The Nordkap Lodge No. 5-378 records contain material related to the Detroit lodge of the Sons of Norway organization. The collection primarily consists of a run of minutes for the general and board meetings between 1968 to 2017. These minutes are arranged chronologically within binders, and also include financial reports, newsletters, and transcriptions of presentations. Another set of binders offer a mostly complete run of the "Nordkapen" newsletter from the 2010s, as well as budgets for the organization. Two folders contain correspondence between the Nordkap Lodge and national office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and between board members. Also, a folder with newspaper clippings that document the reach of the organization within the Detroit community.
In 1895, 18 Norwegian immigrants started the Sons of Norway, based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The organization's original intent was to offer assistance to Norwegian Americans during the times of financial adversity and to the Norwegian community members in need for assistance due to health issues. More recently the organization exists to preserve and educate the community members about Norwegian culture.
In 1929, members from the Detroit area started a local chapter of the Sons of Norway. The Nordkap Lodge was approved the following year. Each month the lodge holds meetings at the Swedish Club in Farmington Hills, Mich. These meetings offer members the opportunity to socialize and attend presentations. The Nordkap Lodge also runs charitable events in tandem with the national organization and the other lodges. Throughout the Detroit area, the Nordkap Lodge hosts a number of presentations, workshops, and festivals to teach the community about Norwegian culture.
