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Title: Nielson Family
Dates: 1914-1950
Collection Number: 00117
Quantity: 378 items
Abstract: Images of the Nielson family of Valley City (ND) and of World War I and its aftermath.
Provenance: The State Historical Society of North Dakota acquired the Nielson Family papers from James Nielson in April 2001. The photographs were separated from MSS 10107
Copyrights: Copyrights to materials in this collection remain with the donor, publisher, author, or author's heirs. Researcher should consult the 1976 Copyright Act, Public Law 94‑553, Title 17 U.S. Code and an archivist at this repository if clarification of copyright requirements is needed.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the collection title, collection name, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Related Collection:
MSS 10107
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The Nielson Family was among the earliest settlers of the Valley City area of Barnes County, Dakota Territory. Having sold his hardware merchandise store in Jackson, Michigan, Wylie Nielson moved his wife and three children to Dakota's northern plains in 1880. Upon arrival, the Scotsman established an agricultural supplies store with one James Baille. This enterprise proved successful, as it outlived both men. Wylie Nielson lived in Valley City for nearly fifty years and died at his home on October 14, 1928. His wife, Mary, with whom he had been married nearly 50 years, died in 1927. Wylie Nielson's most lasting legacy however, was not his business nor his pioneering effort in Barnes County; rather, it was his children, and in particular his daughters, in whom dwelt much of the same spirit their father had exhibited.
Minnie Jean and Hazel Nielson were quite young when they arrived with their parents in Valley City. Both were schooled there, as was their brother John. Minnie Jean and Hazel both taught elementary and secondary education in rural Barnes County, the former later teaching at Valley City High School. To the end of their lives, education was a passion of both women and prompted them to take active roles in the formation of North Dakota policies with regard to the profession. Indeed, in 1918, Minnie Jean ran and was elected to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and served until 1927 when friend Bertha Palmer was elected to the same post. After her time as Superintendent of Public Instruction, Minnie Jean served as director of the Teachers' Insurance and Retirement Fund, serving in that stead from 1938 to 1950. Hazel is best remembered for her work as Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction under her sister Minnie, and as president of the American Legion Auxiliary. Both women were actively involved in a myriad of women's clubs such as Pioneer Mothers, PEO, North Dakota Federation of Women’s Clubs, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Among the more unusual endeavors of Hazel was her work with the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during 1917-1918. From her letters and postcards, it appears Hazel was involved in something akin to USO. Neither Minnie Jean nor Hazel ever married. Hazel died on July 10, 1957, and Minnie Jean on February 27, 1958. Their brother John passed away February 19, 1946 at the age of seventy.
Minnie Jean and Hazel Nielson were unique women for their time. Active and outgoing, not to mention single, the two stood in stark contrast to the Catherine Beecher ideal of female domesticity. Minnie Jean, for instance, was elected to the post of Superintendent of Public Instruction when few women were involved in politics. Even more remarkable, she was elected as the only candidate not supported by the Nonpartisan League in the 1918 election when the NPL made an otherwise clean sweep. Both women, as pointed out, were active in various organizations too. This was less remarkable for women however, as female involvement in clubs and reform groups had become quite acceptable in the wake of the Second Great Awakening nearly a century before. Their leadership in them, however, was to strengthen each club and organization in which they were involved. The same can be said for their service to the state of North Dakota.
PHOTOGRAPHS INVENTORY
00117-001 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-002 Rev. Nugent family of Valley City (ND)
00117-003 Minnie Nielson in front seat of automobile adorned with flags in parade
00117-004 Minnie Nielson and Hazel B. Nielson seated at table
00117-005 Minnie Nielson
00117-006 Hazel B. Nielson and Minnie Nielson outside Northern Pacific Depot, Bismarck (ND)
00117-007 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-008 Elks Building, Valley City (ND)
00117-009 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-010 James Whitcomb Reley, James Whitcomb, State School Inspector
00117-011 Edith Stowell, school teacher in Valley City (ND)
00117-012 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-013 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-014 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-015 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-016 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-017 Nielson home in Valley City (ND)
00117-018 Mrs. James Nielson and Miss Dora Large
00117-019 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-020 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-021 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-022 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-023 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-024 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-025 Hazel B. Nielson
00117-026 Mrs. Wylie Nielson
00117-027 Minnie Nielson with group of women
00117-028 Kenneth McFarland, his mother, daughter and granddaughter
00117-030 Mr. and Mrs. Wylie Nielson, Wylie
00117-031 Minnie Nielson on sled
00117-032 Minnie Jean Nielson portrait
00117-034 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-035 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-036 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-037 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-038 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-039 Governor and Mrs. Fred G. Aandahl
