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americaSPRING 2014 + ANNUAL REPORT | A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP TOletter THE MUSEUM OF DANISH AMERICA Otto Bache, Soldiers Returning to Copenhagen, 1894. Credit: The Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle. Photo by: Kit Weiss INSIDE A Clock from Aabenraa Turmoil on the Danish-German Border contents 05 A CLOCK FROM AABENRAA 12 TURMOIL ON THE BORDER 21 CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES 24 CATCHING UP WITH A FORMER INTERN FRIENDS CURATORIAL GENEALOGY 05 Across Oceans, 12 Schleswig-Holstein: 25 Of Genealogical Interest Across Time, Across Turmoil On the Generations: A Clock Danish-German Border From Aabenraa 22 Board and Staff 19 Stories From the 27 Widows’ Pension Fund Military Collection 24 Where Are They Now? 21 Curatorial Center Update 29 Adoptions in Denmark 31 New Members and 35 Upcoming Events 30 Genealogy Center News Old Friends and Admission Info SPECIAL SECTION COVER PHOTO Read the 2013 Annual Report For Danish people, events from the 1848-1850 war became romanticized as high points of national starting on page 36. achievement. For Denmark, the First Schleswig War was “the war we won,” and Otto Bache’s Recipe on page 63. painting shows Danish soldiers returning to a hero’s welcome. This painting was done in 1894, when Danish identity preferred to look to the victories of 1848-50 rather than the defeat of 1864. 2 director’s corner In early February, as the Midwest and established relations with TEST is the acronym Kærskov was in the grips of an intensive the volunteer group. In fact he uses to summarize the ideas that cold spell, our Board of Directors, returned to help fry æbleskiver drive him: several staff members and I during the International met in San Diego for our annual Christmas Festival – December Think big. February meeting. In addition Nights in Balboa Park. For three Extreme goals. to escaping the bitter cold, we days, the park is filled with could celebrate with our many throngs of people celebrating Seek competition. members and supporters over the season. Since Bruce’s first a festive luncheon on Saturday, appearance, staff or area board Timing is everything! February 8th. The food wasn’t members have returned to assist. Danish, but Mexican, which It’s a wonderful opportunity for As I reflect back over the years seemed appropriate given the our museum to reach out and I’ve been associated with our rich Hispanic heritage of the provide a little help to a local museum, dating back to its region. community. founding in 1983, I think we embody these standards. We also had the opportunity to “All of us know that Certainly, those of us who were highlight our relationship with the when Danish-American on the organizing committee “House of Denmark” located in and who became charter board San Diego’s Balboa Park. This organizations at the local members were thinking big! If is one of over thirty “national” level are strong, our you’ve ever seen the original cottages located in San Diego’s museum benefits too!” plans for the museum, you’ll Balboa Park. Created as a part conclude that we and our of the House of Pacific Relations René Gross Kærskov, architects at Astle Ericson & exposition in 1935, each cottage entrepreneur, adventurer and Associates were thinking big. showcases the traditions of the the new owner of the Danish- The present museum is only a country it represents. Among the American newspaper BIEN small part of what was originally nations represented are England, (spotlighted in our last America conceived. Even with the addition Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Letter) was our luncheon of the new curatorial center, the Germany, Norway, Sweden, Israel speaker. He was joined by his building remains smaller than and on and on. Every Sunday wife, Alicia, and two children, originally planned. afternoon throughout the year, Thorbjørn and Amalie. In his volunteers staff each house and remarks, René shared with us At the museum’s founding, we visitors can learn a little about the the standards to which he holds envisioned an institution that culture of each country. himself, his company and the played an important role in organizations with which he’s knitting together the Danish- Several years ago, former associated. American community. It was Development Director Bruce Bro really an “extreme goal!” Was it visited the House of Denmark not presumptuous to think that Article by John Mark Nielsen AMERICA LETTER 3 we could create an institution Danish Modern: Design for Had we not acted, in a small, rural, western Iowa Living, that we are now sharing who knows how many community? Slowly over the with other museums, indicates years, we have established a firm cooperation. Our partnership artifacts and stories from foundation and have increasingly with the German American the Danish immigrant