Portraits (Identified), circa 1865-1997 | Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Archives

By Tim Kindseth

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Collection Overview

Title: Portraits (Identified), circa 1865-1997

Predominant Dates:1870-1930

ID: VMA/RG03/ARCH.Photos.03/ALL

Extent: 11.1 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: Items have been arranged alphabetically into series by the surnames of the subjects of the portraits.

Subjects: Norwegian Americans

Forms of Material: Cabinet photographs, Carte de visite photographs, Portraits, Postcards, Real photo postcards, Tintype

Languages: English, Norwegian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Amassed piecemeal by Vesterheim curators over the course of many decades, the collection currently has more than 2,000 images of notable Norwegian and Norwegian-American church leaders, politicians, military officials, explorers, scientists, doctors, athletes, artists, writers, publishers, editors, historians, and university presidents, among other movers and shakers, in a variety of photographic and photomechanical formats, from 19th-century tintypes and albumen cartes de visite and cabinet cards to 20th-century silver gelatin prints, halftones, and real photo postcards.

The earliest of the portraits date from just after the Civil War, the latest from the 1990s. The bulk, however, are from the 1870s through the 1920s, decades of peak emigration from Norway to the United States. Imprints from over seventy Norwegian and Norwegian-American photographers, mostly with businesses in the Upper Midwest but some with studios as far afield as Nome, Alaska, were identified during the cataloging of the collection from February 2017 through March 2018.

Subject/Index Terms

Norwegian Americans

Administrative Information

Repository: Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 28 boxes

Use Restrictions: May be reproduced with written permission from Vesterheim collections staff or executive director. Though Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum may hold the property rights, Vesterheim might not hold the copyrights for materials. Individuals may use materials for non-commercial, private use, but commercial users must secure permissions from the copyright holders and Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum to reproduce, publish, or quote protected materials and photographs.

Processing Information: Prior to 2017, all portraits had been rehoused into document boxes, each item enclosed in an archival-quality paper or plastic sleeve. From February 2017 through March 2018, project archivist Tim Kindseth cataloged those items, conducting genealogical and other historical research to date the portraits and to confirm or establish the identities of the more than 1,200 Norwegian and Norwegian-Americans who are subjects of them.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Portraits A],
[Series 2: Portraits B],
[Series 3: Portraits C],
[Series 4: Portraits D],
[Series 5: Portraits E],
[Series 6: Portraits F],
[Series 7: Portraits G],
[Series 8: Portraits H],
[Series 9: Portraits I],
[Series 10: Portraits J],
[Series 11: Portraits K],
[Series 12: Portraits L],
[Series 13: Portraits M],
[Series 14: Portraits N],
[Series 15: Portraits O],
[Series 16: Portraits P],
[Series 17: Portraits Q],
[Series 18: Portraits R],
[Series 19: Portraits S],
[Series 20: Portraits T],
[Series 21: Portraits U],
[Series 22: Portraits V],
[Series 23: Portraits W],
[Series 24: Portraits X],
[Series 25: Portraits Y],
[Series 26: Portraits Z],
[All]

Series 25: Portraits Y

Box 16: Portraits U-Z (small)

Item 55: Delia Davidson Ylvisaker (1872-1968), 1892: Creator: Lee Brothers, photographers; Dimensions: 14 x 10 cm on 17 x 11 cm mount; Note: Recto: [imprint] Lee Bros, LB, 221 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis. Verso: [imprint] Lee Bros., Photographic Studio, 221 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Instantaneous Process Used Exclusively, Duplicates can be had at any time [written in ink] mamma, 73.49.1.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on cabinet card mount; Place: Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Item 56: Rev. I. D. (Ivar Daniel) Ylvisaker (1868-1926), 1880s: Biography or History: Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1881-1888.; Creator: Hill, C. H., photographer; Dimensions: 14 x 10 cm on 17 x 11 cm mount; Note: Recto: [imprint] C. H. Hill, Decorah, Iowa. Verso: [imprint] C. H. Hill, Artistic Photography, Decorah, Iowa, Instantaneous Process Used Exclusively, Negatives Preserved For Future Orders [written in pencil] Band, [?] [?] Ylvisaker.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on cabinet card mount; Place: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa; Related Material: Luther College Archives: The Papers of Ivar D. Ylvisaker, 1880-1918, LCA/RG15/Ylvisaker, I.
Item 57: Rev. J. Wilhelm (Johannes Wilhelm) Ylvisaker (1900-1981), 1920s: Biography or History: President of Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1948-1962; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1917-1921.; Creator: Lee Brothers, photographers; Dimensions: 18 x 13 cm; Note: Verso: [stamped imprint] Portrait by Lee Brothers, Minneapolis [written in pencil] Rev. J. W. Ylvasaker [sic].; Physical Description: 1 photographic print; Place: Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota; Related Material: Luther College Archives: The Papers of Johannes Wilhelm Ylvisaker, 1908-1988, LCA/RG15/Ylvisaker, J.
Item 58: Rev. Joh. (Johannes) Ylvisaker (1845-1917), 1900s: Biography or History: Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1871-1874.; Dimensions: 13 x 11 cm on 14 x 11 cm mount; Note: Verso: [written in pencil] Prof Johannes Ylvisaker.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on card mount
Item 59: Rev. Johan Thorbjørn Ylvisaker (1858-1890), 1880s: Biography or History: Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) faculty, 1889-1890; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1870-1877.; Creator: Isaacs, A. C. (Andrew C.), 1853-1925, photographer; Dimensions: 10 x 6 cm on 10 x 6 cm mount; Note: Verso: [imprint] [?]aacs, [?]ogr[?], M[?] - [?]in, Negatives kept f[?] [?]r ord[?] [written in ink] Johan Thorbjørn Ylvisaker.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on carte de visite mount; Place: Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin
Item 60: Rev. S. J. N. (Skak Joakim Nikolaus) Ylvisaker (1873-1948), 1890s: Biography or History: Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1888-1895.; Creator: Borlaug, O. E. (Ole E.), 1856-1894, photographer; Dimensions: 14 x 10 cm on 17 x 11 cm mount; Note: Recto: [imprint] Borlaug, Extra Finish, Decorah, Iowa [written in pencil] S. J. N. Ylvisaker.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on cabinet card mount; Place: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa
Item 61: H. T. (Halvor T.) Ytterboe (1857-1904), 1880s: Biography or History: St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) faculty, 1882-1904; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1875-1881.; Creator: Peavey, Louis, 1832-1902, photographer; Dimensions: 16 x 11 cm on 17 x 11 cm mount; Note: Verso: [imprint] Peavey, Faribault, Minn. [written in pencil] Prof Ytterbö.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on cabinet card mount; Place: Faribault, Rice County, Minnesota; Related Material: Norwegian-American Historical Association: 1478. Ytterboe, Halvor T. (1857-1904). Papers, 1861-1942. 7 boxes. P 600.

