Mabel Johnson Leland

Mabel Johnson Leland (September 7, 1871 – March 23, 1947) was an American lecturer on Scandinavian literature and translator from Norwegian to English. Her most notable work with the translation of Arne Garborg's The Lost Father from the New Norse (Boston, The Stratford Co., 1920).

Early life and education Mabel Johnson was born at West Salem, Wisconsin, September 7, 1871. Her parents emigrated from Ringsaker, Norway to the U.S. when each was young. Mabel's maternal grandparents were La Crosse County, Wisconsin pioneers.

She graduated from the local high school in 1888 and had a year's stay abroad. Further study was pursued at Ripon College in languages, literature and music. A course in piano and theory was completed under Rossetter Gleason Cole at the Ripon College School of Music in 1894. While at college, she identified with the YWCA, the Ecolian Literary society and the Inter-collegiate debating teams.

Leland was affiliated with the following organizations: The Round Table Club of Kenyon, of which she was a founder in 1898 and which was federated. She served as Secretary-Treasurer of Third District Minnesota Federated Women's Clubs; chair, in Kenyon League of Women Voters; Local Chair, Council of National Defense; member, Republican Woman's Club, of Woman's Auxiliary of American Legion. For 20 years, she was the secretary of the Kenyon Public Library Association. Leland also served as chair of a girls' Mission Band which united the efforts of young girls of all churches in a common work for children's relief. Interment was in the Kenyon, Minnesota cemetery.

Selected works The Lost Father, Translated from the New Norse of Arne Garborg, By Mabel Johnson Leland (Boston, The Stratford Co., 1920) (Text)