Librarian
About O.M. Norlie's Work
Norlie, Olaf Morgan, 1876–1962. Norsk Lutherske Menigheter i Amerika, 1843–1916. Minneapolis, Minn.: Augsburg Publishing House, 1918.
Olaf Morgan Norlie, better known as O.M. Norlie, was a pastor, scholar, and librarian whose life's work was studying Norwegians in America. His Norsk lutherske menigheter i Amerika, 1843–1916 (Norwegian Lutheran Congregations in America) is a compilation of information about more than 6,000 Norwegian Lutheran churches in America. It has been digitized by HathiTrust and is available online below.
Many scholars have found Norlie's work to be a treasure trove of historical and genealogical information — but it does help to have a working knowledge of Norwegian. Our guide, compiled by Augsburg Archivist Kristin M. Anderson, is intended to fill in the gaps for English speakers who want to access its content.
Terms Used in Church Names
Basic Place Names
| norsk | Norwegian |
| dansk | Danish |
| evangelisk | evangelical |
| lutherske | Lutheran |
| skandinavisk | Scandinavian |
| menighet | congregation |
| prækeplads | “preaching place” |
| kapel | chapel |
| skolehus | school (house) |
Congregations' Names
Common congregation names include geographic names (either in the U.S., like Granite Falls, or Norwegian place names, like Kviteseid) and names of saints. Some biblical or theological terms are used, and many are cognates. Common names needing translation include:
| Vor Frelsers | Our Saviors |
| Trefoldigheds | Trinity |
Congregation Name Changes
If the congregation has changed its name or originated in another congregation, this information is provided:
| fra xxxx til xxxx | from xxxx to xxxx |
| en del av | a part of |
| tilhører | belongs to |
Towns, Counties, States
After the church name, its location by town, county and state are supplied. If not located in a town, its distance and direction are noted.
| øst | east |
| vest | west |
| nord | north |
| syd | south |
Synod Names
The synodical affiliation of the congregation is given, including how that may have changed over time.
| Am | Antimissouri | Anti-Missourian Brotherhood |
| As | Augustana synode | Norwegian Danish Augustana Synod |
| Bs | Brodersamfundet | Lutheran Brethren |
| Dfk | Danske forenede kirke | Danish United Church |
| Es | Ellings synode | Eielsens Synod |
| Ff | Frikirke | Free Church |
| Fk | Forenede kirke | United Church |
| Gs | General Synod | General Synod |
| Hs | Hauges synode | Hauge Synod |
| Kf | Konferentsen | Norwegian Danish Conference |
| Is | Illinois synoden | The Illinois Synod |
| Lf | Lutherske frikirke | Lutheran Free Church |
| Ms | Missouri synoden | The Missouri Synod |
| Ni | Northern Illinois synoden | The Northern Illinois Synod |
| Ns | Norske synode | Norwegian Synod |
| Ut | Utenom | Unaffiliated, but often served by pastors of the other groups, whose affiliation is listed in parentheses |
Church Dates and Divisions
Date of organization and information about divisions
| organisert/reorganisert | organized/re-organized |
| opløst | dissolved |
| begyndt | began |
| sluttet | closed |
| splittet | split |
| delt | divided |
| paa grund av distance | on grounds of (= "because of") distance |
| paa grund av for lang kirkevei | on grounds of a long distance to church |
| paa grund av utflytning til en anden del av byen som hindret almindelig deltagelse i menighetsarbeidet | on grounds of departure to another part of the city, which hindered common participation in the congregation’s life |
| paa grund av valg av kirketomt | on grounds of choice of church site |
| paa grund av at menigheten var for vidtspredt | on grounds that the congregation was too widespread |
| paa grund av det engelske arbeide | on grounds of the English work |
| paa grund av at man fandt det mere tjenligt | on grounds that it was found more useful |
| paa grund av uenighet | on grounds of disagreement |
| paa grund av uenighet mellom prest og menighet | on grounds of disagreement between the pastor and the congregation |
| paa grund av at en del vilde ha presteskjole, en anden ikke | on grounds that one part wanted clerical vestments and the other part did not |
| paa grund av anklager mot menighetens daværende prest | on grounds of accusations against the congregation’s then-minister |
| paa grund av indbyrdes strid | on grounds of internal strife |
| paa grund av kirkepolitik | on grounds of church politics |
| paa grund av forskjellig opfatning av spørsmaalet om verdens retfærdiggjorørelse, slaveri, søndagen osv. | on grounds of difficult judgments over the question of the world’s justification, slavery, the Sabbath, etc. |
| paa grund av naadevalgstriden | on grounds of the Predestination controversy |
| paa grund av slaverispørsmaalet | on grounds of the slavery question |
| paa grund av slaveristriden | on grounds of disagreement over slavery |
| paa grund av spørsmaal om kaldelse av prest enten fra Konferentsen, Synoden eller Anitmissouri | on grounds of a question whether to call a pastor from the Norwegian-Danish Conference, the Norwegian Synod, or the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood |
| paa grund av at en del fremdeles vilde støtte Augsburg Seminar og andre den ny oprettede presteskole i Den forenede kirke | on grounds that some would still support Augsburg Seminary and others (would support) the newly established seminary in the United Church |
| paa grund av Augsburgstriden | on grounds of strife over Augsburg Seminary |
| paa grund av Den forenedes kirkes beslutning om at oprette ny presteskole istedenfor at understøtte Augsburg seminarium som efter foreningsartiklerne var Den forenede kirkes presteskole | on grounds of the United Church’s decision to establish a new seminary instead of supporting Augsburg Seminary, which was the United Church’s seminary according to the merger articles |
Church Membership
Membership
| sjæle | souls |
| svensker | Swedes |
| tyskere | Germans |
| dansker | Danes |
| amerikanere | Americans |
| engelsker (sometimes “Yankees”) | English (-speakers) |
| irlændere | Irish |
| ikke-norsker | Non-Norwegians |
Pastors
List of pastors serving congregation:
| Prester | pastors |
Church Officials
Followed by Officials
| Embedsmænd | Church officials | |
| A | formand | chair |
| B | sekretær | secretary |
| C | kasserer | treasurer |
| D | diakoner | deacons |
| E | trustees | trustees |
| F | klokker | precentor, who led the music and readings |
| G | fast skolærer | parochial school teacher |
| H | søndagsskole-superintendent | Sunday school superintendent |
Followed by Activities
This list is followed by a list of church activities, including (at times) the date of establishment, size of yearly offering, etc.
| Kvindeforening | Ladies Aid |
| Pikeforening | Young Ladies Society |
| Ungdomsforening | Young Peoples Society |
| Mandsforening | Men’s Club/society |
| Sangforening | Choir |
Church Fundraising
Contributions to Church Causes
| Menighetsskolen | Parochial society |
| Samfundskoler | Schools of the church body |
| Missionen | Missions |
| Indremissionen | Home missions |
| Barmhjertighetsanstalter | Institutions of mercy |
Salaries
Salaries, staff and facilities, including size, costs, and pertinent years are included:
| kirke | church |
| prestehus | parsonage |
| presteløn | pastor’s salary |
| gravplads | cemetery |
| kirketjener | janitor, caretaker |
| lærerløn | teacher’s salary |
| janitorbolig | custodian’s residence |
Other Common Norwegian Phrases
Various Terms Used in the Entries
| osv. (=og saa videre) | and so on (etc.) |
| og andre | and others |
| sammen med | together with |
| nogle | some |
About Our Guide
Compiled by Kristin Anderson, Augsburg College Archives