Family History

The Beginning of Torleif’s Interest in Genealogy

When Torleif S. Knaphus was a student of fine arts in Christiania (Oslo), Norway, he rented a room from a family who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).  They introduced him to the Church, and he was later baptized on February 17, 1903 at age 21.  In his journal, he wrote:

“I also became interested in religion and old family legends.  I attended the famous lecture given by Jonas Lie who told those old sagas of long, long ago as though they had recently happened.

“At the end of my three years study (of art in 1904), I was told by Professor Lars Utne that I was first in line for the two-year Roman scholarship; but to his great disappointment, I had joined the LDS Church and my interest in genealogical research work had become a vital thing to me.”   (Emphasis Added)

While living in the capital city of Norway, Torleif’s journal has numerous entries that he visited the National Archives to research his family names. This was a valuable resource to him, which stimulated his interest in genealogy.  

NOTE:  Jonas Lie (1833-1908) was a Norwegian novelist, poet, playwright, and presenter.  He would speak to audiences about the Sagas of old Norway and the legends of Vikings.  Apparently, his dynamic and enthusiastic stories influence people all over Scandinavia.

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Torleif’s First Trip Back to Vats to Gather Names - 1905

When he returned home to Vats for the first time after starting art school in Christiania (Oslo), he had been ordained an Elder in the LDS Church, had “joined the Young Men’s Association”, and was a member of the Scripture Society (a precursor to the Seminary program).  He continues in his journal:

“So in the summer of 1905 (when he was 24 years old), I took a trip from Christiania to my home in Vats in Western Norway for this purpose (of gathering family names).  I was very successful as everyone I called on became interested, gave me of their time, and all the help they could.”

He carried with him a small notebook where he kept the names, dates, and relationships of generations of individuals.  In the beginning of his book, he wrote:

“I, Torleif Knaphus, am the one who wants to gather the information of my ancestral histories and family names.  I am enlightened by God’s Spirit so I understand the reason of this special work.  I truly hope the Lord will bless me in this great work….”

During his trip, he walked from parish to parish, finding out the names of distant relatives.  He was well received and did not worry about where to stay or what to eat.  From his writings, we can loosely calculate that his journeys took him walking between 100 to 200 miles searching for names of family members. In his Journal, he continues:

“Then I went to our Lutheran minister (in Vats) who treated me very friendly, brought me the church books I needed and with his kind approval, I worked there 6 full days and obtained the dates of birth and death of the many relatives I had found…

“I then said farewell to my parents to go back to Oslo.  And as I got aboard the steamboat and walked on the deck that beautiful autumn day, carrying with me about 350 of my relatives’ names, which I had obtained, I definitely felt that there is nothing according to the time spent so valuable for the eternal good of men as this work.”

Upon immigrating to Utah, Torleif was pleased to be so close to the temple.  After going through for himself, he often did temple work for the names he brought with him.  Even after he married Millie, they were found in the temple several days a week.

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His Second (and Final) Trip to Gather Names in Norway - 1914

When Torleif was finished with his art studies in Paris, and before he spent 6 months in New York City and Chicago to study art, he traveled to Vats.  There were two purposes of his visit.  First of all, his mother was quite sick and he wanted to see her one last time.  (In fact, she died only months after his visit to Vats.)  Secondly, he wanted to gather more names since both of his parents were from the Vats area and there were many names that he had yet to obtain.  He wrote in his journal of these experiences and whom he visited: 

“In the fall of 1913 (Torleif was 32 years old), I went to France and the following summer I visited my parents in Norway and spent 2½ months in genealogical research work...

“In my procedure, before I called on the various families, I filled out all I knew as to their full name, where and when born, etc., the same as I always did in my correspondence, then asked them to see if I was right and help me to add to what more they knew. In this procedure I was very successful and obtained about 700 more names.”

Since World War I had begun in Europe and Germany had sunk passenger and cargo ships, rightfully so, Torleif wrote about his concerns about traveling across the Atlantic Ocean:

And as I then had to cross the ocean in the most dangerous time of World War I, I was most deeply concerned for the additional record I had obtained because it is to me, next to my family, the most precious thing I have.”

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Torleif’s Spiritual Guidance and Testimony

While visiting Vats for the last time, he wrote of opportunities to bear his testimony and talk about the truth to his parents and to his younger brother Andreas – who later changed his name to Andrew when he immigrated to Utah.  He also wrote that he visited the Sørhus boys, who lived nearby.  Torleif said he was:

“…able to present the gospel with a convincing clarity, and bore my testimony with such great power as I never before had.”

