Bjork Book:

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Editorial Review:
Saga in Steel and Concrete NORWEGIAN ENGINEERS IN AMERICA BY Kenneth Bjork PEOFESSOR OF HISTORY AT ST. OLAF COLLEGE NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA 1947 PREFACE THE officers of the Norwegian-American Historical Associa tion, no less than the editors of the Norwegian-language news papers in the United States, have long known that the engineers and architects born in Norway and educated in the schools of Europe were playing a significant and at times a spectacular role in the development of America. In their discussions of editorial policy, they have always assumed that a compre hensive publication program called for a volume devoted exclusively to the activities of the Norwegian-born technicians who migrated to these shores. In 1939 they were convinced that the time had arrived to begin such a project, and I was asked then to prepare the present book. A preliminary survey of the sources indicated that this was a field previously un worked by the historian, and that the association had undertaken a task that was something more than a rounding out of its admirable program of publications. It became obvious that a study of the Norwegian engineers and architects would be primarily a first case study in a larger area of research that of the immigrant as a vital leader in American technology. The information unearthed in the months that followed lent fresh and concrete meaning to an oft-quoted phrase, transit of civilization, and gave rise to the wish that one day a broader synthesis, embracing the work of all the immigrant technical groups, might be made. It is my hope that Saga in Steel and Concrete will be received in the spirit of this wish and be regarded as a contribution to an enlarged interpretation of our European heritage, Any such study necessarily encounters difficulties, some of them well-nigh insuperable, and unwittingly works injustice to individuals. The difficulties were less numerous and the in justice, I trust, less blatant because of the assistance given me KANSAS. CSWfiO. PUBLIC LIBRAW A i j SAGA IN STEEL AND CONCRETE by the men and organizations discussed in this book. The archives of the Norwegian-American Technical Society, the product of years of active research, are kept at the headquar ters of its Chicago branch these were put at my disposal, as were the materials contained in the Norwegian-American Tech nical Journal. The society has also been most helpful in other ways i n formally endorsing the project, in providing lists of members, in suggesting points of approach, and in establishing the many contacts that were invaluable for obtaining informa tion and appraising technical undertakings. It is impossible here publicly to acknowledge and to thank all of the engineers of Norwegian origin who in one way or another have made my work easier, more pleasant, and more effective. I should be guilty of gros ingratitude, however, if I did not mention the assistance of several. Waldemar Nielsen, president of the Chicago Norwegian Technical Society, has been kindest counselor of all and a sure guide in my relations with the organized engineers. Axel Waerenskjold of Oakland, California, introduced me to many of the engineers in the San Francisco area. Magnus Bjjzfrndal of Weehawken, New Jersey, rendered a similar service in the New York area. In addition, he generously supplied considerable information, published and unpublished, and he read about half of the chapters in early manuscript form many of his suggestions were followed in revising these chapters. Like B rndal, C. F. Berg of Gary, Illinois, has long been active in collecting records of the Nor wegian engineers he made many items available. His sage advice was most effective in reworking the first four and the last two chapters of the book. M. S. Grytbak, bridge engineer of St. Paul, gave invaluable assistance in the preparation of the chapter on bridges...