Norwegians in Utah 1825–1930 is the story of those who moved west to Utah, many of them for religious reasons. Between 1825 and 1920, 771,583 Norwegians emigrated, most of them to the United States. In 1825, the ship Restauration left Stavanger with the first group of Norwegian emigrants. There were probably 51 emigrants on board when they left, and 52 when they arrived in New York, as a newborn baby had been born during the voyage. In 2025, we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the arrival of these early Norwegian immigrants, known as the “Sloopers” (Crossings 200). Some of these early emigrants moved in 1834 to Fox River, Illinois, where they founded a Norwegian settlement. This was not far from the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (JKKASDH) in Nauvoo, Illinois. Several of the “Sloopers” converted to JKKASDH. Other converts came directly from Norway or from Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin. In 1847, many of these converts traveled from Fox River to Utah after experiencing persecution and hardship due to their faith.
This project includes not only the members of JKKASDH but all Norwegians who traveled to Utah. We are asking several important questions about Norwegian emigration to the West, as much of it was driven by religious reasons. Many emigrants sought a better life, but for many, this journey was also a response to religious persecution. Who were these people who moved to Utah? What were their backgrounds, such as education, profession, and religion? Where did they come from in Norway? What was their life like once they arrived in Utah? What about those who built Lutheran churches around the Salt Lake Valley? Who were they, and why did they come to Utah?
One major historical event was the trial in the Supreme Court of Norway, where JKKASDH converts were not recognized as Christians under the Dissenters Act of 1845. This decision caused considerable unrest among converts. How were they portrayed in Norway, and how did this affect their lives in Utah? What was the attitude toward these converts in the broader society? How were they treated by the government, the state, and the people around them?
Haakenstad will be a researcher at the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University (BYU) for four months starting in January 2025. This gives her a unique opportunity to conduct research in the archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She will also be a visiting professor at BYU.
The project will culminate in a book, which has received financial support from the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at BYU, as well as the Independent Researcher grants from the Church History Library and Museum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Additional funding is still needed to complete the project.
If you know of anyone who traveled to Utah between 1825 and 1920, we would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out the form on our website: https://www.studygenealogy.com/norwegians-in-utah/. You can also contribute to this research project through the same website.
Illustration photo:
«The Handcart Pioneer Monument», by sculptor and artist Torleif Severin Knaphus (1881-1865). Located at the Norwegian Emigrant Museum. Photo: Liv Marit Haakenstad, 2024. All rights reserved.
