ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

OSCAR LUNSETH PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #372

DATES: 1917-1972, Bulk Dates: 1940-1970

SIZE: 15 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Oscar Lunseth Papers were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection in 1976. The acquisition records are unavailable. A signed certificate of gift was received from John Lunseth, Cambridge, Minnesota, on January 12, 1987.

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Oscar Lunseth was born August 14, 1894, in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He was the son of John and Caroline (Olsen) Lunseth. His father came to Grand Forks in 1887, and served as the City Superintendent of Water Works. Oscar Lunseth attended public schools in Grand Forks.

Lunseth joined the United States Navy during World War I, enlisting at Grand Forks on December 10, 1917. He served at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois until his discharge on May 6, 1919. During his time in the Navy, he served as a Fireman Third Class, Plumber and Fitter, Water Tender and Chief Water Tender.

Following the war, Lunseth returned to Grand Forks and a position with Dakota Plumbing and Heating. He first began working for this company in 1912. He worked for Dakota Plumbing and Heating for over twenty-three years, leaving in 1935.

In July of that year, Lunseth his brother Rasmus founded Lunseth Plumbing and Heating. Located at 135 South Third Street, the firm specialized in "boilers-stokers-oil burners-air conditioners-water softeners-farm water systems." Oscar Lunseth served as vice president and secretary of the company until his death in 1976.

Lunseth was active in Grand Forks city government, serving as City Alderman from 1940-1952, and mayor from 1952-1960. On a statewide level, he was especially concerned about the issue of water conservation. He was a member of the North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission from 1951-1965, and served as director of the Missouri-Souris River Water Project Association. He also served on the Red River Planning Committee and the North Dakota Reclamation Association. He was honored by the Sertoma Club in 1975 with the "Service to Mankind Award." He was chosen for the award due to "his pioneering work in the field of water conservation and purity." He was a member of the American Legion, the Sons of Norway, the Elks and United Lutheran Church. He was active in the North Dakota State Association of Master Plumbers, serving as both President and Secretary.

He married Sophia Bergetta Bentley on December 31, 1921, in Twin Valley, Minnesota. The couple had three children: John, Lois and Louanna.

Oscar Lunseth died on February 23, 1976, in Grand Forks.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Oscar Lunseth Papers are divided into four series as follows:

SERIES I: Water Materials
This series consists of correspondence, minutes, hearing reports, newsletters and related materials concerning various water-related agencies both public and private. Material from the North Dakota Water Conservation Commission comprises the bulk of this series. The materials are arranged alphabetically by agency and date from 1940-1974. Box 1, Folder 1 - Box 6, Folder 15

SERIES II: Grand Forks City Material
Correspondence, proceedings of the City Council, reports, city ordinances, and department files from Oscar Lunseth's tenure as a Grand Forks city official. The files are arranged alphabetically and cover the years 1934-1975. Box 7, Folder 1 - Box 10, Folder 25

SERIES III: Personal Material
Correspondence, personal files, and financial and business materials relating to Oscar Lunseth. The materials are arranged alphabetically and range from 1934 to 1963. Box 11, Folder 1 - Box 11, Folder 23

SERIES IV: Newspapers and Miscellaneous
Series IV contains newspaper clippings covering the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, water related subject and personal events. Also included are files containing general miscellaneous material from 1942-1960. Box 12, Folder 1 - Box 12, Folder 9

29 photographs were separated and placed in the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection. See the Separations Record (below) for details.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY

SERIES I: Water Material
Box 1
Folder

  1. Congressional Bills - water-related.
  2. Eastern N.D. Water Development Association - correspondence.
  3. Eastern N.D. Water Development Association - reports, information, minutes, resolutions.
  4. Garrison Dam - reports, information, correspondence
  5. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - correspondence
  6. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - minutes and resolutions
  7. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports and information 1960-1974
  8. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports and information 1957-1959
  9. Garrison Diversion Conservancy District - reports and information 1952-1956
  10. Grand Forks Dike and related - correspondence
  11. Grand Forks pike and related - reports and information-river reading
  12. Greater N.D. Association - correspondence
  13. Greater N.D. Association - reports and information
  14. Hydroelectric material
  15. Jamestown Dam - reports and information
  16. Minnesota Miscellaneous
  17. Miscellaneous material from Illinois, Idaho, Montana, Estevan (Sask)

