THORSTENSEN FAMILY:

An Inventory of Their Family Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Thorstensen (Family : Thorstensen, Robert E.), creator.
	Title:	Thorstensen family papers.
	Dates:	1908-2020 (bulk 1931-1944).
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Records of the Thorstensen family of Red Wing, Minnesota, including the correspondence of Robert E. Thorstensen and Marion Duggan Thorstensen during Robert's naval service during World War II. The bulk of the collection consists of the war time letters exchanged between Robert and Marion, who wrote to each other nearly every day (August 1943 to December 1944). Many of the letters are romantic in nature, and include insights into naval and domestic life during World War II, as well as information about arts and cultural events in the Twin Cities during that time. Also included in the collection are some biographical materials about Robert, his parents Edwin and Mabel's memoirs, Edwin's career history in Red Wing, and letters exchanged between Robert and his parents during his education.
	Quantity:	1.7 cubic feet (4 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Robert E. Thorstensen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to parents Edwin and Mabel Thorstensen on June 28, 1917. The family eventually settled in Red Wing, Minnesota, and Robert attended Red Wing Central High School.

Marion Virginia Duggan was born on August 5, 1920 to parents James Patrick Duggan and Gertrude (Gaul) Duggan in St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Paul.

Robert and Marion met in 1940 while Robert was a student at the University of Minnesota. The two remained in contact when Robert entered the Naval Reserve Midshipmen's school at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois in 1941. Robert was assigned a midshipman in October 1941 and later stationed at Coronado Island in San Diego, California, where he served as a communications officer assigned to the U.S.S. Wright. The two wed in San Diego in July of 1942.

Post war, the couple eventually settled and raised a family on the East Coast. Robert taught literature and composition at the New York State College for Teachers in Albany, and Marion taught English at the Albany Academy for Girls.

Robert passed in 2008, and Marion in 2014.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Thorstensen Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 17,770; 17,834

Processing Information:

Processed by: Leif Kopietz, February 2020 and July 2021.

Catalog ID number: 9989774140004294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location	Box
P2622	1	Notes on the Thorstensen war letters, 2020.
			Two page guide to select names and place references that appear in the letters of Robert and Marion Thorstensen, created by the Thorstensen family.


		Edwin B. Thorstensen memoir, 1974.


		Mabel A. Thorstensen memoir, 1966.


		Edwin B. Thorstensen training certification with Cutler-Hammer Clutch Co., June 11, 1908.


		Edwin B. Thorstensen: professional information regarding his career at S.B. Foot Tanning Company (Red Wing, Minn.), approximately 1920s-1970s.


		The Scarlet feather, 1931-1935. 2 folders.
			Red Wing Central High School literary magazine.


		Robert E. Thorstensen high school materials, approximately 1932-1935.
			Includes Red Wing High School event programs (1932-1935), Robert E. Thorstensen diploma (1935), newspaper clipping about Red Wing Municipal Band (1933), and a photograph.


		Robert E. Thorstensen journals and scrapbook, approximately 1935-1937. 3 volumes and unbound journal in 1 folder.


Location	Box
P2622	2	Robert E. Thorstensen naval service records, 1941-1954.


		Robert E. Thorstensen photographs, 1941-1944.


		Edwin and Mabel Thorstensen letters to their son Robert while he was a student at Northwestern University, 1935-1937.


		Robert E. Thorstensen letters to his parents while he was a student at Northwestern University, 1935-1937.


		Edwin and Mabel Thorstensen letters to their son Robert while he was a student at the University of Minnesota, 1937-1941.


		Robert E. Thorstensen letters to his parents while he was a student at the University of Minnesota, 1937-1940.
			Includes Robert's finance report (October 1, 1937).


		Edwin and Mabel Thorstensen letters to their son Robert while he was attending naval training in Chicago, 1941-1942.


		Edwin and Mabel Thorstensen letters to their son Robert while he was serving in the Navy in the Pacific, 1943-1944.


		Robert E. Thorstensen letters to Marion Duggan, 1940-1941.
			Letters (1940-1943) were written during Robert and Marion's courtship. Marion arrived on the West Coast from St. Paul around June 20th, 1942. The couple married in 1943 and lived on Coronado Island, California until August 1943. A gap in letters exists between June 1942 and August 1943, coinciding with this period.


Location	Box
P2622	3	Robert E. Thorstensen letters to Marion Duggan, 1941-1944. 4 folders.


Location	Box
P2622	4	Robert E. Thorstensen letters to Marion Duggan, 1944.


		Marion Duggan letters to Robert E. Thorstensen, 1943-1944. 3 folders.


		Transcribed letters of Marion Duggan, 1943-1944.
			Typewritten copies of the handwritten set of Marion Duggan letters.


		Marion Duggan reflection on 1942 trip to California, approximately 1992.


		Other family letters and photographs, 1943-1945.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives.; World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Pacific Ocean.

Persons:: Thorstensen, Edwin, author.; Thorstensen, Mabel, author.; Thorstensen, Marion Duggan, author.

Organizations:: United States. Navy -- Military life.; Wright (Aircraft tender).; S.B. Foot Tanning Company (Red Wing, Minn.)

Places:: Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.; Red Wing (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.

Document Types:: Genealogies (histories).; Love letters.; Memoirs.; Photographs.

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THORSTENSEN FAMILY:

OVERVIEW

HISTORICAL NOTE

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS