by Kenneth Carley
Hardcover / Paperback
Although Minnesota was one of the least populated states in 1861 when the Civil War broke out, and had achieved statehood less than 3 years earlier, Minnesotans —many of Scandinavian origin who had recently arrived in America, and quite a few who had not even become citizens in the U.S. yet — made enormous contributions to the Union cause and its ultimate success. In several northern states, specifically MN and WI, whole regiments were made up of Scandinavian immigrants.
Books and articles have been written about various individual Scandinavian-American regiments, but Carley's book -- rich in detail -- presents the first comprehensive picture of Minnesota's involvement in the Civil War. Carley, former editor of the magazine, "Minnesota History", knows historical material and his well-researched text is fully supplemented with soldiers' diaries and letters, rare photographs, tintypes, drawings, maps, uniforms and equipment. Appropriately subtitled "An Illustrated History," this book creates a vivid picture of the daily life of Minnesota's soldiers. Helpful and interestingly written are the Appendices which include a chronology of Minnesota's involvement in the Civil War and a list of Minnesota's regiments, respective officers and action in various battles. Also helpful, for one doing family research, is an index of names mentioned in the book.
Lifelong interest in history is apparent in the Foreword by Richard Moe, currently President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and in the Introduction and Epilogue by Brian Horrigan, Exhibit Curator and also Co-chair of the Education and Cultural Heritage Outreach Committees at the MN Historical Society. Both are authors in their own right, and their talent for making history come alive through great writing is apparent in the sections they contributed to this book. Award-winning author Horrigan is also co-editor of Christmas in Minnesota.
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by Kenneth Carley
Hardcover / Paperback
Although Minnesota was one of the least populated states in 1861 when the Civil War broke out, and had achieved statehood less than 3 years earlier, Minnesotans —many of Scandinavian origin who had recently arrived in America, and quite a few who had not even become citizens in the U.S. yet ... ... more -
by Odd Lovoll
Hardcover / Paperback
Lovoll, born in Norway and professor emeritus of history at St. Olaf College, has authored many books and articles on Norwegian immigration to the Upper Midwest. His earlier books, and those by many other authors, have generally been centered on experiences immigrants faced in big cities or on the hardships ... ... moreby Odd Lovoll
Hardcover / Paperback
Lovoll, born in Norway and professor emeritus of history at St. Olaf College, has authored many books and articles on Norwegian immigration to the Upper Midwest. His earlier books, and those by many other authors, have generally been centered on experiences immigrants faced in big cities or on the hardships and adversity they lived through as they cleared the prairie preparing for a livelihood of farming. In this book, however, Lovoll's subject is the lingering impact on small towns that 100 and 150 years earlier had served as trading centers for farmers. Lovoll focuses on three communities located on Minnesota's western prairie; Benson, Madison, and Starbuck, MN. In this work, he points out that "family stability and inmarrriage," reinforced by the Lutheran Church, sustained the Norwegian language and customs for an extended period" and this theory led Lovoll to examine the historical, economic, cultural, religious and political history of these communities from the 1860s until the present. The author's academic background becomes obvious to the reader. Lovoll's meticulous research into census data, careful reading of local newspapers, and extensive interviews with descendants of Norwegian immigrants support his conclusion that strong ties to homeland are visible today in each town’s social, political and religious character.