America Letter Fall 2007/Winter 2008 Vol

America Letter Fall 2007/winter 2008 Vol. XXI, no. 1

Your Museum in the An International THE DANISH IMMIGRANT MUSEUM Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Protector Heart of the Continent Cultural Center ® Member of the American Association of Museums BOX 470 • ELK HORN, IOWA 51531

Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations®: The Nybys By Eva Nielsen “You’ll never amount to anything.” That’s what Folmer Nyby was told. He laughs about the comment now. And why shouldn’t he? Folmer immigrated to the United States as a 19-year- old in 1950 carrying only a suitcase and plans to marry Vera Lodahl, a second generation Dane from Dagmar, Montana. They married. They built several successful businesses. They raised three children. They have grandchildren, even great-grandchildren. They enjoy Folmer and Vera Nyby met in Denmark in 1948. Vera grew their home by a lake in Indiana. They drive to Arizona up in Dagmar, Montana, the daughter of Danish immigrant for the winter. And, then, the Nybys spend time at their parents. While visiting Denmark, she met Folmer at a dance in his hometown of Vestervig. The picture of Vera was taken summer home in Denmark—just down the road from in Denmark in 1948 so that Folmer could have it when she Vestervig, the town where Folmer was born. returned home to the United States. Folmer was just 13-years-old when he fi nished school to anything.’ I’ll tell you, when somebody tells you that and was confi rmed in the Vestervig church. In 1944—at when you’re young…you build in something in yourself age 14—he began his professional career as an apprentice that says I’ll show him.” Then Folmer adds, “I’ll betcha in a grocery it was good for me; it gave me a drive.” store. “The That drive, along with a desire to see the world, led g r o c e r y him to leave Vestervig for the United States. store owner In 1947 Folmer’s cousin, a captain in the United States and I did not Air Force who was stationed in Germany, visited Vestervig get along,” along with his wife and baby. “He says to me,” Folmer F o l m e r remembers, “‘Why don’t you come to America?’ And I says. “And thought that would be a good idea.” he said to A further incentive to immigrate to the United States m e t h a t came along in 1948. That’s when Folmer met Vera. one time, Vera Lodahl was born in Montana to Danish parents. ‘You’ll nev- Her father immigrated in 1927, her mother in 1929. They er amount settled in Dagmar, Montana, a Danish community where Vera grew up speaking Danish. There were many Lodahls Folmer was baptized and in the area—Vera’s father had four uncles, two brothers confirmed and a sister who had immigrated to Montana as well. at Vester- In 1948 Vera’s family set off for Denmark for a three- vig Kirke in month trip; this would be her parents’ fi rst time back to n o r t h w e s t Denmark. The family took a train from Williston, North Jutland. – continued on page 4 Director’s Corner By John Mark Nielsen In the film with the Funen Graphic Workshop situation, particularly for private, F i e l d o f this past year to travel an exhibit to non-profit institutions. We do not Dreams, the oft Seattle, Solvang, Omaha, Minneapo- sell a commodity; we preserve and quoted line is lis, Des Moines and Columbus. share a heritage. The Museum can “If you build Members can take pride in the depend that there will be visitors it, they will educational opportunities The Dan- and that some of these visitors will come.” Over ish Immigrant Museum provides the spend dollars in our museum shop, the last four years I’ve come to rec- public. The essay contest, “Tribute but we do not realize revenue from ognize that this phrase has captured to the Rescuers” and our partnership much that we do. Even the revenue my approach to leading The Danish with the Maia String Quartet of the realized from traveling exhibits, basi- Immigrant Museum. Despite having University of Iowa are examples. cally pays for the traveling and does one fewer staff person than when I Most importantly, at least to me, not cover the full costs of researching arrived in 2003, the Museum’s staff is our internship program. Hosting and fabricating such exhibits. Public has done an incredible job in expand- graduate