Box 2
Folder

  1. Miscellaneous water-related materials 1955-1966
  2. Miscellaneous water-related materials 1946-1954
  3. Miscellaneous water-related materials 1944-1945
  4. Miscellaneous water-related materials 1940 and undated
  5. Mississippi Valley Association - miscellaneous materials
  6. Missouri Basin Inter-Agency Committee - reports, correspondence, and meetings.
  7. Missouri-Souris Projects Association - correspondence
  8. Missouri-Souris Projects Association - minutes and resolutions
  9. Missouri-Souris Projects Association - reports and information 1953-1958
  10. Missouri-Souris Projects Association- Reports and information 1946-1952
  11. National Reclamation Association (Bureau of Reclamation) - correspondence meetings, addresses at meetings, and resolutions
  12. National Reclamation Association - reports and information 1955-1961
  13. National Reclamation Association - reports and information 1947-1953
  14. National Reclamation Association - reports and information 1944-1946 and undated.

Box 3
Folder

  1. National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters and miscellaneous, Feb. 1955-Nov. 1958
  2. National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters and miscellaneous, July 1953-Jan. 1955
  3. National Water Conservation Conference - newsletters and miscellaneous, Nov. 1944-May 1953
  4. North Dakota Reclamation Association - correspondence
  5. North Dakota Reclamation Association - meetings and resolutions
  6. North Dakota Reclamation Association - reports and information

North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission

  1. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Jan. 3, 1964-Feb. 5, 1968
  2. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Jan. 3, 1962-Dec. 18, 1963
  3. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Jan. 18, 1960-Dec. 11, 1961
  4. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Jan. 6, 1958-Nov. 18, 1959
  5. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission Jan. 4, 1957-Dec. 28, 1957
  6. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission Jan. 24, 1956-Dec. 22, 1956
  7. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission Jan. 2?, 1954-Dec. 28, 1954
  8. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission Jan. 4, 1945-Dec. 30, 1953
  9. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Undated
  10. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - Aug. 5, 1964
  11. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - memos undated
  12. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - agenda Feb. 1964-June 1965

Box 4
Folder

  1. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - minutes of meetings- agenda Jan. 1963-Dec. 1963
  2. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1962-Dec. 1962
  3. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Feb. 1962-Dec. 1961
  4. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1960-Dec. 1960
  5. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1958-Oct. 1959
  6. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1957-Dec. 1957
  7. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1956-Dec. 1956
  8. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1955-Nov. 1955
  9. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda Jan. 1953-Dec. 1954
  10. North Dakota State Water Conservation agenda May 1951-Dec. 1952
  11. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Jan. 1962- April 1965
  12. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Jan. 1960- Dec. 1961
  13. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations Feb. 1956- Dec. 1959
  14. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission of appropriations April 1951-Dec. 1955

Box 5
Folder

  1. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, Aug. 1952- Feb. 1971
  2. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, 1950-1951
  3. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - news bulletins, undated.
  4. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1964-1966
  5. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1963
  6. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1959-1962
  7. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information 1955-1958
  8. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information Nov. 1942-Jan. 1955
  9. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - reports, bills, information undated.
  10. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - resolutions, April 1945- April 1965
  11. North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission - resolutions undated.
  12. North Dakota State Water Conservation statements
  13. North Dakota State Water Conservation water-rights material

Box 6
Folder

  1. North Dakota Water Users Association - correspondence
  2. North Dakota Water Users Association - minutes, resolutions, budgets
  3. North Dakota Water Users Association - reports and information 1964-1971
  4. North Dakota Water Users Association - reports and information 1958-1963
  5. Pembina River Flood Control Association - correspondence
  6. Pembina River Flood Control Association - reports and information
  7. Red Lake River Development Association - correspondence
  8. Red Lake River Development Association - minutes, resolutions
  9. Red Lake River Development Association - reports and information
  10. Red River Basin Planning Committee - correspondence
  11. Red River Basin Planning Committee - minutes, resolutions
  12. Red River Basin Planning Committee - reports and information
  13. South Dakota Coordinating Committee for Missouri Basin Development- minutes, reports Feb. 1952-May 1954
  14. Upper Colorado River Commission - miscellaneous
  15. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - statements, information

