ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

EDWARD AND ELMER T. LIAN PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #208 (addition)

DATES: 1867-1945

SIZE: 1 linear foot

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: These additions to the Edward and Elmer T. Lian Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Elmer T. Lian in the summer of 1984 (Acc.#84-1317 and Acc.#85-1368).

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This addition to the Edward and Elmer T. Lian Papers consists of the material related to both World War II and North Dakota History. Included is the final version of a four volume manuscript entitled USAF Prisoner of War: Germany–WWII, completed by Elmer Lian in 1973. Also included are several questionnaires used by Lian to gather information for a project entitled The Great Depression Strikes the Prairie. Lian also wrote a short essay based on an interview of John Bosch, a prominent figure in President Franklin Roosevelt's agricultural policy, in addition to an essay regarding the life of Dr. John Olaf Sethre. Several articles written about Lian are included, as are photocopies of photographs related to the war and the Lian family.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

Box 2
Folder

  1. Elmer Lian. USAF Prisoner of War: Germany–WWII. Volume One, 1973
  2. Elmer Lian. USAF Prisoner of War: Germany–WWII. Volume Two, 1973
  3. Elmer Lian. USAF Prisoner of War: Germany–WWII. Volume Three, 1973
  4. Elmer Lian. USAF Prisoner of War: Germany–WWII. Volume Four, 1973
  5. Carl Ott. The True Stories of Selected North Dakota War Veterans: North Dakota World War II "Dakota Demon"
  6. Elmer Lian. The True Stories of Selected North Dakota War Veterans: A True Story of One Man, One Crew, and One Plane, in One of the Great Air Battles Over “Fortress Europe"
  7. A series of articles in the Grand Forks Air Force Base Leader telling the story of Elmer T. Lian's battle over Europe an his experiences as a POW in Germany. Article from the Western Viking, a Norwegian-American Newspaper telling of Lian’s exploits. 1983 (2 copies)
  8. Peder H. Nelson. Krigsflyver av Rineriksaett (1983) The story of the WWII activities of Elmer T. Lian printed in the Norwegian Historic Magazine Ringerike.
  9. Elmer T. Lian. POW Picture Book, A collection of photocopies of photographs relating to WWII, Elmer as a POW, and his family (2 copies)
  10. Photocopies of WWII photographs
  11. Elmer T. Lian. The Great Depression Strikes the Prairie: Writer's Guide Instructions
  12. Elmer T. Lian. The Great Depression Strikes the Prairie: Writer's Guide Instructions. (Revised Edition)
  13. Elmer T. Lian. The Strange Saga of Dr. John Olaf Sethre as a Life Long Hermit on His Homestead on the Prairie in Western North Dakota
  14. Interview by Elmer T. Lian. John H. Bosch: A Great American Agricultural Leader. (August 28, 1974)
  15. Elmer T. Lian. Where Am I or My Place In the World. A questionnaire and information sheet dealing with the passing of familial information from one generation to the next

 Original Donation  First Addition: 1885-1975
 Second Addition: 1973  Third Addition: 1867-1945
 Fourth Addition: 1929-1989  Fifth Addition: 1944-1945
 Sixth Addition: 1944-45, 1995  

Kriegieland: Conversations with ex-POWs
Videotaped interviews with ex-POWS from World War II and the Korean War, hosted by Elmer Lian

Return to: Military History

Special Collections Home Page Contact Special Collections Chester Fritz Library Home Page