become recognized as the Heritage Center in Davenport, experience might have institution preserving the artifacts Iowa this year and our plans to been lost. that tell the story of the Danish organize with other Scandinavian- immigrant presence in the United American museums a major That they are being preserved States. Who would have thought exhibit, Skål! Scandinavian Spirits, is valuable. But timing also in 1983 that we would have for 2015 suggest a new level of requires that we adapt. Our graduate students from Danish cooperation. But maybe, too, efforts to digitally preserve universities applying to spend there is a little competition when Danish-American newspapers time working and learning at our our museum is seen alongside and make them available museum? other museums? online, or to invite visitors to think about sustainability when I don’t know if it’s seeking Timing is everything. Certainly, our visiting our Jens Jensen Prairie competition; maybe in the museum came into existence at Landscape Park, or to get out museum world it’s better to a time when there was renewed and be active on the new Norwell say “Seek cooperation.” Our interest in ethnic heritage. exercise equipment designed creation of a major exhibit, and manufactured in Denmark, suggest that we are not just a museum where visitors look at things. We must continue to respond to the times, and I believe we are. Life is full of TESTs. I appreciated René Kærskov’s enthusiastic outlook on life and the challenges we and all institutions face. I think all who heard his luncheon speech in San Diego had similar reactions. I hope, when you consider your membership in the Museum of Danish America, you too feel a part of meeting an important and exciting TEST: celebrating our Danish roots and our American dreams! Bee of the Year John Mark Nielsen pictured with his award from BIEN news 4 AMERICA LETTER a clock from aabenraa ACROSS OCEANS, ACROSS TIME, ACROSS GENERATIONS . LITERALLY A CHERISHED FAMILY Today, the old clock stands tall The clock is the prized possession HEIRLOOM LINKS in the living room of a home in of the Muller family, a family Harlan, Iowa. Apenrade, the who has its roots in the Duchy THE STORY OF A German spelling of the Danish of Schleswig (Slesvig in Danish). FAMILY, MIGRATION city, Aabenraa, appears on the Following the disastrous defeat AND TURMOIL ON clock’s face; painted on the glass of the Danish army in the Dano- THE DANISH-GERMAN cover is the date – 1772. 242 Prussian War of 1864, Schleswig BORDER. years and almost 4,500 miles became a part of the German separate the clock from when and Empire. In 1885, largely due to where the swing of its pendulum treatment of the Danish minority, and distinctive, rhythmic “tock, the Muller family immigrated tock, tock” began marking time. to the United States, bringing the clock with them. The family Article by Parlor John Mark Nielsen Interior of the T. G. Muller home showing the clock at left with Muller, Mette Overgaard Muller, daughters Dagny & Gudrun and niece Thyra Rasmussen, about 1914 in Kimballton, Iowa. Collection of the Museum of Danish America, gift of Muriel Muller Bacon. ACROSS OCEANS, ACROSS TIME, ACROSS GENERATIONS 5 settled first on the prairies of It was out of this world that central Nebraska; later, in 1904, the first records of the Muller some of the family and the clock family emerge. An ancestor, moved to Kimballton, Iowa. Jess Lauridsen Muller, was a successful trader in the mid- In 1772, when the clock was 1700s, buying oxen and wool made in Aabenraa, the world was throughout northern Jutland and a different place. The American then taking these commodities Revolution had not yet occurred; south to Germany and selling Denmark was an absolute them in Hamburg. As he amassed monarchy; and the Duchies of a fortune, he bought property in Schleswig and Holstein, though the area of Bevtoft, about twenty ruled by the Danish monarch who miles northwest of Aabenraa. was both Duke of Schleswig and Here, according to a great-great Duke of Holstein, were not a part grandson, Lauritz Muller in a letter of the Kingdom of Denmark. The from 1952, he owned an estate, a concepts of national identity that mill, tavern and restaurant. Family developed in the 19th Century lore also has it that it was here were not yet known. the clock was brought after being purchased in Aabenraa. The Duchy of Schleswig was a border area between Danish and The 1800s were a period of German speaking peoples. Those dramatic social, economic and who lived in the south tended to political change throughout speak German, while in the north Europe. The rise of nationalism they spoke Danish. The language and the desire for democratic of business tended to be German participation affected Denmark (even throughout Denmark) and the Duchies of Schleswig as there was much trade with and Holstein.

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