student interns from Dan- museums can depend on the resources ing the programming and reaching ish and American universities has of the governmental constituency out to a broader constituency. Here benefited our programming and staff, they serve. I will admit to moments are some of the highlights. creating a learning environment at the when I have envied the administrators We have begun to market the Museum. We have provided interns of these institutions. Museum programming in a more stra- hands-on experience; they bring to What can you do to help? tegic and effective manner. “What’s us knowledge of recent approaches Renew your membership when Up at the Museum,” a weekly press to exhibitions and collection care and you receive your first renewal release is sent to over ninety news- challenge us to stay current. notice. (Perhaps you might even papers, every issue of Den Danske As we approach our 25th an- consider increasing your membership Pioneer and Bien carries our col- niversary year, I can proudly point level!) umn “Across Oceans, Across Time: to progress. It is our dedicated staff Respond to our summer and Stories from the Collection or Fam- and you, our members, who have end-of-the-year appeals when you ily History and Genealogy Center,” made this possible. However, I find are able. (To me, appealing to you and a five minute weekly program that as we have made progress we who are so generous is the most oner- broadcast by radio station KJAN of have created a perception that all ous part of this job.) Atlantic, Iowa, is available. And last, is well at The Danish Immigrant Consider giving gift member- but certainly not least, our website at Museum. It is, but, ironically, it’s ships for Christmas, birthdays, www.danishmuseum.org is both not. It seems that we are at once anniversaries. (This increases our attractive and informative. getting ahead and falling behind! membership roles and the potential Moving the Family History and What do I mean? for creating relationships that grow Genealogy Center to Main Street In addition to expanding our pro- closer over time.) allowed us to increase our exhibit gramming and marketing, we have Visit the Museum, whether in space. This has led to such notable grown our endowment to $1.5 million person or through our website exhibits as one focusing on the in- and our total assets to almost $5 mil- and share with us what works and novative character of Hans Hansen, lion. To many, this indicates success. where we could make improve- an immigrant farmer who settled in But strangely enough, our cash flow ments. (And then please be patient rural West Branch, Iowa or an excep- lags behind. As we enter the 2007- when change takes time.) tional exhibit on Danish gymnastics. 2008 fiscal year, we have an accrued Celebrate our heritage and our Additionally, a Danish-American cash-flow shortfall of $129,000. This history! We have come far in twenty- artists’ series allows us to celebrate perplexes me the most, particularly four years. With your support and the work of contemporary artists for operating with the philosophy, “If you encouragement, we will continue to a period of six months. Finally, we build it, they will come!” We have build in reputation and quality, and have expanded our traveling exhibit been active; we have been working future generations will appreciate program, mounting exhibits of our hard; how can this be? and “will come.” own that have been displayed around I have learned this is not an unusual the country and partnering, as we did, 2 America Letter Published Three Times Annually By The Danish Immigrant Museum 2212 Washington, POBox 470 Tour Denmark Elk Horn, Iowa 51531 712-764-7001 800-759-9192 with The Danish Immigrant Museum FAX 712-764-7002 Eva Nielsen, editor www.danishmuseum.org email: [email protected] Board of Directors President – Marc Petersen, Omaha, NE Vice-President – Mark Nussle, Palos Park, IL Secretary – Dagmar Muthamia, Long Beach, CA Treasurer – John Molgaard, Atlantic, IA Dennis Andersen, Atlanta, GA Carlo Christensen, Glendale, CA Lone Christensen, Brown Deer, WI Ane-Grethe Delaney, Wayzata, MN Mark Frederiksen, Falcon, CO Kenneth Gregersen, Ankeny, IA Janell Hansen, Elk Horn, IA Bridget Jensen, Houston, TX Travel through Denmark, Erna