Click the orange link above to read the May 2024 issue of the Budstikken with information on our 125th anniversary, photos from past Stevnes, details about our 2024 Stevne as well as some interesting history of our organization.
The Valdres Samband has always had a focus on educating its membership about the history and culture of the Valdres region and the people who immigrated to the US. we do this through our newsletter and our annual meetings each summer. The current newsletter is typically 52 pages long and full of interesting articles. Current members get a printed copy of the Budstikken mailed to their own plus access to our entire archive of past newsletters going back to the early 1900’s.
The newsletters include articles about Valdres ancestors and Samband members in America and Norway, plus countless other topics relating to Valdres heritage.
Member Access to Past Issues
The Valdres Samband has been publishing newsletters since 1900. We have scanned most of these past issues (over 1200 total files) and made these available to our paid members. A password is required to access these files. You should have received an email from the Samband with the password. We change the password at the beginning of each year. You can email the Membership Secretary if you no longer have that password email (membership@valdressamband.org).
View Newsletter Archives (password is required)
If you would like to join (only $16/year), please check out our Membership pages.
The “Valdres Helsing” was the second publication of the Samband. The first quarterly issue, dated December 1903, consisted of 32 pages and was edited by president Veblen (founding father) and the Samband secretary (Johnson or Sundheim). In 1910 it was expanded to a monthly publication. Thirty issues of “Helsing” were issued. Can you imagine the work of these volunteers to write and print a 32 page publication in 1910 without the technology we have today?
The original newsletter for the Valdres Samband was called The Samband Newslet
ter and was issued from 1910 until 1935, all in Norwegian. It was billed as a “quarterly magazine devoted to old country folklore, tradition, and history as well as historical and biographical sketches from Valdres settlements in America”. We have most of the back issues scanned and available in PDF format to our members. Read an issue of The Samband Newsletter from 1933
The Samband Newsletter was issued again in the 1960’s and years 1962 through 1969 are available on our newsletter archive in English.
In 1962 a resolution was passed at the stevne that Valdres Samband should issue a mimeographed newsletter to its members (now at its low of 48 paid-up member families) twice a year. In December, a two-page issue of the “Valdres Samband Newsletter” appeared, edited by Carl T. Narvestad, the newly elected secretary. It was well received and membership began a slow growth. After four issues, the publication expanded to 4 pages in December 1964.
The current newsletter publication is called Budstikken and has been published continously since 1970. Each issue contains up to 52 pages of articles on upcoming events, genealogy resources and research tips, family history stories, interviews, book reviews etc. We have scanned most of them and made them available for members.
The term Budstikken translates to a bidding stick which describes a wooden object carried by a messenger to rally people together for an assembly. There was a Norwegian Newspaper in the early 1800’s called The Budstikken.
Our publication Budstikken means “message stick”. It gained its name from a hollowed out wooden tube with a cap at one end and a sharp nail or point at the other end. A budstikke was used to leave messages or news at a neighbors or friends home when they were away. The deliverer would remove the cover, insert the message in the tube and replace the cap. This was then forced in between the logs of the house near the front door. When the people returned home they would read the message, and if necessary, would replace it in the budstikke and pass it on to their neighbors in the same manner. It would be returned to the original owner when they got together at church or other community gatherings. “Budstikken” = “The Budstikke”.
If you are not a current member of the Valdres Samband, you can request a complimentary copy of the latest issue of our Budstikken Newsletters. Request a copy here.
