THE NORWEGIAN AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Norway Chapter
(NAHA-Norge)

NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN SEMINAR XI

Migrant Journeys:
The Norwegian-American Experience in a Multicultural Context

Luther College
Decorah, Iowa, USA
June 14–17, 2011

The eleventh seminar of the Norwegian-American Historical Association, Norway Chapter, entitled “Migrant Journeys: The Norwegian-American Experience in a Multicultural Context" will be held on June 14–17, 2011, at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, USA. As its title suggests, the seminar welcomes a wide range of topics within Norwegian-American studies.  We are particularly interested in papers on subjects related to emigration / immigration and the experience of the migrant in relation to the ethnic group, the host culture, and other ethnic cultures.

NAHA-Norway encourages seminar contributions based on many academic traditions. Topics related to literary, linguistic, and religious studies, to history, social science, fine and folk arts, and cultural studies—as well as multi- and interdisciplinary approaches—are appropriate. NAHA-Norway also emphasizes the need to see Norwegian-American Studies in the context of international migration and ethnic studies in general.

The Norwegian branch of the Norwegian-American Historical Association, NAHA-Norway, was founded in 1981 and has been responsible for the arrangement of eleven seminars on Norwegian-American Studies since 1984. The purpose of the seminars is to stimulate interest in the Norwegian emigration to America and Norwegian-American history and culture, to further promote research in this field. In recent years there has been greater emphasis on interdisciplinarity, and the fact that research on Norwegian-American history, culture and ethnicity should be viewed in relation to other ethnic groups' experiences.

NAHA-Norway seminars gather participants both from the USA, Canada, and Norway in addition to students and others who are interested in Norwegian-American studies. NAHA-Norway has so far published twelve volumes in its series including several essays publications and one bibliography.

NAHA-Norway Board of Directors:

Terje Hasle Joranger, Chair
David C. Mauk, Deputy Chair
Ellen Vollebæk, Treasurer and Membership Secretary
Kari Anne Fekjær, Recording Secretary
Knut Djupedal, Board Member
Nils Olav Østrem, Deputy Board Member
Judith Torvik, Deputy Board Member
Dina H. Tolfsby, Deputy Board Member

The conference has been a joint effort by the Program committee, primarily in Norway, and a local committee in Decorah, Iowa making the physical arrangements for the conference.

 Program Committee:

Terje Hasle Joranger,  David C. Mauk and Marvin Slind

Local Arrangements Committee:

Rachel Vagts (chair), Jane Kemp, Jennifer Kovarik, Harley Refsal, Marvin Slind and Jud Barclay (ex-officio)

Please visit our site for more information on the program, registration, travel arrangements and other information regarding the conference.  

For additional information, please contact Rachel Vagts, Luther College Archivist at vagtsrac@luther.edu.