THE PAST TO THE PRESENT

  • October 19, 1905 — Daughters of Norway on the Pacific Coast (Valkyrien Lodge) started in Seattle with help from the Sons of Norway on the Pacific Coast (Leif Eriksen Lodge #1).
  • April 24, 1907 — the Seattle lodge became Valkyrien Lodge #1 when Embla Lodge #2 was founded in Tacoma, Washington.
  • February 20, 1908 — "Articles of Incorporation of the Daughters of Norway on the Pacific Coast, Seattle, Washington" were signed by ten women from Valkyrien, Embla, and Freya lodges and this was filed with the Secretary of State (recorded in Book 66, p. 593, Domestic Corporations, February 24, 1908, Certificate 338, Washington State).
  • 1909 — Many lodges of the Daughters of Norway participated in Norway Day at the Alaska, Yukon, and Pacific Exposition at the present site of the University of Washington main campus in Northeast Seattle, Washington.
  • 1918 — No Grand Lodge convention was held because of World War I and the efforts of the Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast to help the Red Cross.
  • 1926 — The Daughters of Norway on the Pacific Coast conventions became biennial.
  • July 1-2, 1932 — Valkyrien Lodge #1 hosted the 18th Convention.
  • 1935 — Valkyrien sponsored the formation of the Norwegian Ladies Chorus, directed by August & Matty Werner, in Seattle, Washington.
  • August 6-8, 1936 — The Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast Grand Lodge 20th Convention (hosted by Valkyrien Lodge #1 at the Olympic Hotel, Seattle, Washington) agreed to translate their Constitution and Ritual books into English and Valkyrien Lodge.
  • December15, 1936 — Inga Humlebek Frodesen of Valkyrien Lodge #1 started the Døtre av Norge newsletter (på norsk), which included the minutes of the Grand Lodge and activities of all the individual lodges.
  • June 1938 — Marie Berlund acted as temporary editor of Døtre av Norge while Inga Frodesen was in Norway.
  • 1939 — Haldis Baarstad of Valkyrien Lodge #1 became temporary editor of Døtre av Norge.
  • April 1940 — Germany invaded Norway and most DNPC lodges helped the Red Cross and other relief agencies during WWII.
  • June 1944 — Inga Humlebek Frodesen resumed editing Døtre av Norge.
  • July 7, 1944 — Daughters of Norway on the Pacific Coast participated in a tribute to occupied Norway (World War II) on Norway Day at Seattle's Victory Square where Martha Rogness's homemade two-sided (American/Norwegian) 24 foot by 30 foot flag was raised for the occasion,
  • 1945 — Tordis Hansen Nilsen Hovik received the King Haakon Freedom Medal for her work in the Norwegian Resistance during World War II.
  • 1946 — Thrine Johnson Pedersen received the King Haakon Freedom Medal for her relief work as Washington chairman gathering clothing for Norway throughout World War II.
  • 1946 — Inga Humlebek Frodesen received the St. Olaf Medal for her work in Washington showing films of Norway and donating the proceeds to Norwegian relief.
  • 1946 — Anne Marie Frodesen Steiner received King Christian X (Denmark) Freedom Medal for her service to Denmark and Norway while serving as USWAC in the OSS.
  • 1950 — The eastern Daughters of Norway formally merged with the Sons of Norway. Some of their lodges were disbanded and some became Sons of Norway lodges.
  • June 1950 — Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast conventions changed to the English language.
  • June 1950 — English supplemented Norsk in the newspaper Døtre av Norge.
  • June 1952 — Gunvor Bjerkeseth from Embla Lodge #2 became editor of Døtre av Norge.
  • July 20, 1956 — The DNPC convention changed the name of the corporation to "Daughters of Norway", sworn by Adelaine Sather, Grand Lodge President, and Helene Villesvik, Grand Lodge Secretary, amended Articles of Incorporation were filed with the State of Washington on August 29, 1956.
  • July 20, 1956 — Daughters of Norway convention created the Memorial Scholarship Fund with the initial scholarship amount being $300.
  • May 29, 1957 — Inge Humlebek Frodesen was awarded St. Olaf's Medal by Norway's King Haakon for raising $5000 for WWII Relief by showing films.
  • June 17, 1962 — Daughters of Norway participated in Norway Day at the Century 21 Exposition (Seattle World's Fair).
  • 1973 — Daughters of Norway quit issuing burial certificates to new members.
  • 1978 — Anne Marie Frodesen Steiner received St. Olav's Medal for service to the Seattle Norwegian community.
  • 1982 — Alice Ericksen of Valkyrien Lodge #1 became editor of Døtre av Norge.
  • 1983 — Gerd Bjerkeseth Michels from Breidablik Lodge #10 became editor of Døtre av Norge, after Alice Ericksen died suddenly.
  • October 28, 1983 — Five Washington lodges: Valkyrien, Embla, Breidablik, Camilla Collett, and Thelma, feted Princess Astrid and awarded an honorary membership in Daughters of Norway at a dinner at Norway Center while Louise Thomas was Grand Lodge President.
  • February 13, 1984 — Many Washington State lodges participated in the founding of the Norwegian 17th of May Committee in Seattle, Washingto.n
  • November 20, 1985 — Dagny Shervheim of Valkyrien Lodge #1 was awarded King Olav's Medal from Norway for her work in the Norwegian Community.
  • July 18-20, 1986 — Breidablik Lodge #10 sponsored the 45th Convention of the Grand Lodge and Valkyrien Lodge #1 contributed a Grayline Water Tour for the delegates.