SERIES II: Grand Forks City Material
Box 7
Folder

  1. Grand Forks Air Force Base - miscellaneous
  2. Grand Forks International Airport - Jan. 1957-June 1959
  3. Airport - July 1943-Dec. 1956 - miscellaneous
  4. Armory Auditorium 1937-1958
  5. Attorney - correspondence May 8, 1946-May 13, 1960
  6. Auditor - 1940-1975
  7. Bacon vs. City
  8. Board of City Commissioners - committees (see also City Council Committees)
  9. Bridges, Highways, and “New Airport” material - reports, information meetings, 1956-1962
  10. Bridges, Highways, and “New Airport” material - reports, information meetings, 1956-1962
  11. Budgets - 1955-1959
  12. Budgets - 1934-1955
  13. Chamber of Commerce - miscellaneous
  14. City Civil Service and Pensions
  15. City Council Committees - correspondence
  16. City Council Committee materials - salary committee and miscellaneous
  17. City Council - miscellaneous
  18. City Council - Revised Ordinances of 1948
  19. City Council - ordinances
  20. City Council - ordinances

Box 8
Folder

  1. City Council - proceedings Jan. 4, 1960-April 18, 1960
  2. City Council - proceedings July 6, 1959-Dec. 21, 1959
  3. City Council - proceedings Jan. 5, 1959-June 30, 1959
  4. City Council - proceedings Jan. 6, 1958-Dec. 15, 1958
  5. City Council - proceedings March 4, 1957-Dec. 18, 1957
  6. City Council - proceedings Jan. 3, 1955-May, 1956
  7. City Council - proceedings Feb. 4, 1952-Feb. 23, 1953
  8. City Council - proceedings Jan. 5, 1942-Oct. 18, 1943
  9. City Council - proceedings July 8, 1940-Dec. 15, 1941
  10. City Council - reports on examination June 30, 1955 and June 30, 1957
  11. City Council - report on examination June 30, 1958 and June 30, 1959
  12. Dakota Plumbing and Heating - annual reports 1924-1934
  13. Engineering Dept. - Sept. 1940-Sept. 1959
  14. Fire Department - May 1940-Jan. 1960
  15. Health Dept. - miscellaneous

Box 9
Folder

  1. League of North Dakota Municipalities - bulletins 1956-1959
  2. League of North Dakota Municipalities - bulletins 1952-1953
  3. League of North Dakota Municipalities - correspondence, resolutions, bills, speeches, conventions, and miscellaneous
  4. League of North Dakota Municipalities - municipal officers conference and taxes 1952, 1958, and 1960
  5. City Manager - correspondence April 25, 1953-Dec. 4, 1962
  6. City Manager - “Monday's News” July 16, 1954-Dept. 15, 1958
  7. City Manager - undated and miscellaneous
  8. Mayor's Office - correspondence 1958-1960
  9. Mayor's Office - correspondence 1956-1957
  10. Mayor's Office - correspondence 1954-1955
  11. Mayor's Office - correspondence 1940-1953 and undated.
  12. Mayor's Office - date books 1954-1958
  13. Mayor's Office - proclamations
  14. Mayor and City Council - voucher lists
  15. Miscellaneous material - 1954-1972.
  16. Miscellaneous material - 1939-1953
  17. Miscellaneous material - undated

Box 10
Folder

  1. Parking - March 2, 1954-July 8, 1959, 1961
  2. Petitions to change Government
  3. Planning Commission - Feb. 1958-Jan. 1960
  4. Planning Commission - 1948-1957
  5. Police Dept. - 1943-1960
  6. Recognition Night - correspondence and related materials.
  7. Sewage Dept. - correspondence and related material 1959-1960
  8. Sewage Dept. - correspondence and related materials 1956-1958
  9. Sewage Dept. - correspondence and related material 1940-1942
  10. Sewage Dept. - undated material
  11. Sewage Treatment Plant - statements June 1940-July 1944
  12. Street Dept. - August, 1957-Aug. 1959
  13. Street Lighting Systems
  14. Tax Proposals and Information - Mill Levies
  15. Township and Zoning Commission (see also Planning Commission)
  16. Treasurer - 1941-1959 (see also Auditor)
  17. University of North Dakota - 1953-1971
  18. Waterworks and Water Dept. - correspondence and related material- Jan. 1957- March 1960
  19. Waterworks and Water Dept. - correspondence, related material 1955-1956
  20. Waterworks and Water Dept. - Engineering Reports 1956
  21. Waterworks and Water Dept. - contracts 1956
  22. Waterworks and Water Dept. - correspondence and related material 1939-1954
  23. Waterworks and Water Dept. - monthly reports - 1940
  24. Waterworks and Water Dept. - undated and miscellaneous
  25. Welfare Ticket - 1933-1935

