Ole Rølvaag
Memorial Library
In 1942, St. Olaf College completed an ambitious library project, naming it the Rolvaag Memorial Library in honor of the former professor. Today, the library contains more than 420,000 books.
A bust of Ole Edvart Rølvaag stands tall inside the building.
He and his brother Johan visited the public library at Dønnes farm frequently during their upbringing, reading works by Jules Verne, Bjørnson, Shakespeare, Dickens, and Mark Twain.
"The Last of the Mohicans" was the first novel Ole Edvart read, and he believed the book influenced his decision to emigrate to America.
The Rølvåg boys and the Heitmann brothers eventually compiled the purchase lists for the Dønnes library. They had little money, and Ole Edvart boldly suggested, "Then we should write to King Oscar." So they did, and incredibly, they received a box of around 100 books from King Oscar II himself. Even during the Lofoten fishing season, their desire to read was strong, and in the fisherman's cabin, they often read and discussed the books borrowed from the fisheries library.
Photo: Rolvaag Memorial Library
O.E. Rølvaags funeral
Photo: Norwegian-American Historical Association
Libraries were important to Ole Edvart throughout his life.
