Sons of Norway facts for kids
Sons of Norway (which means Sons of Norway in Norwegian) is a special club for people who have family from Norway. It started way back in 1895. This group helps keep Norwegian culture and history alive in the United States and Canada. It also offers things like life insurance to its members. It's a non-profit group that helps its community.
Today, Sons of Norway has almost 400 local groups, called lodges. These lodges are in the United States, Canada, and even Norway. With over 57,000 members, it is the largest Norwegian organization outside of Norway itself.
Contents
History of Sons of Norway
How Sons of Norway Started
The Sons of Norway began on January 16, 1895. Eighteen people started it in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At that time, many Norwegian immigrants were settling in the U.S. They found it hard to get life insurance. So, they created this group to help each other out.
At first, only Norwegian men between 20 and 50 years old could join. They also had to be healthy and good people.
The idea quickly spread. By the end of 1900, there were 12 groups in cities with many Norwegian-Americans. The organization grew from Minnesota to both the East and West Coasts. Groups even started in places like Alaska, where many Norwegians worked on fishing boats.
In 1903, a group in Seattle wanted to join. But they did not want the required insurance that the main group had. So, they started their own separate group called Leif Erikson Lodge No. 1. This led to some disagreements. But in 1910, the two groups decided to join together.
By 1914, the Sons of Norway had about 12,000 members.
Growing and Changing
When it first started, Sons of Norway had some secret traditions. But these were mostly removed in the early 1900s.
The organization published a monthly magazine called Sønner av Norge. This magazine kept members updated on what was happening. They also held talks about Norwegian history and culture. They had contests for students and celebrated Norwegian holidays. The Sons of Norway also worked to teach the Norwegian language in schools. Today, their magazine is called "Viking."
In 1938, another group called The Knights of the White Cross Order joined with the Sons of Norway.
Women and Junior Members
Women were allowed to join local groups as early as 1916. In 1950, groups called Daughters of Norway in the Midwest joined with the Sons of Norway. In 1956, they even created groups for younger members. However, the main Grand Lodge of the Daughters of Norway still exists as a separate organization.
Sons of Norway Today
The Sons of Norway has continued to grow across the United States, Canada, and Norway. Today, the group still honors old traditions. But it also focuses on how Norwegian-American life is now.
Who Can Join?
Anyone who is interested in Norwegian or Norwegian-American culture can join Sons of Norway. As of today, there are nearly 400 lodges. In 1995, there were 90,000 members. By 2010, there were 64,186 members.
Help for Members
The benefits offered by Sons of Norway have changed over time. They first offered life, sickness, and accident insurance. But during the Great Depression in 1934, they only offered life insurance. Over time, other benefits were added back.
Sons of Norway Facts and Figures
Here are some numbers from December 31, 2013:
- Total Members: 58,178
- Members in the United States: 54,435
- Members in Canada: 2,499
- Members in Norway: 1,244
- Number of Local Groups (Lodges): 380
- Life Insurance in Force: $675,520,000
- Number of Insurance Certificates: 16,913
In 2013, Sons of Norway groups and members volunteered over 500,000 hours. They also gave $1 million to their communities. The Sons of Norway also has a large library of Nordic books. They run a retirement home called Norse Home in Seattle.
International Meetings
The Sons of Norway holds a big international meeting every two years, usually in August. Each local district also has its own meeting every two years.
Here are some places where recent international meetings have been held:
- 2022 – Eagan, Minnesota
- 2020 – Ringsaker, Norway (This meeting was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.)
- 2018 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2016 – Tacoma, Washington
- 2014 – Jacksonville, Florida
- 2012 – Fargo, North Dakota
- 2010 – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
- 2008 – San Diego, California
- 2006 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- 2004 – Washington D.C.
- 2002 – Madison, Wisconsin
- 2000 – Stavanger, Norway
- 1998 – Anaheim, California
- 1996 – Unknown location
- 1994 – Saint Paul, Minnesota
- 1992 – Lillehammer, Norway
Important Buildings
Some buildings owned by the Sons of Norway are very old or special:
- Sons of Norway Building in Minneapolis, Minnesota: This building opened in 1962. In 2017, it was sold to developers. It will be torn down to build new things. But the Sons of Norway will have a new space in the new building when it's finished.
- Sons of Norway Hall, Petersburg, Alaska: This building was built in 1912. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its importance.
- Sons of Norway building of Minot, North Dakota: This building was built in 1915. It is part of a historic district in Minot.
