The Daughters of Norway

Founded in Minneapolis in 1897, the Daughters of Norway grew into the largest secular organization of Norwegian American women in the country.

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Editor: Britt Aamodt

Producer: Faaya Adem

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood
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Transcript

Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

[SFX: women speaking]

In 1897, the Daughters of Norway was founded in Minneapolis. It grew into the largest secular organization of Norwegian American women in the country. Twice a month, the “sisters”, following strict rituals, gathered at their local lodge.

For them, the lodge was a cultural anchor. They sang, sewed, and performed drill routines in parades and competitions.

[SFX: Sewing machine]

But their work extended beyond tradition. In exchange for dues, the Daughters provided insurance for burial costs or to support members too sick to work. Most sisters were domestic workers, seamstresses, and laundresses. This provided some economic security for these single, working-class women with little to no safety net.

The Daughters of Norway reached its height in 1927, with more than 5,550 members across seventy-two lodges, guided from their head lodge in Minneapolis. But as immigration slowed after the 1920s, membership declined. The Daughters of Norway merged with the Sons of Norway in 1950. Members discussed changing the name of the Sons of Norway to reflect the merger, but that change never came.

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