The Digital Initiatives Department of the North Dakota State Library (NDSL) is excited to announce the opening of another online exhibit called the “Scandinavian American Bank.” The exhibit uses information and content from NDSL’s Political Prairie Fire digital collection, which focuses on the political battle between the Nonpartisan League (NPL) and the Independent Voters Association (IVA).
This exhibit tells the story of the scandals surrounding the Scandinavian American Bank of Fargo from the late 1910s to well into the 1920s. This seemingly normal bank in downtown Fargo was at the epicenter of the political battle between the NPL and IVA. The scandals would impact more than just this bank. The State Banking Board, the State Examiner's office, the Attorney General's office, NPL enterprises, the Bank of North Dakota, a bank in Valley City, the State Auditor, the courts (including the North Dakota Supreme Court), and several prominent individuals would also be pulled in (many of which, at different times, would be labeled "bank wreckers" for their varied involvement). The arrests, trials, and fanfare lasted for years.
Today, the Scandinavian American Bank has become a mere footnote in the history of the NPL, overshadowed by some of the enduring legacies of that time (like the Bank of North Dakota and the Industrial Commission). However, the bank played a pivotal role in the NPL-IVA era of North Dakota history.
The primary way to navigate the exhibit is to start on the homepage and then progress through each sub-page under “The Story” in sequential order (using the “Next” and “Previous” buttons at the bottom of each page). The “Timeline” page/ tab is a supplement to the main story, and it provides another way to experience the story (in a chronological and slightly condensed way).
This online exhibit is the department’s most comprehensive and ambitious yet. Check it out today! The exhibit is available on NDSL’s LibGuides at https://library-nd.libguides.com/exhibits/sab
Many of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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