Roots and Relationships: Influences on Every Norwegian American
The Hougen Heritage Society invites you to a Symposium celebrating the 165th anniversary of Jens and Kirsten Hougen’s immigration from Norway.
Sponsored by the Hougen Heritage Society; University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+; and the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library.
Discovering your roots as a Norwegian American goes beyond your immediate genealogical chart. You must consider the deeper roots of who you are, your values and ethics. What were the values and culture of Norway that the immigrants brought with them and how did they change once they came to America and impacted us as Norwegian Americans? How did Norway inspire us during WWII and shaped our concept of courage as Norwegian Americans?
The Thursday evening portion of the Symposium features “Nordahl Grieg: Icon of the Norwegian Resistance.” Professor Dean Krouk will describe the writings of the man who helped inspire the resistance during WWII, heralded by President Franklin Roosevelt and all Norwegian Americans for its daring courage fighting fascism. Dean Krouk is Associate Professor of Scandinavian Studies.
The Symposium is dedicated to Professor Olaf Andreas Hougen — and his close friends and UW colleagues, Dr. Gerhard Naeseth and Professor Harold Naess. These three giants in the Norwegian American community impacted Madison, the U.S and Norway with their life-long commitment to disseminating knowledge, culture and appreciation of Norway and Norwegian Americans.