Augustana University is playing a central role in commemorating the 100th anniversary of Giants in the Earth, the iconic novel by Norwegian-American author Ole Edvart Rølvaag that has shaped the literary landscape of the Midwest and Norwegian-American culture.
Originally written in Rølvaag’s family cabin on Big Island Lake, Minnesota, Giants in the Earth is widely regarded as a definitive account of the settler experience in the Dakota Territory. First published in Norwegian in 1924–1925 and translated into English in 1927, the novel explores the hardships faced by immigrant pioneers, mirroring the journey of Rølvaag’s own family.
“Giants in the Earth is often seen as the starting point of Minnesota literature and certainly of Norwegian-American literature,” said Dr. Patrick Hicks, Augustana’s Writer-in-Residence and a professor of English. “It’s one of our earliest and most powerful depictions of the settler experience.”
Augustana’s Historical Ties to Rølvaag
Rølvaag’s connection to Augustana dates back to his days as a student at Augustana Academy in Canton, South Dakota. He graduated as valedictorian, and those formative years proved influential in his development as a writer. According to Hicks, the geographical setting of the novel — near Garretson, South Dakota — and the author’s educational background both reflect Augustana’s influence.
“Augustana helped shape his worldview,” said Dr. Harry Thompson, executive director of the Center for Western Studies (CWS). “We even have Rølvaag’s academic transcript in our archives, which helps tell the broader story of both the university and the region.”
That legacy continues today on Augustana’s campus, where Rølvaag’s original writing cabin was relocated after being threatened with destruction on U.S. Forest Service land. Dismantled and reassembled at Heritage Park, the structure was recently restored and moved near the university’s Center for Visual Arts.
Opera Revival Sparks Broader Celebration
The novel’s centennial sparked a series of collaborations and cultural projects, including a revival of Douglas Moore’s Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Giants in the Earth by the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (SDSO). SDSO Music Director Delta David Gier worked closely with Augustana President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and School of Music Dean Dr. Peter Folliard to coordinate the performance and related programming.
Herseth Sandlin also facilitated a key philanthropic connection, introducing Gier to Dean Buntrock, founder of Waste Management, Inc. and a longtime supporter of the arts. That introduction led to the largest single donation in SDSO history, funding the opera’s revival and related initiatives.
“We have a president who deeply values community partnerships and heritage,” said Folliard. “When David pitched the idea, it just made sense to connect the dots.”
Preserving the Legacy
As part of the university’s commitment to honoring Rølvaag’s legacy, the cabin where he wrote the novel has been updated with a new roof and structural repairs. Hicks and his writing students contributed to the restoration, including repainting the cabin floor.
“I think Rølvaag would be stunned that the cabin is still around 100 years later,” Hicks said. He also brings his Advanced Writing students to the site, encouraging them to reflect on how place influences their storytelling.
“I often tell students that a story set in South Dakota will unfold very differently than one set in the Florida Everglades,” he said.
57th Annual Dakota Conference Highlights Emigration and Settlement
The CWS is also integrating the anniversary into its 57th Annual Dakota Conference, which runs under the theme “Settling and Resettling the Plains.” The event coincides with the bicentennial of Norwegian emigration to America and includes multiple presentations focused on Rølvaag, immigration, and the broader history of the Dakota Territory.
“This conference gives voice to the people of this region,” said Thompson. “We have 62 presenters covering a wide range of topics — from Giants in the Earth to migration and homesteading.”
The conference is part of a larger sequence of commemorative events that will lead into the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 2026.
