Olger B. Burtness | |
|---|---|
 Burtness in 1923 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Dakota's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | John Miller Baer |
| Succeeded by | William Lemke |
| Member of theNorth Dakota House of Representatives | |
| In office 1919–1920 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1884-03-14)March 14, 1884 |
| Died | January 20, 1960(1960-01-20) (aged 75) |
| Nationality | American |
| Party | Republican |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Olger Burton Burtness (March 14, 1884 – January 20, 1960) was aU.S. representative fromNorth Dakota and a North Dakota district court judge.[1]
Olger Burton Burtness was born on a farm nearMekinock in theDakota Territory. He was the son of Ole O. and Mary (Anderson) Burtness, both immigrants fromNorway. Burtness graduated from the academic department of theUniversity of North Dakota atGrand Forks in 1906 and from its law department in 1907. He represented the University in several intercollegiate debates and was also active in The Mimer Society, a Scandinavian literary society. He was also a member of the university football team and was editor in chief of the Dacotah annual. Burtness was one of the founders of the UND Alumni Association, and helped organize the UND Development Fund.
He wasadmitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Grand Forks. He served as prosecuting attorney of Grand Forks County 1911-1916. He served as delegate to theRepublican National Conventions in 1916, 1936, and 1948.
He served as member of theNorth Dakota State House of Representatives in 1919 and 1920. During this time, he was an opponent of theNonpartisan League and was associated with theIndependent Voters Association.[2][3]
Burtness was elected as aRepublican to theSixty-seventhUnited States Congress and to the five succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1932.
In 1930 he was honored by theKing of Denmark with anOrder of the Falcon with a star. He also represented thePresident of the United States at the 100th anniversary of theIcelandic Parliament.
He resumed the practice of law and served as City attorney of Grand Forks, in 1936 and 1937. He was appointed judge of theFirst Judicial District, North Dakota District CourtArchived December 15, 2008, at theWayback Machine, by GovernorFred G. Aandahl in 1950 and served from November 1950 until his death. He died in Grand Forks on January 20, 1960. He was interred in Memorial Park Cemetery.[4]
He married Zoe Ensign on September 8, 1909, inDetroit Lakes, Minnesota. Following his death, Zoe Burtness donated funds to the University of North Dakota to construct an assembly hall for plays, lectures, and concerts, in honor of her husband. The Burtness Theater was dedicated on April 28, 1963.
The Olger B. Burtness Papers consist primarily of personal diaries for 1921 and 1927, as well as personal financial records. Correspondence and material concerning the Dakota Playmakers, and the Sock and Buskin Society at the University of North Dakota.[5]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Dakota's 1st congressional district 1921–1933 | Succeeded by |
| One seat at-large (1889–1903) |   | ||||||
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| Two seats at-large (1903–1913) |
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| Three districts (1913–1933) |
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| Two seats at-large (1933–1963) |
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| Two districts (1963–1973) |
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| One seat at-large (1973–present) | |||||||
This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
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