NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG6278.AM: Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg, 1872-1946
Papers: 1918-1930, undated
Omaha, Douglas County, Neb.: Machinist and union organizer
Size: 0.25 cu.ft.; 1 box
BACKGROUND NOTE
Born June 8, 1872, at Trondheim, Norway, Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg and his seven siblings emigrated to the United States with their parents, Jonas Christian and Arnolda Wangberg, in 1884. The family eventually settled in Omaha, Nebraska, where Jonas grew to adulthood. In 1894 Wangberg married Emma May Reber. Between 1895 and 1914, the couple would have eight children.
By this time, Wangberg was employed as a machinist and was passionate about the labor movement in the United States and started working for the Central Labor Union where he traveled the country promoting unions. In 1919 he worked to organize the Southern Pacific Federation, a collection of local unions along the Union and Southern Pacific Railroads. Jonas worked for the Omaha Bee newspaper from 1924 to 1928 as chief mechanic and purchasing agent. In 1928 Jonas went to work for the Post Enquirer newspaper and moved the family to Oakland, California. The Wangbergs spent the remainder of their lives in California.
Jonas also served as the manager for the Merchants of North Twenty-fourth Street, an amateur class “B” baseball team. Originally an independent team formed in 1911, the team eventually joined the City League. In 1914, the team was described as “having won more than their share of victories this year.” During that time, Wangberg served as the delegate of the merchants and was responsible for looking after the team. The team was in existence from 1911 to the early 1930s.
Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg died in Oakland, California, on February 4, 1946.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one box of materials written by or about Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg and his time as a union organizer. Included are original handwritten and illustrated publications by Wangberg promoting the labor movement. Titles include, The Labor Temple Ferret and The Blast. Other items include a brief biography of Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg by his grandson, James K. Wangberg; a transcribed copy of the reminiscence, The Cradle, by Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg, documenting his early life in Norway; a copy of Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg’s autobiography with annotations by his grandson; and a few miscellaneous writings by Wangberg and others.
Note: The photo component consists of one photograph of a 1914 Omaha baseball team coached by Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg.
Acc. 2024.0283
INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder
- “Writings and Collections of Writings from Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg” by James K. Wangberg
“Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg, 1872-1946: A Brief Biography,” by Grandson James K. Wangberg
Photocopies of photographs of Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg - “Annotation to My Grandfather’s (Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg” Autobiography” by Jim Wangberg (grandson)
- “The Cradle” by Jonas Rasmussen Wangberg, 1930 (transcribed December 2020 from his original calligraphic account with my numbering for each of his panels of narratives and photos. Items in bold were illegible. Jim Wangberg, grandson)
- Labor Temple Ferret, 1918
Labor Temple Ferret (Labor Day Edition), 1919 - Labor Temple Ferret, April 1923
- The Blast, undated
- Miscellaneous writings possibly by Wangberg or others
Subject headings:
Autobiographies
Douglas County (Neb.)
Labor unions
Omaha (Neb.)
Reminiscing
Wangberg, Jonas Rasmussen, 1872-1946
TMM 12-11-2024