00117-040 G. W. Hanna, Mrs. Winifred Benson, D. W. Clark, Dr. Max Moore, Olson, Herman Stern, Dr. Pray, Huett, Connally
00117-041 Mrs. A. L. Altinger and May Baillie
00117-042 Edna Dabl, second grade teacher at Valley City (ND) 1950
00117-047 Wylie Nielson group
00117-048 Mrs. Wylie Nielson
00117-049 Mrs. Wylie Nielson
00117-050 Edith Pemne at the Donald Hotel-Riviera
00117-051 Fortnightly Study Club, Crosby (ND)
00117-052 Ida Lee Prokop signs her name at the bottom of a sign for Prairie Studio compositions of feathers and natural grasses 1946
00117-053 Bessie Lenvig
00117-054 Billie and Margaret Smith
00117-055 Aerial view of farm ca. 1940
00117-056 Aerial view of Peter Hansen farm 1940
00117-057 Aerial view of Emil Schermer farm 1940
00117-058 Aerial view of Jack Heimes farm 1940
00117-059 Valley City (ND) Armory burning 1914-1918
00117-060 Valley City (ND) Armory burning 1914-1918
00117-061 Valley City (ND) Armory burning 1914-1918
00117-062 Valley City (ND) Drug Store remodeling 1949
00117-064 First Cabin built Fort Totten (ND)
00117-065 Mrs. A. M. Powell of Devils Lake (ND) 1948
00117-066 Girl on a toboggan
00117-067 Group by car
00117-068 Young men studying or working in dorm or home interior
00117-071 Man on horse at Valley City celebration
00117-073 Children on toboggan
00117-075 Dakota Press Women
00117-076 Native Americans and horses Fort Totten (ND) post card
00117-077 Lodge International Peace Garden post card
00117-078 Watford City (ND) High School post card
00117-079 Bridge and river view, Sanish (ND) post card
00117-080 Red River cart post card
00117-081 Fort Lincoln post card
00117-082 Gatling gun battery, Fort Lincoln, (DT) post card
00117-083 Fort Lincoln post card
00117-084 Fort Lincoln, Bismarck (ND)
00117-087 Bison herd post card
00117-088 Bison herd by river post card
00117-089 Bison herd post card
00117-090 Bison
00117-092 Indians dancing
00117-093 Block house, Fort Lincoln, (DT)
00117-095 Harvesting on a ten mile field color post card
00117-096 Cedar Canyon from U.S. Highway No. 10 N.D. Badlands color post card
00117-097 Auditorium at Chautauqua, Valley City (ND) post card
00117-098 Hotel Gardner, Fargo, N. Dak. Color post card
00117-099 Northern Pacific High Line, Valley City, N. Dak. post card
00117-100 Members of Mercer Woman's Study Club: Miss Schnell, Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mae Washburn, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Margaret Wicklande, Mrs. Urban, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. J. B. Peterson, Mrs. Over 1940
00117-101 Members of Mercer Woman's Study Club: Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Miss Schnell, Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. Urban, Margaret Wicklande, Mae Washburn, Mrs. J. B. Peterson 1940
00117-102 Member of Mercer Woman's Study Club” Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Miss Schnell, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mae Washburn, Margaret Wicklande, Mrs. Urban, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. J. B. Peterson 1940
00117-103 Member of Mercer Woman's Study Club: Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Miss Schnell, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mae Washburn, Margaret Wicklande, Mrs. Urban, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. J. B. Peterson 1940
00117-104 Member of Mercer Woman's Study Club” Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Miss Schnell, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mae Washburn, Margaret Wicklande, Mrs. Urban, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. J. B. Peterson 1940
00117-105 Members of Mercer Woman's Study Club: Miss Schnell, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. J. B. Peterson, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg,
Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. Urban, Mae Washburn, 1940
00117-106 Member of Mercer of Woman's Study Club: Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Ray Nielson, Miss Schnell, Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. Sidney Nelson,
Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mae Washburn, Mrs. Urban, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. J. B. Peterson 1940
00117-107 Member of Mercer of Woman's Study Club: Mrs. Ray Nielson, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. B. C. Hjelle, Miss Schnell, Mrs. F. O. Freeberg, Mrs. H. L. Mattson, Mrs. Sidney Nelson, Mrs. Conrad Freeberg, Mrs. R. W. Redington, Mrs. Archie Kline, Mrs. Urban, Mae Washburn, Mrs. J. B. Peterson, Mrs. Sidney Nelson 1940
00117-108 Thanksgiving: May Baille, Jim Nielson, Mr, Strong, Sr., Mr. Schilling, Mother, Rob Baille, Annie, Hazel, Georgie’s head, Aunt Jennie, Uncle Robert, Elizabeth Baille Strong, Papa, John Gordon Strong in arms, John Strong 1940
00117-113 – 120 Glacier National Park, Going to the Sun camp
00117-125 Harbor at Cette on the Mediterranean Sea post card
00117-126 First Presbyterian Church, San Luis Obispo, Cal. post card 1916
00117-129 – 135 Mary Alice Nielson in her wedding dress
00117-170 – 171 hunting party with tents and geese
00117-172 In the garden September 4, 1917 the day before the Grand Departure for the 2nd A.E.F.
00117-186 Koblenz
00117-187 Taken in my classroom by one of the H.S. boys 1944
00117-198 Two people in canoe at sunset on Lake Bemidji
00117-199 Canoeing
00117-200 On the beach
00117-279 Toulouse June 1919
00117-287 Toulouse June 1919
00117-317 Replica of the Statue of Liberty on the Isle aux Cygnes, France
00117-318 Eiffel Tower
00117-341 Four women by ship “Bismarck’ at Mantz for trip up Rhine
00117-342 Along the Rhine
00117-343 Vineyard along the Rhine
00117-344 From hotel at Montreaux
00117-345 Cemetery at Chateau Thiery
00117-346 Napoleon’s tomb, Paris
00117-347 From train going through Switzerland
00117-358 Washington Monument from Tidal Basin
00117-359 Washington Monument from Tidal Basin
00117-360 Statue of Liberty
00117-365 – 368 Mary Alice Nielson’s wedding
00117-369 Charles M. Russell etching of Medora post card
00117-375 – 377 color slides
00117-00379 Etta M. Griggs circa 1890
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