Gerhard Brandt Naeseth
Encyclopedia
Gerhard Brandt Naeseth was an American librarian and genealogist who specialized in the field of Norwegian-American immigration.
in 1913, the son of a Lutheran clergyman. As a young boy, he sought to follow in his father's footsteps, but an uncle recognized early on that Naeseth had more of the traits of a librarian
. The uncle turned out to be right and Naeseth eventually received degrees in history and library science. He worked as a professional librarian for three universities before retiring from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978, where he had been associate director.
Naeseth is most well known for his magnum opus
, Norwegian Immigrants to the United States: A Biographical Directory. For this work, Naeseth was awarded the Knight’s Cross, First Class, Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1978. The Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison, Wisconsin
is named in his honor. Naeseth was also the director and chief researcher of the Vesterheim Genealogical Center from 1974 to 1994, and after his death the research chair was named in his honor. Naeseth served as associate director of the libraries of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
from 1948 to 1978. He was also chairman of the Church Council of the American Lutheran Church
.
Naeseth founded the Vesterheim Genealogical Center in 1974, working out of a temporary office at the University of Wisconsin library in Madison and slowly acquiring a vast collection of resources. By charging for genealogical research and selling annual memberships, Naeseth built the center into the hub of Norwegian genealogical research in America. By the early 1990s the center had its own building and a staff of professional researchers. Naeseth never accepted a salary while he built the center, living instead off his retirement income.
Background and career
Naeseth was born in Valley City, North DakotaValley City, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,826 people, 2,996 households, and 1,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,062.5 per square mile . There were 3,250 housing units at an average density of 982.0 per square mile...
in 1913, the son of a Lutheran clergyman. As a young boy, he sought to follow in his father's footsteps, but an uncle recognized early on that Naeseth had more of the traits of a librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
. The uncle turned out to be right and Naeseth eventually received degrees in history and library science. He worked as a professional librarian for three universities before retiring from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1978, where he had been associate director.
Naeseth is most well known for his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, Norwegian Immigrants to the United States: A Biographical Directory. For this work, Naeseth was awarded the Knight’s Cross, First Class, Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1978. The Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library 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....
is named in his honor. Naeseth was also the director and chief researcher of the Vesterheim Genealogical Center from 1974 to 1994, and after his death the research chair was named in his honor. Naeseth served as associate director of the libraries of the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
from 1948 to 1978. He was also chairman of the Church Council of the American Lutheran Church
American Lutheran Church
The American Lutheran Church was a Christian Protestant denomination in the United States that existed from 1960 to 1987. Its headquarters was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Upon its formation in 1960, the ALC designated Augsburg Publishing House , also located in Minneapolis, as the church publisher...
.
Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library
Naeseth's genealogical work began in the mid-1950s at a family reunion in Minnesota, when he agreed to write up the history of the Naeseth-Fehn family. He self-published this work in 1956. Thirty years later he reworked and expanded it into two volumes and printed 150 copies. This work had gotten him interested in the 150 people who came to America on the same ship as his family. Eventually his project expanded to include the 18,000 Norwegian immigrants who came to America prior to the 1850 census. Naeseth completed the first of this five volume history of Norwegian immigrants to the United States in 1993. Subsequent volumes have been completed by Blaine Hedberg, Executive Director of the Norwegian-American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library.Naeseth founded the Vesterheim Genealogical Center in 1974, working out of a temporary office at the University of Wisconsin library in Madison and slowly acquiring a vast collection of resources. By charging for genealogical research and selling annual memberships, Naeseth built the center into the hub of Norwegian genealogical research in America. By the early 1990s the center had its own building and a staff of professional researchers. Naeseth never accepted a salary while he built the center, living instead off his retirement income.
Selected works
- Norwegian Settlements in the United States: A Review of Printed and Manuscript Sources for the Study of Norwegian Sources in America. Salt Lake City: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1969.
- Norwegian Immigrants to the United States: A Biographical Directory.
- Vol. 1: 1825-1843. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company, 1993.
- Vol. 2: 1844-1846. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company, 1997.
- Vol. 3: 1847-1848. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company, 2000.
- Vol. 4: 1849. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company, 2004.
- Vol. 5: 1850. Decorah, Iowa: Anundsen Publishing Company, 2006.