Back Issues of Newsletters for Samband Members
Newsletter Archive Outline
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Editor: Lars Walker
- 2023 – Vol 52, Number 2 (Dec)
- 2024 – Vol 53, Number 1 (May)
Editor: Liv Marit Haakenstad
- 2023 – Vol 52, Number 1 (May)
Editor: Bruce Weaver II
- 2021 – Vol 51, Number 1 (May)
- 2020 – Vol 50 Number 2 (December)
- 2020 – Vol 50 Number 1 (May)
- 2019 – Vol 49 Number 2 (December)
- 2019 – Vol 49 Number 1 (May)
- 2018 – Vol 48 Number 2 (December)
Editor: Arlene Quam
- 2018 – Vol 48 Number 1 (May)
- 2017 – Vol 47 Number 2 (December)
- 2017 – Vol 47 Number 1 (May)
- 2016 – Vol 46 Number 2 (December)
- 2016 – Vol 46 Number 1 (May)
- 2015 – Vol 45 Number 2 (December)
- 2015 – Vol 45 Number 1 (May)
- 2014 – Vol 44 Number 2 (December)
- 2013 – Vol 44 Number 1 (May)
- 2013 – Vol 43 Number 2 (December)
- 2013 – Vol 43 Number 1 (May)
- 2012 – Vol 42 Number 2 (December)
- 2012 – Vol 42 Number 1 (May)
- 2011 – Vol 41 Number 2 (December)
- 2011 – Vol 41 Number 1 (May)
- 2010 – Vol 40 Number 1 (December)
- 2010 – Vol 40 Number 2 (May)
- 2009 – Vol 39 Number 1 (December)
- 2009 – Vol 39 Number 2 (May)
Gayle Struska, Editor
- 2008 – Vol 38 Number 1 (December)
- 2008 – Vol 38 Number 2 (May)
- 2008 – Vol 37 Number 1 (December)
- 2007 – Vol 37 Number 2 (May)
- 2007 – Vol 36 Number 1 (December)
- 2006 – Vol 36 Number 2 (May)
- 2006 – Vol 35 Number 1 (December)
- 2005 – Vol 35 Number 2 (May)
- 2005 – Vol 34 Number 1 (December)
- 2004 – Vol 34 Number 2 (May)
- 2004 – Vol 33 Number 1 (December)
- 2003 – Vol 33 Number 1 (May)
- 2003 – Vol 32 Number 2 (December)
- 2002 – Vol 32 Number 1 (May)
Ann Klee, Editor
- 2002 – Vol 31 Number 2 (December)
- 2002 – Vol 31 Number 1 (May)
Roy Everson, Editor
- 2001 – Vol 30 Number 2 (December)
- 2001 – Vol 30 Number 1 (May)
- 2000 – Vol 29 Number 2 (December)
- 2000 – Vol 29 Number 1 (May)
- 1999 – Vol 28 Number 2 (December)
- 1999 – Vol 28 Number 1 (May)
- 1998 – Vol 27 Number 2 (December)
- 1998 – Vol 27 Number 1 (May)
June Adele Dolva, Editor
- 1997 – Vol 26 Number 2 (December)
- 1997 – Vol 26 Number 1 (May)
- 1997 – Vol 25 Number 1 (December)
- 1996 – Vol 25 Number 2 (May)
- 1996 – Vol 24 Number 1 (December)
- 1995 – Vol 24 Number 2 (May)
- 1995 – Vol 23 Number 1 (December)
- 1994 – Vol 23 Number 1 (May)
- 1994 – Vol 22 Number 2 (December)
- 1993 – Vol 22 Number 1 (May)
- 1993 – Vol 21 Number 2 (December)
- 1992 – Vol 21 Number 1 (May)
- 1992 – Vol 20 Number 2 (December)
- 1992 – Vol 202 Number 1 (May)
- 1991 – Vol 19 Number 2 (December)
- 1991 – Vol 19 Number 1 (May)
- 1990 – Vol 18 Number 2 (December)
- 1990 – Vol 18 Number 1 (May)
David Kringstad, Editor
- 1989 – Vol 17 Number 2 (December)
- 1989 – Vol 17 Number 1 (May)
- 1988 – Vol 16 Number 2 (December)
Sam & Donna Sorenson, Interim Editors
- 1988 – Vol 16 Number 1 (May)
Carl T and Amy Narvestad, Editors
- 1987 – Vol 20 Number 2 (December)
- 1987 – Vol 19 Number 1 (May)
- 1986 – Vol 19 Number 2 (December)
- 1986 – Vol 18 Number 1 (May)
- 1986 – Vol 18 Number 2 (December)
- 1985 – Vol 17 Number 1 (May)
- 1985 – Vol 17 Number 2 (December)
- 1984 – Vol 16 Number 1 (May)
- 1984 – Vol 15 Number 2 (December)
- 1983 – Vol 15 Number 1 (May)
- 1983 – Vol 14 Number 2 (December)
- 1982 – Vol 14 Number 1 (May)
- 1982 – Vol 13 Number 2 (December)
