Alfred G. Arvold was born at Whitewater, Wisconsin on January 15, 1882, son of Louis and Caroline Arvold.  After graduating from high school he attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison and received a B.A. degree in 1905.  After his graduation he taught school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin until 1907 when he was offered a faculty position at the North Dakota Agricultural College as an instructor in English and Oratory.  In 1914 at the NDAC he founded the Little Country Theater, "a country life laboratory which has become known throughout the world because of its work in country neighborhoods."  A.G. Arvold was also active in bringing world-renown entertainers to the NDAC campus; writing and producing plays and pageants across the state of North Dakota; developing the campus Public Programs series; and serving as Imperial Potentate of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.  Mr. Arvold was the subject of numerous national articles and was himself the author of numerous works, including Alfred ... In Every Man's Life (1957), The Little Country Theater (1923), The Little Country Theater, Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow (n.d.), Neighborhood Activities in Country Communities (1940), and Value of Public Speaking (191-).

On June 16, 1909 he married Mildred Mason Tolles at Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  They had two children, Alfred Mason and Mary Caroline.  In 1953 Alfred Arvold retired from the North Dakota Agricultural College and lived in Fargo until his death on April 16, 1957.  Mildred Arvold died February 15, 1975.  They are buried at Whitewater, Wisconsin. 
 

Alfred Arvold Papers  |  Personal and Family Papers