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Daughters of Norway
The Grand Lodge of the Daughters of Norway was founded as “Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast” (DNPC) on February 20, 1908, by the three independent lodges existing at that time: Valkyrien Lodge #1 of Seattle (1905-), Embla Lodge #2 of Tacoma (1907-), and Freya Lodge #3 of Spokane (1907-1923), all in Washington State. Members of each lodge signed Washington State letters of incorporation. The organization's bylaws provided for a governing body, which is the Grand Lodge, to hold annual conventions. This would promote social and cultural exchange among its members. Business was conducted relating to governance and maintenance of the modest fraternal burial fund that existed at that time for the benefit of individual members.

There are currently 30 subordinate lodges in the Central and Western United States, and has a total of 1,700 members.

Establishment
Norwegian immigration began in the 19th century as a result of poverty and famine in Norway, and people sought work and refuge in the United States. The organization Daughters of Norway was established as a result of the immigration to the United States and because a group of women was determined to preserve their culture and to build a network of support. The Daughters of Norway of the Midwest was established in North Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1897, alongside two other Sons of Norway chapters. The Sons of Norway started accepting specific female members into their organization in 1910 and gradually accepted more female members. The Daughters of Norway of the Midwest and the Sons of Norway merged into one organization in 1950, with 54 percent of their members being women, under the name Sons of Norway.

The Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast (DNPC), remained as a separate organization and never merged with with the Sons of Norway, and is now the surviving organization that is running to this day. In 1956 Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast was renamed to Daughters of Norway (D of N).

WWI to WWII
The Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast was impacted by both WWI and WWII, and the organization changed in between the two wars. The organization donated to organizations such as the American Red Cross during the first World War. The annual convention became permanently biennial. The DNPC began widening who could become members in the 1930s and started being more accommodating to members who spoke English as their primary language. The organization opened up their membership in 1930 to women who were married to men with Norwegian ancestry. In 1936 the organization translated their constitution and ritual book into English, and in 1942 they allowed for delegates in meetings to use English in their lodge meetings, however, Norwegian remained the primary language of the organization. In 1932, the DNPC began holding memorial services for members who had passed away. In 1942 the newsletter Døtre av Norge was founded in order to improve communication within the organization, the newsletter was written in Norwegian. DNPC donated to relief agencies and the Red Cross during World War II, and some members of the DNPC received medals for their efforts of relief support and resistance during WWII. The DNPC was more involved in the relief efforts of WWII, as Norway was invaded by Germany in 1940.

1950 to today
The Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast changed its name to Daughters of Norway (DofN) in 1956. The organization became strictly a cultural and social organization when "death benefits" ended for older members in the 1950s. Since the 1980s, the organization made the application process towards being a member easier, the organization made it possible to become an associate member, and changed Døtre av Norge in to a newspaper format. Several new lodges opened in the Midwest as interest in the organization grew.

Membership
The membership requirements for Daughters of Norway have increasingly become more open over time. Members must be 13 years or older, be of Norwegian, Sápmi, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, or Danish descent, or have/had a spouse who were born into or is a descendant of these nations, or have a relative who is married to a Norwegian by birth or descent.