Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 Overview of the Collection Creator Title Dates Quantity Collection Number Summary Repository Access Restrictions Languages Order of Valhalla (Tacoma, Wash.) Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection 1884-1989 (inclusive) 1884 1989 15 es SIE mss_51 Records documenting the foundation, organization, management, and hosted events of the Order of Valhalla from the years 1884 to 1989. Pacific Lutheran University, Archives and Special Collections Archives and Special Collections Pacific Lutheran University 12180 Park Avenue South Tacoma, Washington 98447 Telephone: 253-535-7586 Fax: 253-535-7315 archives@plu.edu This collection is available for research. English, Historical Note On 15 December 1884, a group of young men met at the Svea Hotel and decided to form an organization for social and benevolent purposes. Originally, the founders named their order Freja, but later changed it to Valhalla. For the first fifty years the group s official language was, until a resolution was made to change the official language to English in 1939. The original initiation ritual, developed by the founders and later refined by brothers Gustave Pahrson and J.C. Lindahl, was based on Norse mythology and excerpts from the Frithiofs Saga. This ritual was later abandoned after WWI in favor of a shorter, more simplified ritual. The Order of Valhalla provided several services for its members, including health care and funds for funerals, which were provided through monthly fees paid by its members. In 1906 the order constructed its own building on South K Street in Tacoma, Washington and named it Valhalla Hall. The facilities of Valhalla Hall contained a tavern and dance hall, which were used for social gatherings, and other halls within the building, which were rented out to tenants. During the order s early years, there was no interaction between Valhalla and local churches, until the tenth anniversary of the dedication of Valhalla Hall in 1916. During that celebration Rev. C.E. Bloomquist, pastor of the First Lutheran Church, served as guest speaker. This event opened the door for further cooperation between churches and secular organizations in the community. Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 1
The Order of Valhalla celebrated its 90th anniversary in December of 1974. Content Description This collection contains records documenting the history of the Order of Valhalla, a social organization, from the year 1884 to 1989. Included are financial records, meeting minutes, membership records, sick benefits, rituals, constitution and by-laws, correspondence, invitations and programs from hosted events, and newsletters. Records are in English unless otherwise stated. Use of the Collection Restrictions on Use Property rights reside with Archives and Special Collections Department at Pacific Lutheran University. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish or quote from (the collection) must be submitted to the University Archivist. The reader must also obtain permission from the copyright holder. Preferred Citation The Order of Valhalla Collection, SIEmss_51, Archives and Special Collections, Pacific Lutheran University, 12180 Park Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98447 Administrative Information Arrangement The collection has been arranged by subject into 10 series and then chronologically. Series 1: Historical Information 1959-1974 Series 2: Financial Information 1884-1984 Series 3: Meeting Minutes 1890-1986 Series 4: Membership 1901-1988 Series 5: Administration 1884-1984 Series 6: Correspondence 1910-1984 Series 7: Events 1955-1989 Series 8: Publications 1948-1987 Series 9: Miscellaneous Documents 1920-1937 Series 10: Artifacts undated Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 2
Processing Note Records are in English unless otherwise stated. Detailed Description of the Collection Series I: Historical Information, 1959-1974 1 1 Historical Information Series II: Financial Information, 1884-1984 1 2 Treasury Book and English 1 3 Treasury Book 1 4 Treasury Book 1 5 Treasury Book and English 1 6 Treasury Book and English 1884-1889 1889-1895 1889-1899 1891-1911 1899-1907 1 7 Treasury Book 1906-1922 2 1 Treasury Book 2 2 Treasury Book 1907-1915 1912-1931 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 3
2 3 Treasury Book 1915-1929 3 1 Treasury Book 1931-1938 3 2 Treasury Book 1931-1944 3 3 Treasury Book 3 4 Treasury Book 1932-1934 1938-1941 3 5 Treasury Book 1939-1955 3 6 Treasury Book 1943-1950 4 1 Treasury Book 1950-1971 4 2 Treasury Book 1954-1964 4 3 Treasury Book 1956-1969 4 4 Treasury Book 1964-1979 4 5 Finance Book 1979-1984 5 1 Treasurer s Reports and English 5 2 Treasurer s Reports and English 5 3 Treasurer s Reports and English 1925-1931 1932 1933-1946 5 4 Stock Book 1906-1909 5 5 Expenses and Receipts and English 5 6 Ledger 1925-1964 1930-1931 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 4
