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Founder & Current Leadership

Professor GERHARD B. NAESETH

The core of the Genealogical Center research collection was assembled by Gerhard B. Naeseth (1913-1994), who was internationally renowned in the field of Norwegian and Norwegian-American genealogy and immigration.

A former University of Wisconsin professor, Naeseth served as associate director for the libraries of the University of Wisconsin from 1948-1978. During his tenure at the University of Wisconsin, he helped build one of the largest collections of Norwegian local & genealogical history in the United States.

Following his retirement, he administered the Genealogical Center, beginning in his home and later in the present quarters. In 1990, the genealogical research library was named in his honor. In 1993, he completed and published volume one of his massive research, “Norwegian Immigrants to the United States: A Biographical Guide, 1825-1850.”

In 2001, the Genealogical Center established the Gerhard B. Naeseth Chair for Genealogical Research and Publication as a tribute to his lifetime accomplishments in the field of Norwegian and Norwegian-American genealogy.

Board Chairman Paul Larson (left) thanks former Board Chairman Lowell Olberg for his years of service to NAGC. December 2017

Board of Directors

Paul Larson Chairman Waunakee, Wisconsin	Scott R. Johnson Madison, Wisconsin
Anne V. Lindblom Vice Chairman Verona, Wisconsin	Ann Leon Madison, Wisconsin
John W. Thompson Treasurer Madison, Wisconsin	Christine Milligan-Ciha Stoughton, Wisconsin
Ken Larson Secretary Batavia, Illinois	Peder Moren Madison, Wisconsin
Lowell Olberg Chairman Emeritus Wheaton, Illinois	Ellen Smithback Stoughton, Wisconsin
Paul M. Berge Middleton, Wisconsin	Gary Smithback Stoughton, Wisconsin
Robert M. Fossum Chetek, Wisconsin

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By becoming a member, you not only gain benefits for your family history research, you also support a worthy cause.

Your annual membership helps you, your family, and a wide community discover their roots and preserve a treasured heritage.

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NAGC & NL relies upon donations of all types from its members and friends throughout the world.

All gifts, whether large or small, are essential to the work of the Center, an important non-profit organization of international scope that is dedicated to preserving Norwegian-American history and heritage.

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Testimonials

“Dear Ms. Culbertson, I received your letter containing information about my great-grandfather last night. I retired about 2 years ago (which is when I got deeper in my family history) but returned to work about 4 months ago when my replacement left unexpectedly. Your letter arrived on the day I "re-retired" and gave me great pleasure. I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank you and let you know how much of a difference you make for those of us who simply want to find out more about our family history. In my case, nobody in the family wanted to say much about my great-grandfather, so your research gave me information I couldn't have found anywhere else. My plan is to build a written (and electronic) family history that I can pass on to my two sons. Again, thank you for your time, talents and hard work in finding information about Johannes.”

- Mark (Minnesota)