Olaf Jenson Hagen Papers (S2694)

1901-1966

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

O. J. Hagen’s parents were Jens H. Hagen (1828-1914) and Gunhild Grendahl.  They were married in Norway on November 5, 1855.  Jens Hagen immigrated to the United States in 1869 and was followed by his wife and family in 1871.  They first settled in Menominee, Wisconsin, where Olaf Jenson Hagen was born on September 16, 1872.  In May 1873 the family moved to the Red River Valley, settling near Fort Abercrombie in Richland County, Dakota Territory. 

Olaf was raised on the farm his parents established, but at age 15 he enrolled as a student in the State Normal School at St. Cloud, Minnesota and later attended the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota.  In 1889 Hagen taught school in Colfax, North Dakota.  In 1891 he became an instructor at the newly-founded Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, occupying the English and History Chairs and serving as the first Dean of Men.  Hagen later went back to school and in 1898 obtained a B.S. degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana.  In 1898 Hagen earned an M.A. from Indiana College.  From 1898 to 1902, Olaf was the County Superintendent of Schools in Richland County, North Dakota.  He also taught during the summer at the State Normal School in Mayville, North Dakota.  Olaf Hagen then enrolled at the University of Minnesota to study medicine.  After graduating in 1906, Dr. Hagen began practicing medicine in Moorhead, Minnesota.  In 1907 Hagen did post-graduate studies at the University of Berlin, and in 1911 attended Harvard, specializing in the study of surgical anatomy. 

From 1917 to 1918, Dr. Hagen was the surgeon for the Clay County Minnesota Draft Board.  Hagen was also a staff surgeon for St. Luke’s Hospital, Fargo, North Dakota, and was a founder of the Fargo Clinic in 1919, serving as its president for six years.  Dr. Hagen served on the Moorhead School Board, serving five years as president.  He also was president of the Band Beach Clay-Becker Tuberculosis Sanitarium Board from 1916 to 1921.  Dr. Hagen was also a member of the Concordia College Board of Trustees from 1910 until 1920, and from 1923 to 1931, was the Resident Director for Moorhead State Teachers College on the State Teachers College Board.  In 1931 Hagen was elected to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and served on that Board until 1937.  In 1936 he was elected president of the National Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions and in 1937 was elected president of that organization’s executive board.

Dr. Hagen was also president of the Northern Minnesota Medical Association, served on the State Council of the Minnesota Medical Association, served for five years as the Minnesota Councilor of the American College of Surgeons, and elected a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons in 1941.  Hagen also became a member of several social and fraternal organizations. 

In 1940 Hagen tried for the Republican Party’s nomination for U.S. Senator, but failed to receive the nomination in the primary.  In 1942 Dr. Hagen was given an honorary L.L.D. degree from Concordia College and in 1952 Hagen received the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award.  In 1962 the new Science and Industrial Arts building at Moorhead State College was named after Dr. Hagen. 

In 1911 Dr. Hagen married Moselle Weld, daughter of Dr. Frank A. Weld.  Mrs. Hagen was a graduate of the State Normal School and was a student at Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin.  She was prominent in many clubs and social activities in Moorhead.  Dr. and Mrs. Hagen had four children: Weld, John, James and Harriet.  Mrs. Hagen died in 1931.  James was killed during World War II, and Weld died in the 1950’s.  Dr. Hagen died in 1965.

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The O. J. Hagen Papers consists mostly of speeches given by Hagen, but also includes historical material he gathered for his family’s history as well as the history of the Richland Lutheran Church and material from the dedication of Hagen Hall.  There are a few correspondence files. Also included is an eulogy to S. G. Comstock, a tribute to Charles and William Mayo entitled “Giants of the Earth,” and a book written by Christine Hagen Stafne (one of Olaf’s sisters) on the Jens Hagen family entitled Pioneering in the Red River Valley.

Inventory

Box 1

Background Material - Autobiographies.  1945, 1947-57, undated

- Biographical and Historical Material.  1936-66, undated

- Hagen Hall. 1962

- History of Richland Lutheran Church and 75^th Anniversary Booklet.  1954

- Menominee, Wisconsin Speeches, Biographical. 1947

Correspondence - Miscellaneous.  1907-62

            - WWII, John and Jim Hagen.  1942-44

Education - Speeches.  1906-51

Newspaper/Magazine Articles. 1902-66

Box 2

Health - Medical

- Lectures and Technical Papers. 1922-40

                        - Organizations and Societies. 1920-49

            - Nurse’s Graduation Addresses. 1916-28, 1930-47

- Speeches.  1930-44

Political Speeches. 1938-48

Speeches - Athletics.  1926-44

            - Career Choice. 1939

            - “Man’s Three Great Hungers.” 1946

            - Marriage. 1936

            - Miscellaneous.  1917-49

            - Norway.  1939-48

            - Norwegian Crown Prince Olav’s Visit.  1936

            - Organizations.  1904-39

            - Plans to Preserve Peace.  1917-45

            - Travel.  1941

            - Trinity Lutheran Church.  1934-47

            - Youth.  1920s

Tributes, Eulogies and Biographical Sketches. 1928, 1932-36, 1939-48

Box 3

Diplomas, Awards, and Certificates.  1901-1965

Glass Plate of the Hagen Family’s Cabin near Abercrombie, North Dakota

Memorabilia.  (See also Box 5) 1938-59

Notes. 1933-50

Photographs. 1872-1950s

Volume 1         Secretary’s Roster of the International College of Surgeons. 1947

Volume 2-5      Proceedings of the Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions, 1934-35, 1953-54

Box 4

Volume 6         Proceedings of the Association of Governing Boards of State Universities and Allied Institutions.  1956

Volume 7         Howard Binford’s Guide, “Dr. O. J. Hagen.”  1977

Volume 8         Pioneering in the Red River Valley. 1943

Volume 9         Pathology Lectures to Nursing Students at St. Luke’s Hospital.  1935-36

Box 5

Volume 10       Journal.  1919-20

Memorabilia (Oversized) - Admittance to the International College of Surgeons. 1941

- Appointment

- State Board of Health and Vital Statistics. 1913

- State Teachers College Board. 1923, 1931

- Certificate of Completion, University of Berlin. 1906

- Diploma, University of Minnesota, Doctor of Medicine. 1906

- Photographs

- Anglo-American Medical Association, Berlin. 1906

- Class of 1906, University of Minnesota Medical School.

- “Daddy’s Class.”  1902

- 1906 Class Reunion, University of Minnesota, College of Medicine.1944