Olaf Kringhaug Passes Away

Olaf Kringhaug recently passed away. He is credited with translating Normaendene i Amerika, volume 1, by Martin Ulvestad, 1907, from the old Norsk to English and then making it available online. He was truly one of the 'heroes' of Norwegian-American genealogical and historical research. He lived in Vernon, British Columbia, but he did a lot for us here in the United States by virtue of his research. He was an incredible man and a great loss.
















Olaf Kringhaug
March 4, 1928 - December 7, 2008


Obituary excerpt:

Olaf was born in Hommelvik, Malvik Sor Trondelag, Norway and moved to Canada at the age of four. Olaf graduated from UBC in 1954 as an MD. After graduation, Olaf interned at Vancouver General Hospital before starting his practise. He spent his life taking care of people as a general physician in Vancouver, New Denver and Nakusp. Upon retirement, he continued helping people by pursuing his passion for history and genealogy. He became a translator for what was known as the "Trondelag List." One of his last big achievements was the translation of Normaendene i Amerika, volume 1 by Martin Ulvestad 1907.

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Luci Baker Johnson

PNW Historians Guild Presentations

Nearby Norwegians Presents!

Several Nearby Norwegian members are scheduled to present at the 24th annual conference of the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild, to be held on March 7, 2009 at Seattle's Museum of History and Industry. Next year's conference will focus on the centennial of the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition, held on the early University of Washington campus.


Among many interesting 15-minute presentations scheduled for the conference,

Luci Baker Johnson will offer an overview of topics concerning Norwegians and the AYPE, complete with a Power Point presentation and a film clip from "Norway Day" in 1909.

Cathy Lykes plans to present some of her in-depth research on "Health, Medicine, and the AYPE," including details about Seattle's concerns for public health, the operation of a hospital at the fair, and typical complaints of fair-goers, such as, the mysterious "AYPE headache."

Barbara Holz Sullivan is developing a presentation and paper on Finn Haakon Frolich, the Norwegian sculptor of "The Spirit of the Pacific," the busts of Edvard Grieg and James J. Hill, and the figurehead model for the Viking ship for Norway Day, all unveiled at the AYPE.

See you in March!

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Chery Kinnick

Scandinavians and the Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition

Next year marks the centennial of the grand Alaska Yukon Pacific Expostion (AYPE) held on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. As one of many events and projects planned for a wide-ranging commemoration, the Nordic Heritage Mueum will arrange a related exhibit, which is scheduled to run from June 12 - September 6, 2009. The exhibit will explore the Nordic people's involvement with the AYPE, which was attended by more than 3.7 million people in 1909.

Read more:

Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Centennial

Scandinavian Connection to AYPE