5 7 Inventory 1933 5 8 Insurance 1933-1959 5 9 Income from Rentals 1941 5 10 Funeral Expenses 1956-1958 6 1 Check Register 1939-1960 6 2 Check Register 1949 6 3 Check Register 1957-1959 6 4 Bank Statements 1937-1938 6 5 Bank Statements 1939-1941 6 6 Bank Statements 1944-1946 6 7 Bank Statements 1947-1948 6 8 Bank Statements 1949-1951 6 9 Bank Statements 1952-1953 6 10 Bank Statements 1954-1957 6 11 Bank Statements 1958-1960 6 12 Bank Statements 1961-1962 6 13 Bank Statements 1963-1965 Series III: Meeting Minutes, 1890-1986 7 1 Meeting Minutes 1890-1896 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 5
7 2 Meeting Minutes 1954-1970 7 3 Meeting Minutes 1970-1984 7 4 Meeting Minutes 1979-1986 Series IV: Membership, 1901-1988 8 1 Membership Book 1901-1915 8 2 Membership Book 1905-1909 8 3 Membership Book and English 9 1 Badge Record 1914-1977 1900-1917 9 2 Membership Dues, A-E 1901-1985 9 3 Membership Dues, F-I 1901-1985 9 4 Membership Dues, J-L 1901-1985 9 5 Membership Dues, M-R 1901-1985 9 6 Membership Dues, S-V 1901-1985 9 7 Membership Dues, W-Z 1901-1985 9 8 Resolutions of Sympathy and English 1929-1956 9 9 Lists of Officers 1950-1961 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 6
9 10 Mailing Lists 1950-1978 10 1 Declarations of Physical Condition, A-B 1934-1988 10 2 Declarations of Physical Condition, C-D 1934-1988 10 3 Declarations of Physical Condition, E-G 1934-1988 10 4 Declarations of Physical Condition, H 1934-1988 10 5 Declarations of Physical Condition, I-J 1934-1988 10 6 Declarations of Physical Condition, K-L 1934-1988 10 7 Declarations of Physical Condition, M-N 1934-1988 10 8 Declarations of Physical Condition, O-P 1934-1988 10 9 Declarations of Physical Condition, Q-R 1934-1988 10 10 Declarations of Physical Condition, S 1934-1988 10 11 Declarations of Physical Condition, T-W 1934-1988 10 12 Declarations of Physical Condition, X-Z 1934-1988 11 1 Forms for Sick Benefits 1938-1943 11 2 Forms for Sick Benefits, January-April 1944 11 3 Forms for Sick Benefits, May-August 1944 11 4 Forms for Sick Benefits, September-December 1944 11 5 Forms for Sick Benefits, January-May 1945 11 6 Forms for Sick Benefits, June-December 1945 11 7 Forms for Sick Benefits, January-May 1946 11 8 Forms for Sick Benefits, June-December 1946 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 7
11 9 Forms for Sick Benefits 1947 11 10 Forms for Sick Benefits 1948 11 11 Forms for Sick Benefits 1949 11 12 Forms for Sick Benefits 1950 11 13 Forms for Sick Benefits 1952-1957 12 1 Ledger of Sick Benefits 1941-1943 12 2 Ledger of Sick Benefits 1944-1948 12 3 Ledger of Sick Benefits 1949-1954 Series V: Administration, 1884-1984 12 4 Rituals and English 12 5 Rituals 1884-1924 1920-1930 13 1 Legal Records 1903-1949 13 2 Resolutions and English 13 3 Constitution and By-Laws 1906-1984 1920-1930 13 4 Constitution and By-Laws 1955-1975 13 5 Amendments 1920-1930 Series VI: Correspondence, 1910-1984 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 8
13 6 Correspondence and English 13 7 Correspondence and English 1910-1950 1951-1984 Series VII: Events, 1955-1989 14 1 Events 1955-1982 14 2 90th Anniversary Celebration 1974 14 3 Fishing Derby 1988-1989 Series VIII: Publications, 1948-1987 14 4 Newsletters 1961-1964 14 5 Newsletters 1965-1968 14 6 Newsletters 1969-1971 14 7 Newsletters 1972-1987 14 8 Miscellaneous Publications 1948-1975 Series IX: Miscellaneous Documents, 1920-1937 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 9
14 9 Valhalla Songbooks and English 1920-1925 14 10 Scandia Park Material 1937 Series X: Artifacts, undated 15 1 Membership Badges undated Names and Subjects Subject Terms : Clubs Scandinavian Americans Sweden--Emigration and immigration Americans Personal Names : A. Augustin C.E. Bloomquist C.J. Olson Charles Berg G.F. Lindquist Gustave Pahrson Hjalmar Nyman Hugo Ohlin Ivar Alm J.C. Lindahl J.P. Chilberg K.M. Petarson Louis Person O. Anderson P.O. Peterson Stanley D. Lindwood Stephen Forslund W.P. Sundberg Corporate Names : Order of Valhalla (Tacoma, Wash.) Geographical Names : Tacoma, Wash. Form or Genre Terms : Badges Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 10
Correspondence Directories Minutes (Records) Finding aid prepared by Denae McGaha & Rose Thompson. 2015 Guide to the Order of Valhalla Collection, 1884-1989 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv23590 11