Lloyd Hustvedt (April 18, 1922 – February 2, 2004) was an American professor, author, and scholar of

Norwegian-American Norwegian Americans () are Americans with ancestral roots in Norway. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the latter half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 milli ...

history.

Background

Lloyd Merlin Hustvedt was born and raised in the Sogn Valley in

Goodhue County, Minnesota Goodhue County ( ) is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 47,582. Its county seat is Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing. Nearly all of Prairie Island ...

. His parents, Lars Iversen Hustvedt (1887–1973) and Mathilde Anette (Underdahl) Hustvedt (1893–1991), were children of Norwegian immigrants. Hustvedt finished his BA degree at St. Olaf College with a major in Norwegian. He received his MA degree from the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

and his

PhD A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

Scandinavia Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...

n studies from the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

Career

In 1954, Hustvedt became a professor at St. Olaf College where he was later chairman of the Norwegian Department and was named the first holder of the

King Olav V Olav V (, ; born Prince Alexander of Denmark; 2 July 1903 – 17 January 1991) was King of Norway from 1957 until his death in 1991. Olav was born at Sandringham House in England, the only child of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wa ...

Professorship in Norwegian studies. In 1959, he became executive secretary of the

Norwegian-American Historical Association Norwegian American Historical Association is a non-profit, member-supported organization dedicated to locating, collecting, preserving and interpreting the Norwegian-American experience. It publishes scholarly books and maintains a historical arc ...

, a position he would keep for four decades. He was a charter member of the Norwegian Researchers and Teachers Association of North America. He also served on the board of directors of the

Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa is the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, with over 33,000 artifacts, 12 historic buildings, and a library and archives. This treasure showcases one of the most extensive ...

. Hustvedt was the author of numerous essays and articles relating to his field of study. He is most frequently associated with his biography of Rasmus Björn Anderson. In 1967 he was awarded the McKnight Prize in Literature by the McKnight Family Literary Fund. Hustvedt received a grant under the Fulbright-Hays Act and traveled to

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

during the summer of 1968. In 1980 he was awarded the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

, Knight First Class by

. In 1985, he was the first American to be recognized by the America-Norway Heritage Fund for his contributions to

understanding and for preserving the history of Norwegian immigrants in the United States.

Personal life

In 1954, Lloyd Hustvedt was married to Norwegian native Ester Vegan with whom he had four children including the author Siri Hustvedt.

Selected works

*''Norwegian Grammar Language Self Learning'' (1977) *''Rasmus Bjorn Anderson. Scandinavians in America'' (1979) *''O.A. Tveitmoe: Labor leader'' (1985)

References

External links

“Dedication of Memorial for Professor Lloyd Hustvedt”. (St Olaf College. May 27, 2006)“Lloyd Hustvedt In Memoriam”. Nortana Newsletter”“The America-Norway Heritage Fund” “McKnight Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hustvedt, Lloyd 1922 births 2004 deaths Writers from Minnesota University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni St. Olaf College alumni St. Olaf College faculty University of Minnesota alumni 20th-century American historians 20th-century American male writers People from Northfield, Minnesota American people of Norwegian descent Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal 20th-century American essayists Historians from Minnesota American male non-fiction writers