- 1981 – Vol 13 Number 1 (May)
- 1981 – Vol 12 Number 2 (December)
- 1981 – Vol 12 Number 1 (May)
- 1980 – Vol 11 Number 2 (December)
- 1980 – Vol 11 Number 1 (May)
- 1979 – Vol 10 Number 2 (December)
- 1979 – Vol 10 Number 1 (May)
- 1978 – Vol 9 Number 2 (December)
- 1978 – Vol 9 Number 2 (December)
- 1978 – Vol 8 Number 2 (December)
- 1977 – Vol 8 Number 1 (May)
- 1977 – Vol 7 Number 2 (December)
- 1977 – Vol 8 Number 1 (May)
- 1976 – Vol 7 Number 1 (May)
- 1976 – Vol 7 Number 2 (December)
- 1975 – Vol 6 Number 2 (December)
- 1975 – Vol 6 Number 1 (May)
Two issues a year most years between 1962 and 1969 in one PDF file.
Variable numbers of issues per year from 1910 to 1935 in individual PDF files.
Editors: A A Veblen and J S Johnson
December 1903 – August 1906
Editors: A A Veblen and V M Sundheim
December 1906 – August 1908
Editors: A A Veblen and J S Johnson
December 1908 – October 1910
By Cathy Paulson
According to the “History of Valdres Samband” written by Carl T. and Amy A. Narvestad, the first publication to appear was a four-page copy of the Grunnlov (constitution) written and published in the Valdres dialect dated May 17, 1902. It was then followed by “Beretninger og Rapporter”, a 36-page report of the stevne of 1902. The page size was 3 1/4 by 4 3/4 inches.
Next came the “Valdres Helsing”, a quarterly publication. Its first issue, dated December 1903, consisted of 32 pages and a cover. The page size was 4 by 5 1/2 inches. The publication was edited by president Veblen (founding father) and the Samband secretary (Johnson or Sundheim) and in 1910 expanded to a monthly publication. Thirty issues of “Helsing” were issued.
“Samband” succeeded “Valdres Helsing” in 1910. Its first issue dated November 1910, was published by the Samband Publishing Association which was separate from the Valdres Samband. The publication had 32 5 by 8 inch pages. It ceased publication in October 1917.
The next Valdres publication was “The Valdris Book”, sub-titled “A manual of the Valdris Samband” written by Andrew A. Veblen and was published in 1920. This 303-page “Valdris Book” was written in English. Available Online.
In 1922 the “Valdreser i Amerika” was issued by A. M. Sundheim who was then the Samband president. This 222-page book was written in Norwegian. It contained a history of the Valdres Samband, a membership record with genealogical information about members, and biographical sketches of a number of outstanding Valdres in America. Available Online
In March, 1927, the publication “Samband” was revived as a quarterly publication. It was edited by Sundheim alone until March 1930 when Helge Hoverstad’s name appeared on the masthead as assistant editor. This new quarterly was improved by the use of pictures. The last issue, in March 1935, editor Sundheim made the point that had each member paid his dues (or subscription) of one dollar, “Samband” could still be saved. The number of paid-up memberships in 1935 had fallen to 95, compared to 425 memberships in 1932.
Printed or mimeographed Christmas greetings and post cards announcing the stevne dates and sites were the only published contacts with Valdres members until 1959. This was the 60th anniversary of the Valdres Samband and a 36-page booklet was issued. The jubilee book contained a history of the Samband in both Norwegian and English.
