S. A. Olsness

Sveinung Anundsen Olsness was born February 7, 1866 at Vinje, Telemark, Norway on the farm of Olsness near the shores of the great mountain lake, Totak.  After a limited education in Norway, and not being able to afford more, S.A.-decided to emigrate to America with two uncles. He arrived in the spring of 1886 at Sheyenne, N.D. and spent his first years here doing farm labor and working with the railroad crews. S.A., careful with money, purchased a quarter section of land 4 miles west of the town of Sheyenne, North Dakota in partnership with his brother Aslak.  Appointment to a clerkship in the 1897 session of the Legislature was his first introduction to politics. In 1914 Gov. L.B. Hanna appointed S.A. to a delegation to go to Norway to present a statue of Abraham Lincoln. In June 1916 S.A. was nominated to be a candidate for Insurance Commissioner of North Dakota. He was one of the originators of the Nonpartisan League. He served the state as Insurance Commissioner from his election in Nov. 1916 untilhis defeat by the Langerites in 1934.  S.A. remained active in politics the remainder of his life and often wrote to newspapers and magazines to express his views.  He died May 19, 1954.

The Olsness collection consists of correspondence, diaries, some financial records and various subject files. The correspondence is arranged chronologically, and contains both incoming and outgoing letters mainly during his years as Insurance Commissioner. The most complete years are 1917 through 1935.  The diaries cover mainly the latter half of Mr. Olsness' career. The 1897 diary is quite incomplete and includes various financial notes. The 1902-1903, 1907 diaries are from his two trips back to Norway and are a combination of Norwegian and English. The diaries beginning in 1925 and ending in 1954are quite complete and are in English. They record daily events and have some financial notes. The financial records are very scattered and include those of his brother Aslak and uncle Sven Aslakson.  Finally there is a typed biography of Olsness. 
 

Photograph Collection

Politics and Government