Daughters of Norway

Information Resources
Robert A. L. Mortvedt Library
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WASHINGTON 98447
Phone: (253) 535-7586 E-mail: archives@plu.edu

Daughters of Norway
A Guide to An Oral History Interview with Ida Apalseth

Administrative Information

Creator: Ida Apalseth

Collection Nr: t032-033

File Content:
	2 file folders 0 photographs 2 sound cassettes 2 compact discs

Processing Information:
	The interview was conducted using a cassette recorder. A research copy was also prepared from the original. To further preserve the content of the interview, it is now being transferred to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the entire interview because we want the researchers to listen to the interviewee's own voice. The transcription index highlights important aspects of the interview and the tape counter numbers noted on the Partial Interview Transcription are meant as approximate finding guides and refer to the location of a subject on the cassette/CD. Interviewed by Julie Wilson Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler Recording Quality: Good
Restrictions:
	The collection is available for research.

Preferred Citation:
	[Collection Number, Collection Title] New Land New Lives Oral History Collection Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma,WA 98447

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Scope and Content Note

This interview was conducted with Ida Apalseth on May 14, 1979 and focuses on the Daughters of Norway, including the Seattle lodge, the Tacoma lodge, early days of the organization, officers' duties, lodge activities, and scholarships. Also see personal interview with Ida Apalseth, T182.

Biographical Information

The Daughters of Norway was first established to make Norwegian immigrants feel at home in America and provide them with a place to speak their language and share their emigration experiences with fellow Norwegians. When the organization first began, sick benefits were also provided for the members. A total of 29 lodges have been established along the West Coast, 11 of which still existed at the time of this interview. Seattle's first lodge started in 1905, one year after the Sons of Norway began, and Tacoma's lodge began on April 24, 1907. Charter members were Astrid Wennes, Katherine Berg, Sofia Hern, Lizzie Nilsen, Minnie Hilmes, Augusta Hanner, Carrie Westgrund, Carrie Scow, Anna Sennes, Olivia Dabroe, Sara Holgerson, Hannah Hammer, Martha Hegelstad, Ida Jacobson, and Clara Johanson. The lodge has various officer positions, each with specific duties: the President oversees, the Secretary does the correspondence work, the Financial Secretary collects dues, the Treasurer handles the money, the Judge, who is the past president, makes sure all operations are in order, the Chaplain reads the prayers, opens meetings, and organizes entertainment, the Marshall does the floor work, assists new members, and carries out initiations, and the Guard visits with new members. There are also three trustees who oversee the bills. In addition to the regular lodge, a Grand Lodge also exists and consists only of a President, Vice-President, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, three Auditors, and an Editor for the paper. Most officers stay for two years and have the opportunity to move up. Activities in the lodges include fund-raisers, smørgasbords, sewing, baking, and drill team. In the past, the Tacoma lodge has also taught Norwegian at Lincoln High School. Education is very important to the Daughters of Norway, and they now provide scholarships for students attending a four-year college that have good grades and a Norwegian background. Although the Daughters of Norway lodges on the East Coast have now merged with the Sons of Norway, the Daughters of Norway on the West Coast still remain separate and believe that their independence is an important aspect of the organization. At the time of this interview, Tacoma had the largest lodge on the West Coast with 228 registered members.

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Selected Search Terms This collection is indexed under the following headings
Personal Names
	Apalseth, Ida Wennes, Astrid Berg, Katherine Hern, Sofia Nilsen, Lizzie Hilmes, Minnie Hanner, Augusta Westgrund, Carrie Scow, Carrie Sennes, Anna Dabroe, Olivia Holgerson, Sara Hammer, Hannah Hegelstad, Martha Jacobson, Ida Johanson, Clara
Geographical Names
	Seattle (Wash.) Tacoma (Wash.)
Subjects
	Daughters of Norway (Wash.) Sons of Norway (US) Daughters of Norway (Seattle, Wash.) Daughters of Norway (Tacoma, Wash.) Founding of the Organization Officers' Duties Lodge Activities Scholarships
Genre/Form
	Oral history
Institution
	Pacific Lutheran University. Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection

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Partial Interview Transcription

The partial interview transcription highlights important aspects of the interview. Numbers on the left may be used as guides to important subjects. Two numbers separated by a slash indicate that the first number is for cassette and the second for CD.

TAPE 32

SIDE I

003/08 Will be talking about Daughters of Norway. Beginning of the Daughters was April 27, 1907 in Tacoma.

011 The Daughters decided to get a lodge. The Sons of Norway began in 1904. It was a good idea to get a ladies organization.

025/09 Daughters started first in Seattle. Then a few ladies came to Tacoma one of which was Mrs. Agnes Berndtzen.

035 There were fifteen original members of the Tacoma Daughters. Used to meet at the Danish Hall on Tacoma Avenue. Invited the Sons of Norway to their initiation ceremony.

043 INITIATION CEREMONY: There was a cake at the ceremony that wasn't eaten but was sold. This went with the entrance fees to get an amount of $15, the first money of the Daughters.

050 Seattle's lodge started two years before Tacoma's. Tacoma was #2.

FIRST OFFICERS: President - Mrs. Laura Walstad, Vice-President - Annie Arntson, Counselor/Judge - Ethel Ekre, Secretary - Thea Foss, Financial Secretary - Jospehine Ose, Treasurer - Lizzie Iverson, Chaplain - Elise Eide, Marshal - Marie Mangerud, Guards - Marie Solaas and Ellen Furseth.

061 CHARTER MEMBERS: Astrid Wennes, Katherine Berg, Sofia Hern, Lizzie Nilsen, Minnie Hilmes, Augusta Hanner, Carrie Westgrund, Carrie Scow, Anna Sennes, Olivia Dabore, Sara Holgerson, Hannah Hammer, Martha Hegelstad, Ida Jacobson, and Clara Johnson.

072 Ida knew many of the members and she lists these. Martha Hegelstad was the first Grand Lodge President.

079/10 REASONS FOR STARTING THE LODGE: Wanted a place where immigrants could come and talk with others who knew their Norwegian language.

082 This helped the immigrants. Made them feel at home. Helped them to be good citizens and keep their heritage from the old country. This is still the goal today.

086 Have come to PLU for May first exhibits on campus.

105 When the lodge started they had sick benefits for the members. All in all there were 29 lodges on the West Coast. Now there are 11 lodges. They lost many during the Depression in the 20s and 30s. She lists the lodges, which were lost.

122 Ida's granddaughter started a new lodge in Sparks, Nevada. It was founded in 1971.

133 She reads from a paper when some lodges were instituted.

139 In 1959 a lodge started in Hayward, California. People wanted to start lodges because they had Norwegian ties. There is more interest in heritage and roots.

149 LANGUAGE USE: For a long time immigrants were ashamed of the way they spoke English so they held back - "This isn't right."

156/11 Norway was a very proud country, particularly in the beginning of this century. Not well populated, mostly fishing and farming. There were few people who were well off. There was a lot of hard work.

178 Ida was never hungry and never had help in the early times of her U.S. experience. Ida was never afraid of work.

189 DEPRESSION: Ida stayed in the Daughters during the Depression. Ida's husband was out of work so she worked. She worked in California for three months and made good money.

202 Liked the feeling of being independent and standing on your own two feet. Schooling in Norway didn't do her much good here.

212 SCHOLARSHIP: The Daughters have a scholarship with the requirement that the student be going from a junior college to another college with good grades and some Norwegian background. They have given scholarships away the last couple of years.

230 SCHOLARSHIPS: The Leif Erikson Group has eight scholarships or so. One to PLU, one to Tacoma Community College, one to the university at the North End (UPS), five others given out as needed. She talks some about the scholarships.

266/12 Education is important to the Daughters of Norway. Many of the members didn't have education opportunities.

273 OFFICES IN THE LODGE: President sees that the members are doing their work. Secretary does the correspondence work. Financial Secretary collected the dues. Treasurer takes charge of the money. Judge who is the past president sees that things go okay. Chaplain reads the prayers, opens the meetings, and sees that there is entertainment when necessary. Marshall does the floor work.

303 The lodge still has a password. A little ritual in the meetings but not too much. Marshall assists with the new members and initiations.

319/13 OUTER GUARD: Visits with new members. They have three ladies who are trustees that look over the bills, the check inventory, and the books.

336 GRAND LODGE: Offices President, Vice-President, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, three Auditors, and an editor for the paper. Just officers make up the Grand Lodge.355 Have your choice to move up to the next office position if you want. Mostly from Vice-President to President. Most officers stay for two years.

355 Have your choice to move up to the next office position if you want. Mostly from Vice-President to President. Most officers stay for two years.

375 Tells where today's officers are from. Two lodges in Seattle, one in Ballard, and one in Seattle proper.

402 Ida was in the Grand Lodge for ten years.

408/14 Ida has a picture book of the history of the Daughters. They talk some about this

/01 as the interviewee describes the pictures to the interviewer. They talk about some activities the lodge had done. They have had a Norwegian smoegaasbord since 1945.

506 LUTEFISK DINNER: Used to have big lutefisk dinners. Had 700 people one time. There wasn't enough food to serve everyone.

519/02 HEIRLOOMS: People who came to America after the war brought more keepsakes over.

530 They continue talking about the pictures and the time the king of Norway visited Seattle. Ida's daughter was in many skits in the lodge. They used to have various parties with home baked goods.

613 17th OF MAY: Had a children's parade, speeches, a little program and refreshments.

622 MISS NORWAY FOR THE LODGE: She had a picture of her youngest granddaughter in this role. Each lodge chooses one person, they alternate with the Sons of Norway.

646/03 DRILL TEAM: She shows pictures of an exhibit at the lodge and pictures of the drill team. Ida was on the team from 1922-1962.

666 A lot of women have daughters and granddaughter who join the lodge.

SIDE II

018/04 Ida continues speaking about the pictures in the book. "Every five years put on a big splash."

044 Could have joined with the Sons of Norway, but kept their independence as the Daughters of Norway because it was important to them. Back East they had trouble keeping the Daughters together so they had to go together with the Sons.

058 Talks about a mock wedding they had. She describes the people in it.

070 Pictures from skits. More pictures of the mock wedding. Talks about some skits.

129/05 Talks about a convention in 1976. All the costumes on. Participate in the Puyallup fair.

165 Ida is one of the oldest members in the lodge now. Continues talking about the pictures and making rosettes. Grand lodge gives out scholarships.

180 MUSEUM: The Daughters belong to a museum in Decorah, Iowa. Pictures from the 17th of May. The Daughters have secret pals.

214/06 CONVENTIONS: Have reports from different lodges. Do business. Take care of new things that come up.

218 Each year the lodge chooses princesses. They take pictures of the officers dressed in their costumes.

260 CHILDHOOD: Ida didn't do much spinning back home. Did a twisting of two or three strands. Spinning had to be perfect. Ida was 16 when she did babysitting for people in Trondheim. Was 19 when she left Norway.

280 MEMBERSHIP: Some members active and others not so active. They had about 228 registered members. Tacoma's lodge is the biggest.

301 What about members who pay dues and don't come? They feel they are still a part of the lodge. They come to some activities. She talks about the Sons and their insurance policy.

(It becomes difficult to make out the conversation. They may possibly be talking about her family.)

373/04 STORIES OF WOMEN IDA REMEMBERS: Many stories. Mrs. Buss (?) was very nice. She made drapes for Normanna Hall. She continues talking about more women (It is difficult to understand all she says.)

452 They used to teach Norwegian at Lincoln High School. Past President Mrs. Larsen helped to get Norwegian music on the radio. Many women helped with baking, cleaning, and sewing.

485/08 GROUPS WITHIN DAUGHTERS: Sewing, baking, and drill team. They have a cooking class usually on Thursdays in October or November. Ida has made pickled herring, fattigmand, and ginger spritz.

513 Meet people in the lodge who have had similar experiences. Ida had a scary experience on her way to America. Many have come from the same area. They knew friends and relatives here.

529 CLUBS: Women went to the Daughters of Norway and the men went to the Sons of Norway. There was also a Good Temperance club here. They don't have this anymore.

537 Ida didn't belong to the Daughters when she lived in Seattle because she worked.

545 MEN'S WORK: Many men were in the woods, fishing, or working on the railroad. The men wanted a place to go where they could speak Norwegian. Lodges provided this.

552 LANGUAGE USE IN THE HOME: They spoke English at home all the time unless they didn't want their children to understand them.

565 JOINING: Many women joined the Daughters as soon as they got here. Some were married, some were engaged. Some waited until they were settled in more.

583 Many friendships continued outside of the lodge. Ida met many friends this way. Ida came to Tacoma on April 10, 1920. Joined the lodge early in June of the same year. She heard about the lodge right away. Joined before her daughter was born.

628 Ida was invited to the lodge first by people she knew.

650/09 The Lodge was civic minded. They were interested in helping people. They helped people who were out of work. They had fundraisers especially in the 1920s and 30s.

700 Did knitting and sewing. Sent stuff to Canada for the soldiers.

TAPE 33

SIDE I

002/10 WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Haven't done much with this. Some women's liberation is fine, some out of the way. Some jobs that women shouldn't be do like steelwork and long shoring. Women should have the same opportunity as men. Equal pay for equal work.

032 Didn't merge with the Sons of Norway because their independence is important. There are younger women involved in the lodge now.

050 WORK: Ida sees much opportunity for women. Ida used to work sixteen hours a day, scrubbing and cleaning. Her boss checked under the beds with a handkerchief to see how well she had cleaned. Ida made $12 a month on her first job in Seattle. She learned to speak English at her first job. She took notes on the things the children said.

074/11 She describes taking a bus the first time in Seattle. She got lost on the bus once. Ida had every other Sunday off and Thursday afternoons. Lodge meeting were on Wednesday evenings so she couldn't join until she came to Tacoma.

105 Married in 1920 in Seattle. Before they moved to Seattle, she belonged to a mixed Norwegian group and choir in Seattle. Her husband also attended this.

117 Ida worked in a hotel in Seattle. There was a boy from Ida's hometown in Norway who lived in Montana who looked her up.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Administrative Information

Scope and Content Note

Biographical Information

Selected Search Terms

Partial Interview Transcription