Chicago Norske Klub (1911 to 1971) was a

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

based

Norwegian-American Norwegian Americans ( nb, Norskamerikanere, nn, Norskamerikanarar) are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the ...

cultural and social organization.

Background

Chicago Norske Klub was founded in 1911 through the merger of two prior organizations which had dated to 1890, the Norwegian Club in Chicago (''Den Norske Klub i Chicago'') and the Norwegian Quartet Club (''Den Norske Kvartet Klub''). Its membership consisted largely of businessmen and professionals including a number of graduates of Norwegian technical schools. Programs were aimed at sociability and fellowship. The Chicago Norske Klub established premises near

Logan Square Logan Square may refer to: * Logan Square, Chicago, a neighborhood on the north side of the city * Logan Circle (Philadelphia) or Logan Square, a park in Philadelphia **Logan Square, Philadelphia Logan Square is a neighborhood in Philadelphia. Bou ...

on Kedzie Avenue through financing arranged by the

State Bank of Chicago State Bank of Chicago was an American banking firm which conducted business under a state of Illinois charter issued on February 10, 1891. State Bank of Chicago operated from offices in the Chamber of Commerce Building located at the southeast corne ...

and through the initiative of Birger Osland, a Chicago investment banker.

Operations

Emil Biorn was the instructor and leader of a chorus and an orchestra for a number of years. The Dramatic Society was founded in 1919. In 1920, an annual art exhibit was started. The club was noted for its collection of fine art principally by Norwegian-American artists. Among others, featured artists included Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Benjamin Blessum,

Carl L. Boeckmann Carl Ludwig Boeckmann (January 29, 1867 – September 21, 1923) was a Norwegian-American artist best known as a portrait painter. Biography Boeckmann was born in Oslo, Norway, the youngest of five children. In 1883, he began to study at Knud Ber ...

Lars Fletre Lars Fletre (June 22, 1904 – September 9, 1977) was a prominent Norwegian-American designer and sculptor. Biography Lars Olavson Fletre was born in Vossestrand, Voss, Hordaland, Norway. He was the youngest of seven children born to Ola Odd ...

, Alexander Grinager,

Arvid Nyholm Arvid Frederick Nyholm (July 12, 1866 – November 14, 1927) was a Swedish-American artist, known primarily as a portrait and landscape painter. Background Arvid Frederick Nyholm was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Karl Fredrik Nyholm, was ...

Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt (April 13, 1878 – April 21, 1955) was an American artist who painted seascapes and depictions of New Mexico's indigenous culture. Background He was born in Tullstorp, Malmö, Skåne County, Sweden the son of Ni ...

, Karl Ouren and

Svend Rasmussen Svendsen Svend Rasmussen Svendsen (March 21, 1864 – September 6, 1945) was a Norwegian American impressionist artist. Svendsen is most known for his rural scenes, marine views, and snowy landscapes of Norway. Background Svend Rasmussen Svendsen wa ...

. The Chicago Norske Klub was also the site of a convention sponsored by the Norwegian-American Technical Society of Chicago. The club ended operation and sold its building to a lodge of the

Sons of Norway Sons of Norway ( no, Sønner av Norge), founded in 1895 as the Independent Order of the Sons of Norway, is a fraternal organization principally representing people of Norwegian heritage in the United States and Canada. The organization include ...

in 1971.

Guest speakers

The club featured a number of notable guest speakers during the course of its existence. * General Leonard Wood *

Jane Addams Laura Jane Addams (September 6, 1860 May 21, 1935) was an American settlement activist, reformer, social worker, sociologist, public administrator, and author. She was an important leader in the history of social work and women's suffrage ...

Queen Marie of Romania Marie (born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938) was the last Queen of Romania as the wife of King Ferdinand I. Marie was born into the British royal family. Her parents were Prince Alfred, ...

Crown Prince Olav Olav V (; born Prince Alexander of Denmark; 2 July 1903 – 17 January 1991) was the King of Norway from 1957 until his death in 1991. Olav was the only child of King Haakon VII of Norway and Maud of Wales. He became heir apparent to the Norw ...

and Crown Princess Martha of Norway *

Fridtjof Nansen Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (; 10 October 186113 May 1930) was a Norwegian polymath and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He gained prominence at various points in his life as an explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian. He led the team t ...

Roald Amundsen Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (, ; ; 16 July 1872 – ) was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He was a key figure of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Born in Borge, Østfold, Norway, Amundsen bega ...

* Carl J. Hambro * Johan Bojer * Ole Rolvaag

Sources

The best sources of information about the Chicago Norske Klub are two booklets, one published on the occasion of the dedication of its new club house in 1917, the other in 1930 in observance of the organization's fortieth anniversary: ''Chicago Norske Klub, Historical Sketch'' (Chicago: 1917) and ''Chicago Norske Klub, 1890-1930'' (Chicago, 1930). ''Saga in Steel and Concrete: Norwegian Engineers in America''; by Kenneth O. Bjork. Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1947
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Other sources

* Haugan, Reidar Rye. ''Prominent Artists and Exhibits of Their Work in Chicago'' (Chicago Norske Klub. ''Nordmanns-Forbundet'', 24: 371-374, Volume 7, 1933) *Heitmann, Helen M. ''From Fjord to Prairie: Norwegian-Americans in the Midwest, 1825-1975''. Chicago, IL: Norwegian-American Immigration Anniversary Commission, 1976 * Strand, A. E. ''A History of the Norwegians in Illinois''. Chicago, IL: John Anderson Publishing Co., 1905

Footnotes

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External links

Chicago Norske Klub exteriorChicago Norske Klub interior
Clubs and societies in the United States Organizations based in Chicago Civic and political organizations of the United States 1911 establishments in Illinois Norwegian-American culture in Chicago 1971 disestablishments in Illinois Organizations established in 1911 Organizations disestablished in 1971