Theodore C. Blegen facts for kids
Theodore Christian Blegen (born July 16, 1891 – died July 18, 1969) was an American historian and author. He wrote many history books, papers, and articles over 50 years. His main focus was the history of Minnesota and the story of Norwegian immigrants in America.
Quick facts for kids
Theodore C. Blegen
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| Born | 16 July 1891  Minneapolis |
| Died | 18 July 1969 (aged 78) |
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Contents
Early Life and Education
Theodore Christian Blegen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His parents, Anna Regine and John H. Blegen, came from Lillehammer, Norway. His father was a professor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. He was also an important person in the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America.
Theodore had an older brother, Carl Blegen, who became a famous archaeologist. Theodore studied at Augsburg College, earning his bachelor's degree in 1910. He then went to the University of Minnesota for his master's degree (1915) and his Ph.D. in history (1925). In 1928, he received a special scholarship called a Guggenheim Fellowship. This allowed him to study in Norway.
Career as a Historian
Blegen started his career teaching high school in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From 1920 to 1927, he was a history professor at Hamline University in St. Paul. After that, he moved to the University of Minnesota in 1927. He later became the dean of the graduate school from 1940 to 1960.
Work with Historical Societies
Blegen began working with the Minnesota Historical Society in 1922. He learned a lot about editing and careful research there. He became the superintendent of the historical society and a member of its executive council. He held these positions until 1939. After retiring from teaching in 1960, he returned to the Society as a research fellow.
In 1925, Blegen was chosen as the first managing editor of the Norwegian-American Historical Association. During World War II, he helped direct the National Historical Service. This service prepared materials for the U.S. Army's G.I. Roundtable.
Leadership and Recognition
Blegen was elected president of the Organization of American Historians in 1943. He also helped start the Forest History Society and served as its president twice. In 1963, he became a Fellow of the Society. He was also on the Society's executive committee for more than 20 years. The Forest History Society created the Theodore C. Blegen Award in 1972 to honor him.
Many universities gave Blegen honorary degrees. These included Hamline University, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Luther College, and Augustana College. In 1938, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo in Norway. He became a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in 1946. He also joined The Royal Norwegian Society in 1954. In 1950, he was made a knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.
Blegen Hall on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus is named after Theodore C. Blegen. His research papers are kept at the University Archives, University of Minnesota. The Minnesota Historical Society also has a collection of his papers.
Additional Resources
- Flanagan, John T. (1977) Theodore C Blegen, a Memoir ( Northfield, MN: Norwegian-American Historical Association)
- Commager, Henry Steele (1961) Immigration and American history : essays in honor of Theodore C. Blegen (Minneapolis, MN : University of Minnesota Press)
