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We have all of the back issues of Telesoga for sale preserved for you, over 100 issues covering nearly 100 years. You are able to buy the complete series on one DVD. The early issues are in Norwegian. Test your ability to read the basics here.
In January of 1907 Telelaget i Amerika was organized, making it the second oldest bygdelag in America. It's venerable historian, Torkel Oftelie, visited most of the major Telemark settlements in the Upper Midwest and as editor of Telesoga recorded the stories of the pioneers. Today, the work continues as we publish two editions of Telesoga annually.
We are indebted to Torkel Oftelie of Fergus Falls, Minnesota who published the first 53 issues of Telesoga from 1909 until 1926. He traveled widely to collect material for his Telesoga issues. In 1924 he discontinued his work but in 1926 published a summary of his work titled Aarbok for Telelaget. His slogan was:
"We must see to it that the 'Telers' are not forgotten"
We know that Torkel had great difficulty making ends meet. He traveled about the Midwest visiting pioneers from Telemark and their descendants. He recorded their stories on the pages of Telesoga. He sold life memberships to Telelaget i America for $5.00. He commented that it cost over $4,000 to publish the first 53 issues of Telesoga. By 1924, costs were exceeding revenues and his writing ended.
Another series of Telesoga was launched in 1938, one issue, and another did not appear until 1950. Professor N. N. Rønning was responsible for these printed issues until #5 in 1953.
The third series of Telesoga dates from 1980 when there was a great reorganization of Telelaget i America. Hilbert and Lillian Thompson began the first two issues of Telesoga in 1980 and there have been two issues published annually since then. We are thankful to the following editors of the third series:
1980 - 1980 - Hilbert and Lillian Thompson
1981 - May, 1991 - Carol Nelson and Lorna Anderson
1991 - December - Carol Nelson
1992 - May - Jim Skree, Shelley Jerviss, and Arnold Ness
1992 - December - Shelley Jerviss
1993 - 1998 - Shelley Jerviss and Jim Skree
1999 - 2003 - Robert Christensen
2004 - Present - Alice Kirn
Today, we continue to publish Telesoga, included with membership, twice annually. "We must see to it that the 'Telers' are not forgotten" .
