American Association of University Professors

The O. H. Thormodsgard Papers consist primarily of essays, articles, and lectures by Dean Thormodsgard. However, it also includes a large quantity of personal and professional correspondence, academic theses, and various diplomas and certificates, as well as committee reports. Unfortunately, Thormodsgard often did not sign and/or date the documents he kept, so many documents have been preserved as part of this collection on the assumption that they were written by him, but without conclusive proof. In addition to documents, this collection also contains a World War I-era blue star banner. A blue star banner consists of a white field edged in red with one or more blue five-pointed stars centered on the white field. In the United States, it is traditionally displayed by families, communities, and organizations with members currently serving in the armed forces, and the number of stars corresponds to the number of members serving. This particular banner has the number "103" superimposed on the star, suggesting that 103 men from that organization or community were serving at the time the banner was made. It is unknown which community or organization this banner represented. Thormodsgard was teaching high school in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, at the time WWI broke out, suggesting the banner may have originated in that community. Alternatively, the banner may have also represented individuals affiliated with the University of North Dakota or the UND Law School who were serving in uniform, and later found its way into Thormodsgard's possession when he became dean of the law school.