Kenneth O. Bjork
Encyclopedia
Kenneth O. Bjork was an American professor, historian and author. He served as managing editor for publications at the Norwegian-American Historical Association
over a twenty year period.
. His parents were Theodore C. Bjork (1875–1944) and Martha Arneson (1883–1977). Both his parents had been the children of Norwegian immigrants. His father's family had immigrated from Kaupanger
in Sogn
and his mother’s family from Grue
in Solør
. Kenneth O. Bjork grew up in Enderlin, a small town where his father ran the hardware store. At home, he learned to speak Bokmål
, the more common of the two principal Norwegian language dialects.
Bjork graduated from St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
in 1930, with history majors. He continued his studies at University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin
. His took study tours in Europe from 1934 to 1935. In 1935 he obtained his PhD
degree on a thesis on Anglo-German diplomatic relations in the Bismarck
era.
. In 1937 he was employed at St. Olaf College
, where he became professor in 1944 and taught European history until his retirement in 1974. During a two year sabbatical from 1965 to 1967 he went to Kenya as the Senior Representative for the Rockefeller Foundation. His mission there was to help the University College, Nairobi, establish its Humanities Division. He planned and supervised the efforts of a staff of ten (teachers and administrators from the U.S.) and taught as a professor at the University of East Africa
in Nairobi, Kenya. During this period he also steeped himself in African history, qualifying his ability to teach it upon his return to St. Olaf, establishing a precedent in the department that he also chaired for 25 years.
He served as managing editor for publications of the Norwegian-American Historical Association
between the years 1960-80.
In 1947 Bjork released Saga in Steel and Concrete, a pioneering work in the study of the migration that brought Norwegian born engineers and architects to America and participation in the country's economic growth. In 1958 he published West of the Great Divide, a reinterpretation of the internal migration patterns, which show a continuous movement of people from older settlements in the Midwest to new settlement areas further west, motivated by the same motives which had led to departure from their home country.
He was made a Knight First Class in the Order of St. Olav in 1962. In 1976, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo
. The Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor chair was established at St. Olaf College in 2006.
Norwegian-American Historical Association
Norwegian-American Historical Association publishes scholarly books, documenting research and interpretations of the American experience of immigrant Norwegians....
over a twenty year period.
Background
Kenneth O. Bjork was born in Enderlin, North DakotaEnderlin, North Dakota
Enderlin is a city in Cass and Ransom counties in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The population was 886 at the 2010 census. Enderlin was founded in 1891....
. His parents were Theodore C. Bjork (1875–1944) and Martha Arneson (1883–1977). Both his parents had been the children of Norwegian immigrants. His father's family had immigrated from Kaupanger
Kaupanger
Kaupanger is a village situated along the Sognefjord in the municipality of Sogndal in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway.Kaupanger originated as a settlement during the Viking age. Earlier Kaupanger was known as Tingstad. Kaupang was an Old Norse term for trading or market place. Town's name is...
in Sogn
Sogn
Sogn is a traditional district in Western Norway . It is located in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, surrounding the Sognefjord. Sogn consists of the municipalities of Aurland, Balestrand, Hyllestad, Høyanger, Gulen, Leikanger, Luster, Lærdal, Sogndal, Solund, Vik, and Årdal. The district covers ...
and his mother’s family from Grue
Grue, Norway
Grue is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Solør. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kirkenær ....
in Solør
Solør
Solør is a Norwegian traditional district consisting of the valley between Elverum in the north and Kongsvinger in the south. It is part of the county of Hedmark, and includes the municipalities Våler, Åsnes and Grue.-Glomma valley :...
. Kenneth O. Bjork grew up in Enderlin, a small town where his father ran the hardware store. At home, he learned to speak Bokmål
Bokmål
Bokmål is one of two official Norwegian written standard languages, the other being Nynorsk. Bokmål is used by 85–90% of the population in Norway, and is the standard most commonly taught to foreign students of the Norwegian language....
, the more common of the two principal Norwegian language dialects.
Bjork graduated from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
in 1930, with history majors. He continued his studies at University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. His took study tours in Europe from 1934 to 1935. In 1935 he obtained his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degree on a thesis on Anglo-German diplomatic relations in the Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
era.
Career
From 1935-37, he was a professor of history at the University of Montana in Havre, MontanaHavre, Montana
Havre is a city in, and the county seat of, Hill County, Montana, United States. It is said to be named after the city of Le Havre in France. The population was 9,621 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. In 1937 he was employed at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
, where he became professor in 1944 and taught European history until his retirement in 1974. During a two year sabbatical from 1965 to 1967 he went to Kenya as the Senior Representative for the Rockefeller Foundation. His mission there was to help the University College, Nairobi, establish its Humanities Division. He planned and supervised the efforts of a staff of ten (teachers and administrators from the U.S.) and taught as a professor at the University of East Africa
University of East Africa
The University of East Africa was established in 1963 and served Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The University was originally instituted as an independent external college of the University of London. In 1970 it was split into three independent universities which are now:*University of Nairobi...
in Nairobi, Kenya. During this period he also steeped himself in African history, qualifying his ability to teach it upon his return to St. Olaf, establishing a precedent in the department that he also chaired for 25 years.
He served as managing editor for publications of the Norwegian-American Historical Association
Norwegian-American Historical Association
Norwegian-American Historical Association publishes scholarly books, documenting research and interpretations of the American experience of immigrant Norwegians....
between the years 1960-80.
In 1947 Bjork released Saga in Steel and Concrete, a pioneering work in the study of the migration that brought Norwegian born engineers and architects to America and participation in the country's economic growth. In 1958 he published West of the Great Divide, a reinterpretation of the internal migration patterns, which show a continuous movement of people from older settlements in the Midwest to new settlement areas further west, motivated by the same motives which had led to departure from their home country.
He was made a Knight First Class in the Order of St. Olav in 1962. In 1976, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. The Kenneth O. Bjork Distinguished Professor chair was established at St. Olaf College in 2006.
Selected works
- Saga in Steel and Concrete; Norwegian Engineers in America (Northfield, MN: 1947)
- West of the Great Divide: Norwegian Migration to the Pacific Coast, 1847-1893 (Northfield, MN: 1958)
Other sources
- Lovoll, Odd S.Odd S. Lovoll-Background:Odd Sverre Lovoll was born in Sande, in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. He immigrated to the United States in 1946 and is a naturalized United States citizen. Lovoll received his education both in Norway and in the United States, passing university exams at the University of Bergen in 1961 and...
Kenneth O. Bjork Honorary (Norse Federation No. 6, 1976) - Hustvedt, LloydLloyd HustvedtLloyd Hustvedt was an American professor and scholar of Norwegian-American history.-Background:Lloyd Hustvedt was born and raised in the Sogn Valley in Goodhue County, Minnesota. Hustvedt finished his B.A. degree at St. Olaf College with a major in Norwegian. Hustvedt received his M.A. degree...
Makers of an American Immigrant Legacy: Essays in Honor of Kenneth O. Bjork (Norwegian-American Historical Association, 2001)