Sydney Hugdahl

The first thing that caught my eye regarding this project was the time period. The world was in a very dynamic time, with shifts in politics, culture, technology all happening at the same moment. I wanted to see how real people handled these changes, and what their lives looked like. The focus on personal narratives allowed me to explore many different aspects of this time period.

My experience working on the Ruta Kramins-Bly page allowed me to give voice to the lived experiences in the camps, along with her journey afterwards. The Kramins family was one of the many impacted by the work of the LWF-SR, and their presence is quietly recorded in stacks of documents, waiting to be told again.

I was able to continue this experience when researching Astrid and Ivar Ivask. Both of these people were influential within St. Olaf and beyond it. Their connection to St. Olaf and Northfield is deep and lasting, yet was largely unexplored by scholars. I was able to see how the assistance of the LWF-SR created a network of incredible individuals.

Through my focus on individual experiences and legacies, I started recognizing patterns in who the LWF-SR was helping: families, intellectuals, and more. The challenges page was where I was able to explore the patterns I had noticed and gain insight into the importance of the LWF-SR’s work. The people that were left behind, considered unimportant, or a burden, were the ones I wanted to understand. The LWF-SR saw these people, left adrift in the larger immigration machine, and stepped forward to ensure their care and health.

These stories, while generally separate, allowed me to explore a narrative of compassion, community, and trust in a time of lost and sadness.

Sydney Hugdahl

To contacted me go to my Linkedin.