Box 21: Portraits V-Z (medium)

Item 25: Rev. Sigurd C. (Sigurd Christian) Ylvisaker (1884-1959), 1903: Biography or History: Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) faculty, 1911-1919; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1899-1903.; Creator: Solberg, Otto T., 1863-1951, photographer; Dimensions: 19 x 14 cm mount; Note: Recto: [imprint] Solberg, Decorah, Ia. Verso: [written in ink] Sigurd Ylvisaker, L.C. '03.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on card mount; Place: Decorah, Winneshiek County, Iowa; Related Material: Luther College Archives: The Papers of Sigurd C. Ylvisaker, 1983, LCA/RG15/Ylvisaker, S.
Item 26: H. T. (Halvor T.) Ytterboe (1857-1904), 1900s: Biography or History: St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) faculty, 1882-1904; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1875-1881.; Creator: Sumner, Ira E., 1845-1918, photographer; Dimensions: 22 x 13 cm mount; Note: Recto: [imprint] Sumner & Son, Northfield, Minn. Verso: [stamped] 1997 [written in pencil] Prof Ytterboe.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on card mount; Place: Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota; Related Material: Norwegian-American Historical Association: 1478. Ytterboe, Halvor T. (1857-1904). Papers, 1861-1942. 7 boxes. P 600.

Box 28: Portraits Sto-Z (large)

Item 87: Delia Davidson Ylvisaker (1872-1968), undated: Creator: Lee Brothers, photographers; Dimensions: 36 x 28 cm; Note: Recto: [imprint] Lee Bros. Verso: [written in pencil] Mrs. I. D. Ylvisaker, Nat'l Pres, WMF, Ylvisaker, 1 - 11 x 14.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print; Place: Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
Item 88: Rev. J. Wilhelm (Johannes Wilhelm) Ylvisaker (1900-1981), undated: Biography or History: President of Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1948-1962; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1917-1921.; Dimensions: 36 x 28 cm on 36 x 28 cm board; Note: Verso: [written in pencil] Pres. Ylvisaker, Luther College.; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on board; Related Material: Luther College Archives: The Papers of Johannes Wilhelm Ylvisaker, 1908-1988, LCA/RG15/Ylvisaker, J.
Item 89: Rev. Joh. (Johannes) Ylvisaker (1845-1917), undated: Biography or History: Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1871-1874.; Dimensions: 36 x 28 cm; Note: Verso: [written in pencil] Ylvisaker, Johannes T. Ylvisaker, 1845-1917, theological prof, Luther Seminary.; Originals or Copies Note: Reproduction of an undated portrait; Physical Description: 1 photographic print
Item 90: N. M. (Nils Martin) Ylvisaker (1882-1972), undated: Biography or History: Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1898-1902.; Dimensions: 36 x 28 cm on 36 x 28 cm board; Note: Verso: [written in pencil] Pres. Natl Chaplain Assn., N. M. Ylvisaker, Pres. Nat'l Chaplain's Assoc., (?).; Physical Description: 1 photographic print on board; Related Material: Norwegian-American Historical Association: The Papers of Nils Martin Ylvisaker, LCA/RG15/Ylvisaker, N.
Item 91: H. T. (Halvor T.) Ytterboe (1857-1904), undated: Biography or History: St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) faculty, 1882-1904; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1875-1881.; Creator: Sumner, Ira E., 1845-1918, photographer; Dimensions: 36 x 29 cm; Note: Verso: [written in pencil] Prof Ytterboe, Prof. H. T. Ytterboe, 1857-1904, St. Olaf College.; Originals or Copies Note: Reproduction of a 1900s portrait; Physical Description: 1 photographic print; Place: Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota; Related Material: Norwegian-American Historical Association: 1478. Ytterboe, Halvor T. (1857-1904). Papers, 1861-1942. 7 boxes. P 600.
Item 92: H. T. (Halvor T.) Ytterboe (1857-1904), undated: Biography or History: St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) faculty, 1882-1904; Attended Luther College (Decorah, Iowa), 1875-1881.; Creator: Sumner, Ira E., 1845-1918, photographer; Dimensions: 36 x 28 cm; Note: Verso: [written in ink] Ytterboe [written in pencil] Ytterboe.; Originals or Copies Note: Reproduction of a 1900s portrait; Physical Description: 1 photographic print; Place: Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota; Related Material: Norwegian-American Historical Association: 1478. Ytterboe, Halvor T. (1857-1904). Papers, 1861-1942. 7 boxes. P 600.