History Break: Muus vs. Muus

The Goodhue County Spectacle: The Muus vs. Muus Case that Made International Headlines

Join the translator and editor of Muus vs. Muus for a deep dive into the sensational 1880s divorce case that started in a local courthouse and became an international sensation. When Oline Muus filed her first lawsuit against her powerful husband in 1879, the private conflict of a marriage instantly became a public spectacle. Her husband, B.J. Muus, was not only the founder of St. Olaf College but also a prominent leader of the Norwegian Synod. Drawing from Goodhue County records, local newspaper coverage, and original court documents, this talk will examine how the case exposed the complex tensions within Norwegian-American immigrant life. We will explore the central struggle for women’s rights, the unyielding role of religion, and the cultural clash between a prominent couple that demanded attention on both sides of the Atlantic.

About the Speaker: Kari Lie Dorer is the King Olav V Chair in Scandinavian-American Studies, the Norwegian Department Chair, and Program Director of Nordic Studies at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN.