NEW RICHLAND — A professor from Norway has traveled all the way to Minnesota this week to research some of the history of the first secretary general of the United Nations.

Guri Hjeltnes, a professor at Oslo University, is writing a biography about Norwegian politican Trygve Lie, who was the first secretary general of the United Nations from 1946 to 1953.

Hjeltnes’ research will bring her to New Richland Friday to research information about a man who some speculated was Lie’s father, who immigrated to New Richland in the late 1800s as a carpenter. The man is reportedly buried in a church cemetery in New Richland.

Rodney Hatle, a board member with the New Richland Area Historical Society, said the society has been in contact with Hjeltnes for three or four years as she has been working on the biography.

The professor will meet with the historical society’s board members for lunch Friday at The Willows in New Richland and go to New Richland City Hall for a few hours to look at some photos of the town, Hatle said. The group will also look at some records for two rural New Richland churches and possibly try to find the burial plot for the man.

Hjeltnes also has visits planned at the Minnesota Historical Society, St. Olaf College Library and the Waseca Historical Society during her trip to Minnesota.

Her husband, Bernt Hagtvt, who is a professor of political science at Oslo University, is accompanying her on the trip.

Hagtvt is a native of a Norwegian municipality where many New Richland immigrants originated and has authored or co-authored 15 books.

As a side project, he will be gathering background stories in New Richland for a news article in the Kongsberg, Norway, newspaper.