Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections |
The Family History Room in the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, houses an extensive collection of Norwegian local history books called bygdebøker. These books are invaluable research tools for genealogists documenting their Norwegian ancestry. UND’s collection, currently over 1,060 volumes, is one of the largest in the United States.
This Guide to Norwegian Bygdebøker arranges the bygdebøker alphabetically by name of district (fylke), and then by community (kommune), and/or parish (sogn). For quick reference, an alphabetical index is provided at the back of this Guide. An attempt has been made to list all those communities and parishes that are readily identifiable within the title of each bygdebøk, offering access to over 550 communities. Please note that for ease of access for English reading genealogists, the Guide alphabetizes according to the English, not the Norwegian alphabet, and thus ignores the three special letters of the Norwegian language. Library call numbers are listed after each title entry, and a list of general reference works is also provided.
A typical bygdebøk set consists of several volumes. The first usually describes the history of a community, geography and geological features, economic base, and social and political culture. Subsequent volumes offer genealogical information about farms in the area and frequently indicate those individuals who immigrated to America. There are currently over 1,060 individual volumes in the Bygdebøk Collection, which also contains town history books, published emigration listings, name indexes for a particular bygdebøk set, and yearbooks.
The Department of Special Collections began collecting bygdebøker in 1980, when former assistant coordinator Colleen Oihus, and Dr. Arne Brekke, now retired UND Associate Professor of Languages, initiated the Bygdebøk Collection by soliciting donations of books from communities in Norway. The initial response was tremendous, and a second solicitation was undertaken in 1988 with help from Dr. Brekke. Another major solicitation is planned for 2008-09, once again with Dr. Brekke’s assistance. Special Collections is most sincerely indebted to Arne Brekke for his unceasing efforts to make the Bygdebøk Collection one of the finest in the country. His vision has become a reality!
We extend sincere appreciation to the people of Norway whose kindness and generosity has made the Bygdebøk Collection possible. Numerous individuals, county historical societies, community organizations, universities, and local governmental agencies, have donated books.
Generous assistance has been received through several American organizations, including the Nodak Mutual Foundation, the University of North Dakota Nordic Initiative, and District IV, Sons of Norway.
The Department of Special Collections has also received support from the Chester Fritz Library Administration to purchase additional volumes. The Library remains committed to the continual acquisition of bygdebøker, and looks forward to the future development of the Bygdebøk Collection.
Follow the links to view the bygdebøker for each fylke:
| Akershus | Aust Agder | Buskerud | Finnmark | Hedmark | Hordaland |
| Møre og Romsdal | Nordland | Nord-Trøndelag | Oppland | Østfold | Rogaland |
| Sogn og Fjordane | Sør-Trøndelag | Telemark | Troms | Vest Agder | Vestfold |
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