota Book Collection.
Emore Johnsrud passed away on December 15, 1995 in Bloomington, Minnesota at the age of 91 years. Rosanna continued to live in Bloomington until her death on April 9, 2002 at the age of 90 years.
The Rosanna Gutterud Johnsrud Papers consist of biographical and historical materials, correspondence, plays and poetry. Included are the complete texts of her plays The King and the Kingdom and Restauration, as well as a collection of poetry entitled Tre Klover Hjornet (English translation: Three Clover Corner); this undated book, co-authored by Marcus Tellevik and Bertha Buan, was written in Norwegian and published by The Fuhr Company of Duluth, Minnesota. A photocopy of Little Oscar's Favorite Swedish and American Songs is also included. The majority of the collection consists of photocopies, and a large percentage is written in Norwegian.
Box 1
Folder
| Original Donation | First Addition: 1904-1976 |
| Second Addition: 1937-1984 | Third Addition: 1943-1972 |
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