  • March 1989 — The Grand Lodge gave its original charter to the Archives of the Mortvedt Library at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and Embla Lodge #2 placed their historic banner there.
  • June 24-27, 1992 — Valkyrien Lodge #1 hosted the 48th Grand Lodge Convention. Louise Thomas and Karin Scovill co-chaired the event at the University Plaza Hotel, Seattle. Susan Stamp became Grand Lodge President.
  • 1994 — Solveig Lodge #31 and Gina Krog Lodge #38 co-sponsored the 49th Grand Lodge Convention at the Double Tree Inn adjacent to South Center Mall and Sylvia Rogenes became Grand Lodge President.
  • December 1995 — Kathleen Young Nesseth and Carol Helene Pease, both from Valkyrien Lodge #1, became co-editors of Døtre av Norg.e
  • 1996 — Embla Lodge #2 hosted the 50th Grand Lodge Convention in Tacoma, Washington. Janet Ruud was acting president of the Grand Lodge, because of Sylvia Rogenes' illness and then was elected President of the Grand Lodge issuing in an era for renewed emphasis on the support for children's lodge programs.
  • November 1996 — Judge Sylvia Rogenes died of cancer at her home in California. Susan Stamp of Solheim Lodge #20 returned as Judge
  • September 1997 — Grand Lodge President Janet Ruud received a telegram of congratulations from Queen Sonja of Norway on the founding of Nina Grieg Lodge #40 in Poulsbo, Washington.
  • November 1997 — Laura Elizabeth Hansen of Valkyrien Lodge #1 joined the staff of Døtre av Norge while Carol Helene Pease worked in Norway for a year and Kathleen Nesseth became Managing Editor.
  • 1998 — Anna Kolbjørnsdatter Lodge #36 hosted the 51st Grand Lodge Convention in the Bay Area of California where Kay Aycock of Solveig Lodge #31 became Grand Lodge President.
  • July 13-16, 2000 — Sonja Henie Lodge #29 hosted the 52nd Grand Lodge Convention in Reno, Nevada, themed "Bringing Norway to the Old West" as Karen Scovill of Valkyrien Lodge #1 became Grand Lodge President and members learned the roll of Norwegian John A. "Snowshoe" Thompson in the founding of the American West.
  • October 2000 — Laura Elizabeth Hanson became Business Manager for Døtre av Norge. Kathleen Nesseth and Carol Pease resumed as co-editors.
  • April 2001 — The Grand Lodge website was publicly unveiled with a web page for each extant lodge.
  • July 2002 — Frida Hansen Lodge #37 hosted the 53rd Grand Lodge Convention in Portland, Oregon. The convention delegates and officers of the Grand Lodge sent a 70th birthday greeting to Honorary Member Princess Astrid of Norway. Joanne Mansfield of Frida Hansen Lodge became Grand Lodge President.
  • November 1, 2002 — The Daughters of Norway web site name changes to "daughtersofnorway.org" after a modern-day pirate takes the name "dofn.org".
  • July 2004 — Ester Moe Lodge #39 hosted the 54th Grand Lodge Convention ("Nordic Sails to Whidbey's Shores!") in Freeland, Washington as Tove Van Der Maas of Prillar Guri Lodge #30 was elected Grand Lodge President and Kathleen Nesseth announced her upcoming resignation as co-editor of the Døtre av Norge newspaper.
  • October 2004 — Carol Pease turns over the job of Webmaster for the Daughters of Norway website to Mary Ashley and Katie Allen, both of Sigrid Undset Lodge #32.
  • February 2005 — Announcement of the Døtre av Norge Newspaper Staff changes, showing Roberta K. Morrow as co-editor with Carol Pease while Laura Hanson continues as Business Manager [later that year both Carol Pease and Laura Hanson retired, and Roberta K. Morrow became editor (Sept.) and Sylvia Hamspon took over as interum Business Manager].
  • July 13-15, 2006 — 55th Grand Lodge Convention ("The Spirit of 100 Years") hosted by Valkyrien Lodge #1, in Lynnwood, Washington as Carol Kemp of Embla Lodge #2 is elected Grand Lodge President.
  • January 2007 — The new Daughters of Norway logo launched, replacing all other logos used prior to that date for newspaper, website, and Grand Lodge materials and Døtre av Norge changes slogan on their banner from "Preserve our Norwegian Heritage" to "Preserving our Norwegian Heritage" in order to match www.daughtersofnorway.org website and the 2007 Grand Lodge guideline handbook headings.
  • July 2008 — 56th Grand Lodge Centennial Convention ("Celebrating Our Future") hosted by Embla Lodge #2, Tacoma, Washington. Mary Knutson Sullivan of Frida Hansen Lodge #37 of Portland, Oregon is elected Grand Lodge President.
  • February 2010 — Roberta K. Morrow retires as editor of Døtre Av Norge. K. Cahill takes over as editor of this newsletter. Format changes from newspaper tabloid to news magazine format.
  • July 22 -24, 2010 — Ellen Hinds, of Nellie Gerdrum Lodge #41, is elected president of the Grand Lodge at It's A Small World – Preserve our Heritage Daughters of Norway Convention 2010, held in Costa Mesa, California. Turid Jespersen Lodge #44 hosted the event.
  1. 1 Blomvik, Kirsti Alette. Spring, 2002. Heritage, Sisterhood, and Self-Reliance: The Evolution and Significance of the Daughters of Norway, 1897 — 1950. Thesis, Department of English, Norwegian University of Science and Technology. 63 p.
  2. Note: Information courtesy of past webmaster, C. H. Pease (Valkyrien Lodge), & succeeding webmasters.