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Guide to the Olaf O. Holmlund Papers, 1924-1959
MSS 106
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Abstract
- Olaf A. Holmlund was born in Hamar, Norway, and immigrated to the United States in 1904. He settled in West Salem, Wis., and then moved to Bangor, Wis., in 1918. He was a businessman with many talents, but was best known for his funeral home business that he operated from ca. 1918-1945. He sold his business to C. A. Fossum undertakers. A few biographical articles about Holmlund are included in the collection along with a scrapbook of Bangor news clippings (ca. 1931-1945) that is thought to have originally been kept by Archie A. Wolf. However, most of the materials are records related to the Holmlund Funeral Home business and include an account book (ca. 1924-1933); a collection report book (1936-1938); and a record of funerals (1940-1945).
- Collection Title
- Olaf O. Holmlund Papers
- Date of Materials
- 1924-1959
- Creator
- Holmlund, Olaf O., 1884-1959
- Call Number
- MSS 106
- Amount
- 0.8 cubic feet
- Physical Description
- 1 archives box, 1 volume
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- La Crosse Public Library Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Olaf O. Holmlund Papers, MSS 106, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI
Biographical Note
Olaf O. Holmlund was born in Hamar, Norway, June 17, 1884. He immigrated to the United States in 1904 where he first went to Baldwin, Wis., to join his cousin. After working a few years at farming, masonry and carpentry, he moved to West Salem, Wis., in 1911. He went to work for Ben Mercereau in a furniture and undertaking establishment. After serving an apprenticeship, Holmlund went to Chicago to study embalming. After graduation, he returned to the area, setting himself up for business in Bangor. He operated his business for 28 years, then retired at the end of 1945 and sold his undertaking parlor to C. A. Fossum.
In 1916, Holmlund married Ruth Erickson who died in 1923. They had four children together: Geneva (Mrs. Stanley Bolanovich), Virginia (Mrs. James Erickson), James O. (wife Naomi Roy), and Robert Holmlund. Thirteen years later after the death of his first wife, he married Amanda Kittelson Casterline. He died in La Crosse, Wis., Dec. 11, 1959.
Scope and Contents
A few biographical articles about Holmlund are included in the collection along with a scrapbook of Bangor news clippings (circa 1931-1945) that is thought to have originally been kept by Archie A. Wolf. However, most of the materials are records related to the Holmlund Funeral Home business and include an account book (circa 1924-1933); a collection report book (1936-1938); and a record of funerals (1940-1945).
Administrative Information
Publication Information
La Crosse Public Library Archives 2006 June
800 Main St.La Crosse, Wisconsin, 54601
(608) 789-7136
archives@lacrosselibrary.org
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron use.
Acquisitions Information
(Accession nos. 2004.070, 2004.094, 2005.026) Donated by Peder Holmlund, grandson of Olaf O. Holmlund and son of James O. Holmlund & Naomi (Roy) Holmlund, 2004-2005
Processing Information
Processed by Anita Taylor Doering, 2006 June
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Holmlund Funeral Home (Bangor, Wis.).
Personal Name(s)
- Holmlund, Olaf O., 1884-1959
Subject(s)
- Funeral homes--Wisconsin--Bangor
- Undertakers and undertaking--Wisconsin--Bangor
Collection Inventory
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Biographical newspaper clippings, 1946-1959 |
1 | 1 | ||
| Volume | ||||
|
Scrapbook of Bangor happenings, 1931-1945 |
1 | |||
|
Holmlund Funeral Home |
||||
| Box | Folder | |||
|
Account book, circa 1924-1933 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Collection report book, 1936-1938 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Record of funerals, 1940-1945 |
1 | 4 | ||