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Telelaget is comprised of proud descendants of emigrants from Telemark, Norway who wish to share, foster, promote and keep alive the rich heritage that is so very unique to Telemark. We encourage others to join in our efforts
Telemark is a place of great beauty and diversity, largely because of its size and location. Lying in the heart of southern Norway it is a fylke of 6,000 sq. Miles, 18 kommune , and more than 162,000 population and is the meeting grounds of Norway's various major topographical forms. Stretching from the southern coast to the Hardangervidda it is home to hundreds of secluded valleys, each with their own distinct charm. Telemark is aptly called "Norway in Miniature."
Telemark has more buildings of cultural interest from the Middle Ages, and no part of Norway has contributed more to the collection of folk music, folk songs, and poetry than Telemark. The lyrical and artistic mountain people of Telemark have created a culture rich in beauty and tradition--a proud heritage for their descendants in Norway and America.
During the great period of emigration, Telemark lost thousands of her kinfolk from the kommunes of: Bamble, Bø, Drangedal, Fyresdal, Hjartdal, Kragerø, Kviteseid, Nissedal, Nome, Notodden, Porsgrunn, Sauherad, Seljord, Siljan, Skien, Tinn, Tokke, and Vinje, to the "Promise of America."
The first of those to leave in 1837 went to Muskego near Racine, Wis., but the large Koshkonong Settlement near Madison soon became the central clearing house for Telemarkings settling in the Midwest.
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, the Lag's quarterly publication, he wrote up the stories he heard. Few other lags have been blessed with such an extensive record of the early history of their bygdefolk in America
The early stevner (conventions) of the Telelag were truly affairs to remember with many thousands of "Telers" attending. During the emigration centennial in Tinn, Telemark in 1937 the Lag was presented with a beautiful silk fane (banner) depicting Gaustatoppen, Telemark's highest peak. A special anniversary issue of Telesoga was published in 1938, edited by N.N. Ronning, who managed to briefly revive the Telesoga once again in the early 1950's. This was followed by a lull in the bygdelag movement, but the Telelag torch was carried by a dedicated few, including Anund Roheim.
An increased awareness of peoples' "roots" emerged in the 1970's and the time was now right for revitalization. In 1979 the Telefane was passed on to a new generation who were proud of their ancestral heritage, and actively involved in genealogical research, and cultural awareness and preservation. Among their first tasks were holding a stevne in Appleton, Minnesota in 1980, and resurrecting the Telesoga. From this dynamic rebirth the Lag has continued to grow each year.
The annual three-day stevne is now held in conjunction with six other lags with the meeting place changing from year to year, usually a college campus . Smaller, more informal One-Day Stevnes are also held by the Telelag almost every Fall, usually in the areas which were major Telemark Settlements in the early years, and where there are still many descendants of those old pioneers who are interested in their heritage.
One of the major accomplishments of this decade has been the publishing of a series of books titled Telemark to America, which are still available and for sale on this website. Volume 1 provides background on Telemark and the early stages of immigration. Volume 2 contains translations of 24 of the major settlement histories which are such a valuable part of the early Telesogas. Volume 3 will feature more settlement histories and biographical sketches. See the "For Sale" tab on this website for more details.
The early 90's saw a change to desktop publishing of the Telesoga, which has also been expanded both in length and depth, and the addition of the TeleNews, an informal newsletter. The Telelag Library consists of general as well as genealogical holdings including many bygdeboker and Norwegian church and census records on microfilm. The library is housed at the home of lag genealogist. In recent years an Internet website has been started at http://www.telelaget.com and Telelaget hopes to develop it into a wealth of information for Telers and other interested persons.
July 1997 - After five years it was time for Telelaget of America to make its second comprehensive heritage tour of Telemark in conjunction with the 90th Anniversary of its founding. An 85-year-old dream was realized in 1992 when the Telelag sponsored its first ever Tur til Telemark and because of its resounding success, plans were made then and there to repeat the tour five years later, For anyone who has never been to Telemark there is no better way to become familiar with the incredible variety and vast richness of the land of Henrik Ibsen and Theodor Kittelsen, Myllarguten and Sterke-Nils. To see what inspired A.O. Vinje and Tarjei Vesaas, Anne Grimdalen and Dyre Vaa is an awesome experience. .
Nearly 50 persons came along with us to the gamle land and walked in the footsteps of their ancestors. Many had the opportunity to meet relatives at our slektstreff during our first weekend in Telemark . The tour group headquartered at a college located at Seljord, the center of Telemark, and made daily bus excursions to all the different Kommunes. The out pouring of hospitality from the different communities with banquets and folk dancing events is something that will long be remembered and something that was very unique to this tour. This very uniqueness has persons contacting Telelaget and asking how soon we plan to return again to Telemark.
"Oh, could I but journey to Telemark, and live there a summer's while," --Per Sivle
