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

SIMON JOHNSON PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #612

DATES: 1874-1970

SIZE: .5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Simon Johnson Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection (Acc.#81-713, 81-799, 81-884, 82-958).

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

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Simon Johnson, also known as "The Prairie's Author," was born in Oier, Guldbrandsdalen, Norway on September 26, 1874. In 1883, his family moved to the United States. They settled in the Dakota Territory in Norway Township, Traill County, near Hillsboro, North Dakota.

As the only brother of eight sisters, Johnson remained on the family farm until the death of his mother in 1919. Four novels of his had already been published, as well as several stories. In 1911, he was awarded the Norwegian Literary Award from the piece "Lonea."

Leaving the farm in 1919, Johnson went to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to edit Normanden, a Norwegian-language newspaper. He resigned in 1924 to later become editor of the Decorah Posten in Decorah, Iowa in 1929. After 1925, no major works were published.

Simon Johnson died in July of 1970.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Simon Johnson Papers contain a translation by Rodney Nelson of ballads, poems and short stories written by Johnson. The collection also includes biographical publications regarding Johnson plus commentaries on his writing style and his fictionalized accounts of Norwegian- American life in the Red River Valley.

10 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

1. Ballads and Poems contained in Opplevd.
2. Inga From the Grove (translated).
3. Louis Alfred and John Otto (translated).
4. Norman Kenyon (translated).
5. Bird Mary (translated).
6. Storms - and a Toast (translated).
7. Diggings (translated).
8. Forever Future (translated).
9. Rodgers, Drew. "The Norwegian Immigrant Experience as Depicted in the Fiction of Simon Johnson," Telemark Regional College, Telemark, Norway, 1979, (Chapters 1-3).
10. Rodgers. "The Norwegian Immigrant Experience," (Chapters 4-6).
11. Nelson, Rodney. "The Stories of Simon Johnson," North Dakota Horizons, Spring 1980.
12. News Clippings - "Simon Johnson's Writings Reveal More of Area Norwegian Heritage," Fargo Forum, April 20, 1980.

SEPARATIONS RECORD

10 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection.

OGL #612-1 Johnson family.
OGL #612-2 Johnson homestead.
OGL #612-3 Johnson.
OGL #612-4 Unidentified woman.
OGL #612-5 Unidentified woman.
OGL #612-6 Unidentified woman.
OGL #612-7 Telegram to Johnson from Royal Norwegian Consulate, February 10, 1954.
OGL #612-8 Unidentified manuscript.
OGL #612-9 Johnson.
OGL #612-10 Johnson.

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