To American-born Trønders:
A Trønder is a native of Trøndelagen, Norway, or one who has descended from a parent, or parents from Trøndelagen.
Trøndelagen lies in the central part of Norway and occupies about 17 per cent of the whole kingdom. It is twice the size og New Jersey, one half the size of Indiana, one third the size of Iowa, one forth the size of Minnesota.
The population of Trøndelagen in 1920 was 422,819, or 16 per cent of the total population of Norway. If gathered in on place it would make a city as large as Minneapolis or New Orleans.
From 1825 to 1925 som 750,000 people left Norway for the United States, of whom 15 per cent --- 112,500 ---- came from Trøndelagen. The population of Norway in 1931 was 2,817,124. The number of
Norwegian-Americans in the United States, counting the immigrants and all the generations born here, has been estimated to be equal to that of Norway, and about 15 per cent of these are Trønders. The total Trønder stock in the United States is therefore about 425,000. But, since there is a great frequency of intermarriage of Trønders with non-Trønders there is consequently a great number of half-Trønders, so that the total number of Trønders in America can be safely reckoned at more than 450,000.
Trønderlaget should have a membership of 450,000.
Trønderlaget is an association of Trønders to keep alive the memories of Trøndelagen and to pass them on to the young Trønders here as well as to other stocks. This is a great and worthy aim. Trøndelagen is one of the oldest and proudest of Norway’s countrysides. It has a rich history and culture and has produced many great names.
Trønderlaget was organized at Fergus Falls, Minn., September 17, 1908, the prime movers being S. O. Leirfallom and D. G. Ristad. It has met every year since except in 1918. Its concventions have been held fifteen times in Minnesota, four times in South Dakota, three times in North Dakota, twice in Wisconsin and once in Iowa. Also once in Manitoba.
M. A. Wollan, O. E. Oleson, H. Bendeke, S. O. Hanger, P. M. Glasoe, J. A, Alphson, E. G. Hammer and D. G. Ristad have held the presidency of the Society. At first there were several vice-presidents serving at the same time from 1926 to 1931 only one; from 1931 there have been two vice-precidents, namely Lars O. Haug and J. H. Myrwang. S. Leirfallom, T. C. Wollan, I. Dorrum, F. L. Trønsdal, W. P. Rognlie and John Nornborg were secretary-treasurers in turn. Since 1927 the secretary position has been held, first by John Nornborg and then by O. Hegdahl and the treasurer has been editor of
the «Aarbok», which previously had been edited by the secretary. This book contains the minutes of each meeting, the membership, photos, letters, poems, adresses, historical and biographical articles and other matters of interest about Trønders.
In addition to the general Trønderlag there are a number of local Trønderlags, as: at Chicago, Duluth, Grand Forks, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Thief River Falls. Also the Northwestern (near Minot, N. D.), the Lake Hendricks and Sioux Valley (in S. D.), the Park Region and Pope County (in Minn.) and the Chippewa Valley (in. Wis.)
Trøndelagen is divided politically into three districts about equally large in area and population --- Møre, South Trøndelag and North Trøndelag. Møre has three cities ---
Aalesund, Kristiansund and Molde ---, and 65 herreder, or sub-districts. South Trøndelag has one city --- Trondheim ---, and 52 sub-districts. North Trøndelag has three cities --- Levanger, Namsos and Steinkjer ----, and 46 sub-districts. There are people in America from each of these cities and sub-districts of Trøndelagen. Ecclestiastically, Trøndelagen is divided into fifteen provstier, or deaniries, having in all 76 parishes and about 214 congregations and chapels. The ecclestiastical Trøndelagen is called Nidaros Bishopric. From every one of these parishes and congregations people have emigrated to America, where they live with their descendants often far apart and unknown to one another. On this account
some of the more ambitious of the smaller units of Trøndelagen, such as Namdalen, Opdal and Selbu, have organized their own lags in America, which come together in annual convention to renew old acquaintance, arouse interest in the heritage from Old
Norway, lend a helping hand to some worthy enterprise and write some chapters in their American saga. Many of these Namdalings, Opdalings and Selbyggers maintain at the same time a membership in the Trønderlag, as is proper. All in all, there is room for many more such minor lags.
Less than one per cent of the Trønders belong to Trønderlaget or its auxiliaries. All those who can qualify as Trønders should be induced to join. The fee is only a dollar a year, and the member receives in return free of
charge the Year Book of the Society. At the
annual convention held as a rule in June the
Trønders gather from far and near to listen to inspiring talks about the land of their fathers, to exchange reminiscences from days gone by, to sing the old songs once more, to meet old friends and make new ones, and to take a holiday. These reunions are well worth the price of the membership. Should old acquantance be forgot and never brought to mind? This article is written in English and is addressed especially to Trønders of American birth and training. You will richly enjoy the Trønder conventions. There are good things to eat and good things to hear and see. The Trønder dialects are specially interesting. You
will become ambitious to master som of them. The word Trønder means thrifty. The story of this thrifty people will gladden your heart and make you proud to be one of them.
It will make you respect your own folks and
want to know more about them. You may become one of those who should write their story in English prose and poetry, in song and fiction, in history and biography. Come. Join.
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