Guide to the Carl M. Ringen Gunderson Collection

Collection

Identifier: OPVSIEmss_110

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains documents pertaining to genealogical information linking Norwegians to famous persons such as Leif Erickson and George Washington. There is a clipping from Decorah-Posten of 25 November 1971 in Norwegian. There are also copies of photographs of Old and New Crow River Lutheran Church, a copy of the anniversary booklet cover containing family history of all members compiled by Carl Gunderson, and a list of publications and manuscripts by Carl. Two articles highlight Carl’s accomplishments as a historian-genealogist. An article in the New London Times in 1950 remarks on the extensive studies of the Crow River cemetery by Carl. An article in Western Viking of 10 August 1975 talks about the Ringville School Reunion and the history of the area first homesteaded by Gunder Johnson, ancestor of Carl Gunderson.

Dates

1971-1978

Creator

Gunderson, Carl M. Ringen (Person)

Biographical / Historical

Carl M. Ringen Gunderson was born in Ringville district near Georgeville, Minnesota, to M. B. and Christine Gunderson. He enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in World War II for two years in France. He opened an advertising agency for two years in Seattle and Portland, owned Charleston Chain Stores for eight years, and owned and operated the Western Department Store in Los Angeles from 1934 until he retired in 1958. He was an internationally known historian-genealogist of Scandinavian family lines. He was awarded the “Sankt Olavs Medalien” for his accomplishments. He authored the Book and Manuscripts sent to the Royal University Library of Oslo, Norway. He began writing family histories as a hobby in 1935 and had over 174 completed with 17 publications in the library of the University of Oslo. He wrote genealogies of George Washington, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, Knute Rockne, Snowshoe Thompson, several governors, senators, and other important Americans. He was a member of the National Genealogical Society of Washington, D.C., the Norwegian-American Historical Association in Northfield, Minnesota, the Peer Gynt Lodge in Los Angeles, Nordmanns-Forbundet, and an honorary member of the Norwegian Male Chorus of Everett, Washignton. Carl married Pearl Maryann and they had a daughter, Doris Maxine.