Oscar Erik Larson papers, 1886-1889

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Bio-SC-4

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Oscar Eric Larson papers date from 1886 and 1889 and cover two folders.

The Donor Information folder contains the email from the donor, as well as lists of books owned by family members she was considering donating. The History Center only accepted a small number of these books, added to the Special Collections. There is also an envelope with pressed flowers dating to 1886, with a note reading "Where these flowers to/from Louise Anderson?" They were found in the book The Gospel Choir by Ira Sankey.

The Music folder holds two bound booklets of handwritten songs in English and Swedish.

Dates

1886 - 1889

Creator

Larson, Oscar Erik (1860-1926) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for researcher use.

Biographical / Historical

Olmats Erik Larsson was born in 1860 in Bonäs, Sweden. He was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church, but in 1874 he was rebaptized and joined the Baptist church in Bonäs. He took classes at the Orsa Baptist Seminary, then taught at Bonäs Baptist Chapel. He also worked in various trades before emigration. After immigrating to America in 1881, he changed his name to Oscar Erik Larson. He married Anna Louisa Anderson in 1887, whom he met at First Swedish Baptist Church in Minneapolis. They had daughters Edith, Lillie Viola, and Myrtle. The couple helped to establish Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis in 1888, and Larson served in several leadership roles. Larson was elected as alderman in the Ninth Ward of Minneapolis and served for four years. He became an undertaker in 1901, starting a family mortician business. He died in 1926.

Extent

.1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Swedish

Additional Description

Custodial History

Margaret Osborne, great-granddaughter of O.E. Larson donated this collection to the History Center in 2015. She also donated several of his books, which were added to the Special Collections.