SERIES III: Personal Material
Box 11
Folder

  1. American Legion
  2. Correspondence - personal 1961-1975
  3. Correspondence - personal 1951-1960
  4. Correspondence - personal 1934-1950
  5. Correspondence - personal undated
  6. Financial Materials 1952-1974
  7. Financial Materials 1917-1950
  8. Freemasonry
  9. Membership Cards
  10. Miscellaneous
  11. North Dakota Association - soil-conservation districts, Resources Council, and Industrial Development
  12. North Dakota State and County Fair Association - correspondence
  13. North Dakota State and County Fair Association - minutes, resolutions, and court cases
  14. North Dakota State and County Fair - reports and information
  15. Plumbing and Heating Company - information, reports, and Licences
  16. Plumbing and Heating Company - correspondence and meetings
  17. Religious material
  18. Rotary Club - correspondence, conventions, pamphlets, general information
  19. Rotary Club - weekly bulletins Nov. 3, 1961-Dec. 26, 1963
  20. Rotary Club - weekly bulletins Aug. 20, 1954-Oct. 27, 1961
  21. Scandinavian Material - American Scandinavian Foundation
  22. Scandinavian Material - Sons of Norway and Miscellaneous
  23. University of North Dakota

SERIES IV: Newspapers and Miscellaneous
Box 12
Folder

  1. Grand Forks city clips
  2. Grand Forks city clips
  3. Grand Forks city clips
  4. Grand Forks city clips
  5. General North Dakota clips
  6. Personal clips
  7. Water related clips
  8. General miscellaneous material - 1955-1960
  9. General miscellaneous material - 1942-1954 and undated

SEPARATIONS RECORD

29 pictures were separated and added to the Orin G. Libby Photograph Collection

OGL#372-1 Unidentified, undated musical at UND
OGL#372-2 (duplicate)
OGL#372-3
OGL#372-4 Intake pipe, Water Works: August 28, 1910
OGL#372-5 (duplicate)
OGL#372-6 (duplicate)
OGL#372-7 Red River, Grand Forks North Dakota: undated
OGL#372-8 (duplicate)
OGL#372-9 (duplicate)
OGL#372-10 North Dakota officials meeting with Senator Milton Young and Assistant Secretary of the Interior Fred Aandahl: undated
OGL#372-11 Unidentified group
OGL#372-12 Monument: "North Dakota's Oldest Concrete Pavement"
OGL#372-13 Gordon Caldis, Marlin Obie, Bill Micklin, Leonard Egstrom, Dale Cox, Lyle Anderson, Oscar Lunseth: March 14, 1962
OGL#372-14 Unidentified Grand Forks street scene
OGL#372-15 Grand Forks Builders & Traders: Old Timers Night, May 2, 1972 (group picture)
OGL#372-16 First State Plumbing Board, July 1, 1941: L.G. Hanson, J.B. Rapaport, Rasmus Lunseth, Bernard Thompson
OGL#372-17 Lunseth Plumbing and Heating: undated group picture
OGL#372-18 Autographed picture of Senator Mark Andrews: undated
OGL#372-19 Oscar Lunseth: undated
OGL#372-20 (duplicate)
OGL#372-21 (duplicate)
OGL#372-22 (duplicate)
OGL#372-23 Oscar Lunseth and unidentified Northwest Airlines Flight Attendant: undated
OGL#372-24 Oscar Lunseth and other Grand Forks city officials: undated
OGL#372-25 Oscar Lunseth and other Grand Forks city officials: undated
OGL#372-26 Oscar Lunseth playing checkers: February 1951
OGL#372-27 Oscar Lunseth at the unveiling of the "North Dakota's Oldest Concrete Pavement" monument
OGL#372-28 Oscar Lunseth and unidentified: undated
OGL#372-29 "Henry Roeder Rig" (farm machinery): September 1915

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