In 1962 a resolution was passed at the stevne that Valdres Samband should issue a mimeographed newsletter to its members (now at its low of 48 paid-up member families) twice a year. In December, a two-page issue of the “Valdres Samband Newsletter” appeared, edited by Carl T. Narvestad, the newly elected secretary. It was well received and membership began a slow growth. After four issues, the publication expanded to 4 pages in December 1964.
In 1967, the financial condition of the Samband had improved to make it feasible to publish a thirty-two page brochure with a soft cover, entitled “Valdres, Queen of the Valleys”. This book was prepared by a committee headed by Narvestad, Miss Clara Thorpe, and Mrs. Arne M. Berg.
By May 1970, an eight-page offset printed news sheet called the “Valdres Samband Budstikken” was approved. It was co-edited by Carl T. Narvestad and his wife, Amy A. Narvestad. This eight-page 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper was produced camera-ready by the Narvestads with only an old typewriter and elementary printing equipment. Nearly twice as many new members enrolled the first six months after its issuance as the total membership was in 1962.
Membership continued to grow. In May 1971, “Budstikken” became a 16-page news magazine with advertising. The December 1971 issue was profusely illustrated with pictures, many taken by Carl W. Sorenson, a Texas member of the Samband.
The May 1972 issue saw new text type as the Samband purchased an IBM Executive typewriter with a carbon ribbon. In December 1972, “Budstikken” went to 20-pages. The publication was continuously improved and much credit was due to the meticulous care exercised in the printshop darkroom by Samband member James Laraby.
By the fall of 1970 the supply of the brochure, “Valdres, Queen of the Valleys”, had been exhausted by the growth in membership. A second edition was printed. Whereas the first printing in 1967 was enough to supply the membership of that time and the new members acquired until 1970, the tremendous surge in new memberships exhausted the second edition in two years.
The book “Valdres Samband 1899-1974”, from which the above information was taken, is the biggest single undertaking of the last half century of Samband history. It conforms to Article eight of the constitution of 1902 which specifically made the collection and dissemination of such information a duty of the Samband and its members.
In addition, we thank the following people for their contribution and dedication to the Valdres Samband by serving as editors of the “Budstikken”:
Carl and Amy Narvestad 1970-1984
David Kringstad 1985-1986
June Adele Dolva 1987-1995
Roy Everson 1996-1999
Ann Klee 1999-2000
Gayle Struska 2000-2008
Arlene Quam 2008-2019
Bruce Weaver II 2019-present
The “Budstikken” of today is a 40-page magazine, filled with pictures and wonderful stories about our heritage. And now we embark on a new adventure – the Internet and e-mail. The Internet will never replace the published (and unpublished) works of our forefathers and foremothers. Instead, it will continue to collect, preserve, and disseminate information according to Article Eght of the Constitution of 1902.
Consider the words of our founding father, Andrew A. Veblen, written in English in June, 1904 and apply them to modern and future technology as well as the next generation:
“Neither is it correct to suppose that the privilege of becoming members belongs only to those who can speak or understand the Valdris dialect. But a word or two seems desirable about the relations to the Samband on the part of Valdrisers born and reared in this country, many of whom do not know any Valdris and often not even Norwegian. One of the chief aims is to gather, preserve, and impart knowledge of Valdris and people of Valdris origin; to serve as a bond between them and to keep alive their common traditions, to foster knowledge of their ancestry and cherish a filial interest in the beautiful ancestral home of the race. By the operation of natural causes the language of our fathers will be forgotten among our descendants a few generations hence. But the sentiment and interest that called the Samband into being need not die with the language. They should endure as long as there remains Valdris blood to transmit; and to keep them alive and perpetuate them is a special function of the Valdris Samband. It is easily seen, therefore, that it is important to prevail especially on the young to identify themselves with this society and become interested in the work it is seeking to do. For this reason the Samband not only admits to membership American Valdrisers who may not be familiar with the language of their forefathers, but specially and emphatically solicits and invites them.”
What a “futurist” this man was! Children of the information age, Velkommen to the Valdres Samband!