Pioneers who came to Minnesota after 1858
In response to many of our website visitors who were disappointed because we
didn't offer a way to honor those Norwegian pioneers who arrived in
Minnesota after it became a state but were in fact pioneers in communities
around Minnesota, we've heard you!
The Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project is pleased to announce a certificate
program that will recognize the Norwegians who settled in Minnesota before
1908. The 8 1/2" by 11" cream-colored certificate is suitable for
framing. It has a gold border and the
NSPP embossed gold seal is affixed. The name of the
pioneer or pioneer couple, the location, documented
date of residence and the applicant's name are shown on its face.
Larger image
A list of these Century Pioneers (name of the pioneer,
location, and date) will be included in our
Heritage Book. Applications must be received by September 15, 2008, for
Century Pioneers to be included in the Heritage Book. If you have
ancestors you'd like to see included in the book but do not wish to apply
for a certificate,
click here for details.
All applications should be sent directly to NSPP, and there is no discount
for members of participating organizations. The fee for each
application is $10. We expect to be able to process applications and
mail out personalized certificates for approved applications within 30 days
of receipt.
Norwegian Century Pioneer Application
in PDF Format
Norwegian Century Pioneer Application in RTF
Format
Application Requirements
Like the Pioneer Plaques, applicants should be direct descendants of the
proposed Century Pioneer and are required to provide documentation that the
ancestor is Norwegian and lived in Minnesota prior to 1908. The
applicant does not have to be a resident of Minnesota. Each
application will also have to provide proof of descent from parent to child
from the Century Pioneer to the applicant. The applicant's name will appear
on the certificate.
Pioneer Name:
This is the pioneer’s name or the names of a pioneer couple as it should
appear on the certificate and in the Heritage Book.
City/Township and
County: This is the place
where the pioneer settled. If
the pioneer lived in multiple places in
Minnesota, specify here the location to be listed on
the certificate and in
the Heritage Book. (The location must be documented by census, church, or
other records.). The location will appear on the certificate.
Year:
The year this individual settled in the city/township/county.
It should be supported by the
documentation provided as proof. The documented year will appear on
the certificate.
Type of Proof:
Applicants must supply a photocopy of documentation that supports
Minnesota
residence prior to January 1, 1908 and supports the residence date listed on
the application. Proof of Norwegian ethnicity is also required.
-
Marriage or Birth Record dated on or before January
1, 1908
-
Excerpt from a county history written before 1950
-
US or Minnesota state census records that show
Minnesota as the place of
birth for children born during or before 1908. Census records can also
be used to prove Norwegian ethnicity.
-
Church records – a photocopy of the record or a
dated statement from the church’s pastor, secretary, or other church official
verifying the content of the original record
-
Historic news articles or obituaries – The name of
the periodical, date of
publication, and page must be included
-
Land patent or deed dated prior to January 1, 1908
-
Naturalization record filed in
Minnesota prior to January
1, 1908
-
Letters, diary entries, family bible entries and
other forms of proof will be considered
-
Hadeland Lag Kontaktforum skjemas are acceptable
for proof of residence and line of descent.
A family story or history, even if it has
been published, is not acceptable proof of residence without its supporting
documentation.
Line of Descent:
Proof of descent for each generation from the pioneer to the applicant can
include photocopies of birth or death certificates, census records, church
records, printed obituaries, and/or excerpts from a published history of a
location or family. The proof must include both the name of the child and
the parent(s).
NSPP reserves the right to determine whether
documentation submitted provides valid proof of residence and descent.
Can I apply for a Norwegian Century Certificate for my Statehood
Pioneer?
Certainly! Century Pioneer applications will result
in the approved ancestor being placed in the Century Pioneer lists in our
Heritage book. If documentation is provided that supports a date
of arrival prior to 1858, the pioneer will be listed with the Statehood
Pioneers, but no biography will be included.
If you wish to apply for both a Century Certificate and a Pioneer Plaque
for an ancestor who made his/her permanent home in an area of Minnesota
settled after 1858, you may do so. The pioneer's biography, as
provided on the statehood application form, will appear in the Statehood
Pioneer section of the Heritage Book. The pioneer's name, residence
and date s/he settled in that area will be listed in the Century Pioneer
lists.
Still have questions?
Email NSPP at
certificates@mn-nspp.org
Norwegian Statehood Pioneer Project 
