Stuen, Agnes

2 file folders
2 sound cassette
1 compact disc

Interviews were conducted with Agnes Stuen on July 2, 1979 in Seattle, Washington and on May 6, 1980 in Tacoma, Washington. The interviews contain information on her family background, employment history, and the early days at Pacific Lutheran University, marriage and family, and Stuen Hall. The interview was conducted in English. John Stuen also contributed to the May 6, 1980 interview.

Folder Contents

Box 2, File 1 Personal and Family History
Tape Archive Sheet, Family Background, and Tape Index

Box 2, File 1A Correspondence and Forms
Release Form
Letter from Janet Rasmussen thanking Mrs. Stuen and John Stuen for their participation.
Handwritten Tape Archive Sheet and Family Background

Interviewed by Donna Mallonee
Transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson, Becky Husby and Christer Uthus
Encoded by Kerstin Ringdahl & Amity Smetzler
Recording Quality: Good

Biographical Note

Agnes Stuen was born on November 26, 1883 in Fargo, North Dakota. Her parents were Johan Hougen, who was originally from Norway, and Thrine Johnson, who was born in Clinton County, Iowa. Agnes's maternal grandmother was an orphan and raised in Norway, but Agnes does not know what country her great grandparents were originally from. In addition to Agnes, Johan and Thrine had four other children: Clara, Laura, Hjalmar, and Alfred.

After Thrine died of tuberculosis when Agnes was seven years old, the family remained in Fargo, where Johan was a minister, for two more years. The family then moved to Canton, North Dakota, where Johan remarried. Eventually, the family moved to Decorah, Iowa, where Agnes finished high school before continuing on to St. Olafs College. Following college, Agnes became a teacher at a children's home, and 1912, she moved to Tacoma, Washington, where her father now lived. In Tacoma, she was hired as the Dean of Woman at Pacific Lutheran University, then Pacific Lutheran College. Agnes lived at the school, where she taught English and spelling to foreign students, in addition to looking after 50-70 girls.

In 1914, she married Ole Stuen, who taught German, Physics, Norwegian, and worked in the library at PLU. Ole was born in Oppdal, Norway and had come to the United States to further his education. He graduated from PLU and also attended the University of Washington. Agnes and Ole had four children: John, Elizabeth (Willis), Marc, and Anita (Potthoff). All four of the children attended PLU, as have all four of Elizabeth's children, two of John's children, and all four of Marc's. A dormitory at the university was also dedicated to the Stuens after they gave six lots of land to PLU. Stuen Hall currently stands where their house was once located.

Lineage

Full Name: Agnes Christine Theodora Hougen Stuen
Maiden Name: Agnes Christine Theodora Hougen
Father: Johan Olai Hougen
Mother: Thrine Christine Johnson
Step-Mother: Anna Stocksted
Paternal Grandfather: Jens Johannessen Hougen
Paternal Grandmother: Kirstina Olsdatter
Maternal Grandfather: John Dosband Johnson
Maternal Grandmother: Thrine Handler Myklebust
Brothers and Sisters: Clara Elizabeth Hougen Severeid, Laura Thrine Johanna Hougen Hanson, Hjalmar Johan Hougen, Alfred Benjamin Hougen
Half-Brothers and Sisters: Olav Andreas Hougen, Esther Ingeborg Jensine Hougen Davis, Olga Elena Hougen Nelson
Spouse: Ole Johnson Stuen
Children: Oliver John Stuen, Mary Elizabeth Stuen Willis, Marcus Rodway Stuen, Anita Louise Stuen Potthoff