Torleif sought help often through prayer and fasting.  After he had returned to Utah and moved to Salt Lake City with his family, he spent much time in recording and doing family research work.  A favorite place to pray was Ensign Peak, which is immediately north of downtown Salt Lake City.  Quoting from his journal, he states: 

“One evening towards 1930 (Torleif was about 49 years old), I was taking a hike to Ensign Peak, so well known in our history, I felt very much of the spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude.  And as my thoughts were leading to my ancestors, I obtained faith there that I would be able to trace some of my lineage quite a few generations farther back, which previously had seemed impossible.”

He then relates in his journal many sacred experiences and the fact that he was then able to go back fifteen generations on his mother’s lineage.  With the names Torleif obtained, he spent much time in recording and getting things ready for Temple work. His daughter Grace said that he had a strong testimony of the eternal salvation of the dead, since he shared it with his children often.

"…I have been grateful above words of expression that the Temples have been built and the condition has been so that I have been able to do this great work…

“And although I have spent an immense amount of time concentrating and working, yet it has seemed like the blessings of the Lord have been with me so my family or my art work have not been neglected on account of this great work accomplished."

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His Passion of Family History Work

Not only did Torleif find out just the names, birth dates and places of his ancestors, he came to know them as if they were his close friends. To help his descendents know of his ancestors as individuals, instead of just names, he wrote much about their lives.

“It is wonderful to know of so many of our forefathers from that long ago, to know where they lived and served, know of their relationship to each other and the fun they had together…My love has been extended to everyone I have on this record as though they were my living family…

“I have used the greatest of care in recording them correctly and attending to their temple work.”

While studying art in Christiania, he visited the National Archives often to gather names and to do research on his ancestors.  Even the very night before he was to emigrate and leave his native land, he was so passionate about doing family history that he visited the National Archives - one last time - until they closed for the night.

Torleif’s children also knew how valuable his genealogical records were to him and how he personally guarded them. His daughter Olive remembered: “All of us (children) were admonished to ‘save’ the genealogical records first in case of a fire. We laughed and teased about it, but were proud of him and his great accomplishment.”   Torleif continued writing in his journal:

"So with this unanimous effort aided by divine guidance, I have now found 782 of my grandparents' names connecting me rightfully on many lines with my forefathers of 500, 600, and 700 years ago, as shown on my big pedigree chart, which serves me as a blueprint in this work. I have also found the names and dates of about 9,400 additional relatives. So I have now about 10,132 names recorded and nicely kept in my three big loose-leaf record books."

NOTE: These “additional relatives” are the indirect or collateral lines.

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Torleif’s Influence Upon Others

Several individuals assisted Torleif with his genealogical research efforts, including his brother Andrew and Torleif’s two wives.  He was amazed to see the willingness of other people help him in his pursuit.  He paid some genealogists – in Norway – but many of them were pleased to help him out with his family history work.

Based upon Torleif’s encouragement of others in his native land of Norway, “…books were written and genealogical societies have been organized” (some still exist today) – all because of Torleif’s influence in Norway. Many of his friends, helped him to get names and dates through various contacts and friendly correspondence.”

Around 1954 at age 73, Torleif spoke at an LDS Ward and encouraged all to do genealogical work: "This work is so great and so essential for our salvation and for those who have put their trust in us.  So I urge you to sincerely start this work."   In encouraging others to also become excited and involved in genealogical research, Torleif taught that the formula for individual qualifications for one doing this great work is to have:

In the summer of 1937, when Torleif was 55 years old, he presented a report to the First Presidency of the LDS Church.  Regarding this honorable experience, he wrote:

“President Heber J. Grant gave me much of his time and treated me very kindly; he also gave me a place in the Church Office Building for the keeping of my record.  Then he called in President J. Reuben Clark and asked him to also read my report and as he gave it back to me, he said in an impressive way, ‘This could be an example to the whole Church’.  And his kind face always stood before my mind’s eye as though to encourage me on.” (Torleif noted President McKay was not in his office on that day.)

For many years Torleif’s giant family pedigree chart was mounted on the wall in the Church Office building (now the Church Administrative Building) “…as a showpiece, as one of the most complete records at that time."   In 1955, at the age of 73, Torleif writes:

“President David O. McKay called at my studio and as he admiringly looked at my big pedigree chart mounted to the wall he said, ‘This could be an example to all of us.’ Then I knew it was right, and I have carried on with joy in this work.” 

Ten years later, Elder LeGrand Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at Torleif’ funeral in 1965.  He stated that he knew of no single man in the Church that had done more work in genealogy than Torleif Knaphus did.

Friends and family members are still intrigued and inspired by his great work with his family history efforts.  We’ll never know the full extent of the influence Torleif’s genealogical work has made.  Today, four copies of his large pedigree chart are in Norway (three in the Vats area) and countless others are in the homes of his descendants.  Torleif paved the way for others – besides his ancestors – to benefit from his hard work.

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What’s Happening with His Family History Work?

Not long after Torleif’s passing on June 13, 1965 at the age of 83, his second wife Marie gave his three large books full of Family Group Sheets (FGS) to the oldest child, Kimball Irving (1911-1991), who was 55 years old at the time.  In 1972, at age 17, Torleif’s 23rd grandchild, Allen Gerritsen (Marie’s son) kept visiting Kim’s home to copy pages from the family group sheets. 

This was before the days of digital scanning and private copy machines, let alone copy centers!  Understandably, Kim did not want the records to leave his home.  After almost a dozen visits over six months from Allen to study and to copy the records, Kim had a heart-to-heart talk with him. Kim approached Allen and asked him to be “the keeper of Torleif’s records”.  It was a shock to Allen, but he was honored and humbled.  The records were kept in a safe place and years passed with not much progress until two things happened:

1.The personal computer (PC) was available.  The Church then come out with Personal Ancestral File (PAF) – a computer program where ancestral records could be entered and shared with others.  Allen, his wife Juli, and a handful of family volunteers entered the direct-line into PAF; and then

2.Allen was blessed (yes, blessed) with some illnesses that were disabling, which allowed him to take an early medical retirement from his work.  This allows him to spend “good” days working on family history.  Over time, the indirect, or collateral lines have been entered.

There is a lot of “clean-up” being done and like Torleif did, the records are being “checked and rechecked - every line and lineage” for accuracy.   The family group sheets are all available through a GEDCOM file from Allen Gerritsen, or various stages of corrected information from the Church’s database through: https://www.new.familysearch.org.

Kim’s son and Torleif’s first grandson, Richard “Dick” Knaphus (1935-2010), made copies of Torleif’s large pedigrees chart that were available for a few years.  Since then, Allen has a printed digital copy available that is 3’ by about 5½’ in size.  A copy is available by writing to the Knaphus Family Organization at: email@KnaphusFamily.org.

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How Can Family Members Help?

Family History is the #1 hobby in the world and the #2 searched information on the Internet.  You do not need to be LDS to enjoy the “crowning joy…on account of this work” as Torleif experienced. 

Since you may be one to four generations after Torleif, perhaps the best thing you can do for yourself is to create a 4-generation pedigree chart with you as being person #1.  Then you should fill in as much information as you can on all lines of your family.   This will give you a great beginning to search your entire family’s information.

One of the largest free family history sites in the world is https://www.new.familysearch.org/.    This is a great resource tool as you search your own family history.   A valuable guide to family history work for the members (or even non-members) of the LDS faith is the following resource: A Member's Guide to Temple and Family History Work.

Once you get to the point of exploring Torleif’s information, and would like assistance, feel free to contact Allen Gerritsen , the Knaphus Family Organization’s specialist in family history.  There may even be histories, which need to be typed or other such duties you may be able to do for the Knaphus Family Organization.

Once you get involved with Family History, it is a wonderful opportunity to find out about your heritage and your roots.  You will then be able to experience “the crowning joy” of which Torleif talks about. 

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Endnote Sources Listed

1 Torleif S. Knaphus My Life’s Hobby, Part 1, July 22, 1937, page 1

2 Torleif S. Knaphus, Genealogical Research - The Greatest of All Hobbies, date unknown

3 Ibid

4 Ibid

5 Personal Journal of T.S.K. until 1908, translated by Brit Woodbury

6 Torleif S. Knaphus My Life’s Hobby, Part 1, July 22, 1937, page 2

7 Torleif’s Genealogy Notebook, ca. early 1900’s, private collection

8 Torleif S. Knaphus My Life’s Hobby, Part 1, July 22, 1937, page 1

9 Torleif S. Knaphus, Genealogical Research - The Greatest of All Hobbies, date unknown

10 Torleif S. Knaphus My Life’s Hobby, Part 1, July 22, 1937, page 1

11 Ibid, page 2

12 Ibid, page 3

13 Torleif S. Knaphus, Brief Report of My Genealogical Work, July 22, 1937, page 1

14 Ibid, page 2

15 Torleif S. Knaphus, My Life’s Hobby, Introduction, October 4, 1961, page 1

16 Personal Journal of T.S.K. until 1908, translated by Brit Woodbury

17 Olive (Knaphus) Miller, My Early Remembrances of Dad, ca. 1985

18 Torleif S. Knaphus, My Life’s Hobby, Part II, October 4, 1961, page 6

19 Torleif S. Knaphus, My Life’s Hobby, Part II, October 4, 1961, page 1

20 Speech delivered by T.S. Knaphus titled: Service they Rendered, ca. 1954

21 Kimball I. Knaphus, My Early Remembrances of Dad, ca. 1985

22 Anne Marie (Knaphus) James, My Remembrance of Dad – Torleif S. Knaphus, ca. 1

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