Jensen, Des Moines, IA sleeping in castles, staying Harold M. Jensen, Ames, IA in Danish homes, eating at Kurt Klarskov Larsen, Oneonta, AL unique restaurants, partici- Kay Esbeck North, Ames, IA pating in behind-the-scenes Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, Eugene, OR Lynette Skow Rasmussen, Johnston, IA tours of museums, and The Honorable Consul Anelise Sawkins, celebrating the Fourth of Minneapolis, MN July in Rebild, Denmark. Linda Sloth-Gibbs, Yuma, AZ The Danish Immigrant Harriet Albertsen Spanel, Bellingham, WA Museum is offering a spe- Janet M. Thuesen, Sausalito, CA cial tour of Denmark in the Ex-Offi cio Kai Nyby, LaPorte, IN summer of 2008. The tour will begin Vern Hunter, Fargo, ND in Copenhagen on July 1, 2008 and Nils Larsen, Portland, OR will conclude back in the capital city Dennis Larson, Decorah, IA on July 13 after experiencing such Staff places as Æbletoft, Århus, Ålborg, Executive Director: Dr. John Mark Nielsen, the Fourth of July at Rebild, Ribe, [email protected] Silkeborg, Rømø, Odense, Roskilde, Director of Development: Thomas Hansen, and Helsingør. [email protected] General Information, Group Tours, Volunteering Opportunities:Terri Johnson, [email protected] Wall of Honor, Donations, Memorial Gifts & Memberships: Deb Larsen, develop- [email protected] 12-night, 13-day Bookkeeping & Financial Inquiries: Jen- nifer Winters, [email protected] Adventure Collections & Exhibit Questions: estimated cost is Barbara Lund-Jones, M.Phil, curator@ danishmuseum.org $3,000 per person Artifact Donations & Museum Loans: Angela Stanford, M.A., registrar@danish- Includes transport while in museum.org Denmark, food, lodging, Museum Shop: Pamela Parker, giftshop@ danishmuseum.org sightseeing & Donation of Books & Library Questions: Fourth of July festivities Michele McNabb, MLS, librarian@ (airfare purchased separately) danishmuseum.org Genealogical & Translation Inquiries: [email protected] For information, call The Danish Asst. Volunteer Coordinator: Joyce Petersen Receptionist: Jane Kite Immigrant Museum at 1-800-759-9192 Custodian: Tim Fredericksen

3 Nybys . . . continued from page 1

Dakota to Chicago where they spent the night at the Hotel Arthur, near Union Station. “First time,” Vera says, “I’ve ever known of a revolving door…scared the tar out of me.” The family boarded another train to New York City the next morning and, from there, traveled by ship to Denmark. Vera’s relations lived in Hurup, Denmark. One evening, she attended a dance in the neighboring town— Vestervig. There, she met Folmer. Folmer says, “The funny part was, I did not know and she didn’t either, that my father had two sisters and one brother who lived in the same Danish community in Montana. They had immigrated to the same town. And Vera’s parents knew my father’s sisters and brother.” Folmer and Vera figured out that connection one day when Vera and her family showed up at Folmer’s home in Vestervig. Vera’s parents had promised to bring greetings from the family in Montana to the Nyby family in Vestervig. Vera and Folmer dated while she was in Denmark. After she returned home, they corresponded by letter. Folmer received notice from the American Embassy in the fall of 1949 Folmer and Vera married in Chicago in 1950 with two Danish co-workers from that he was cleared for immigration. the Wanzer Dairy as the only attendees. Years later, the two renewed their wedding He sailed from Copenhagen on Feb- vows at Vestervig Kirke. ruary 5, 1950 on the M/S Batory, a When the planting was complete, Fol- ship that started in Gdynia, Poland, mer’s cousin offered him the option traveled to Copenhagen, stopped in to do odd jobs around the place until Southampton, England and sailed on harvest. They didn’t have the money to New York City. to pay him, but could feed him and After visiting Danes in Fords, let him live in a small wooden shack. New Jersey, Danish connections Folmer says, “I thought to myself, in Chicago, and a Danish uncle in well, I didn’t come to America to Humboldt, Iowa, Folmer made his Folmer and his brother Knud started work for food and board.” way to Montana. a long-distance trucking company. They So, Folmer wrote to his Danish Folmer’s cousin and her husband worked together, making runs to both connections in Chicago, people in were wheat farmers in Montana. In coasts. One would drive while the other the garbage business. “He had told the spring of 1950, Folmer worked slept, switching every five hours. me when I was there, you can always with them, putting in the spring wheat. 4 – continued on page 5 train to Chicago again—this time to a special trip offered by the Danish marry Folmer. They married at St. Brotherhood, the family sailed on a Stephen’s Church with two co-work- ship called the M/S Stockholm. ers of Folmer’s acting as witnesses. Back in Indiana, Folmer and Knud “There was no wedding except just had started another business, long- that,” says Folmer. “I didn’t even distance trucking. They made runs know you were supposed to have from Chicago to New York, Boston, wedding bands.” Salt Lake City and, a few years later, “We couldn’t afford any anyway,” to California, bringing back produce Vera adds. to the Midwest. Folmer would drive “After we were married,” Folmer five hours and then Knud would drive continues, “the four of us went out while Folmer slept. He says, “It was to a restaurant on the south side of interesting. It gave you a chance to Chicago and had a cup of coffee and see a lot of the United States you a piece of cake. And then after that would not otherwise get the chance those two guys took Vera and I to to see. “ our apartment, and the two fellows After another family trip to Den- picked up their wives and then Vera mark in 1963, the Nybys moved to made dinner for the six of us.” Portage, Indiana. Weary of truck Folmer and Vera have three children: They had pork roast. And they driving, Knud and Folmer started Andy (left), Kai and Osa. Kai and Osa bought a 6-pack of beer. another garbage business, this time live nearby their parents in Indiana. After they were married, Folmer around Portage, Indiana. Starting Andy lives north of Houston, Texas. Kai and Vera considered moving to Den- from scratch, they bought a truck, Nyby just finished serving six years on mark permanently. But they didn’t. started soliciting costumers, bought the Museum’s board of directors, the Meanwhile, Folmer’s older brother out a competitor and kept growing. last two as president. Knud had immigrated to Chicago as Eventually, in 1972, Waste Manage- find a job in Chicago. So they wrote well and was working in a garbage ment, the largest disposal company in back and said come on down—and business. Folmer joined him and then the world, bought out their business I did.” saved money to buy a truck of his own; and made Folmer the president of Folmer worked temporarily on “ That truck wasn’t much,” Folmer their operations in Indiana. a garbage truck and then got a job says. But in the winter of 1952, when In 1978 Folmer retired. He still at Wanzer Dairy on 55th Street and a garbage business went up for sale drives long distances, but it’s in a Wentworth on Chicago’s south side. in Hammond, Indiana, they used that motor coach to Arizona with Vera. He was one of many Danish immi- truck as a down payment to buy the They continue to travel back to Den- grants living and working in the area business. mark, but these days it’s by plane. at the time. Folmer says that a large They built up the garbage business. And when he looks back now, in his Danish district centered around 75th Folmer explains, “You go out and Indiana home, Folmer says, “It has Street and there were two Danish haul garbage from morning until noon been fun. We have really enjoyed churches in the area, St. Stephen’s and then you go home and change it.” and Golgotha. your clothes and go around to busi- But remember what the grocery Folmer explains, “The Danes in nesses and ask if you can get the job store owner said? “You’ll never Chicago were predominantly garbage of hauling their waste.” Soon, Knud amount to anything.” Folmer remem- men, ice men—delivering boxes of came to join the business as well. bered. “When we went [to Denmark] ice to people for their ice boxes. They They worked, grew the business, had in ’57, I bought a new Cadillac and were also in the coal business, and success and sold it in 1957. we took that with on the ship so I in the dairy business. The dairy that By then Folmer and Vera had chil- could show him that I could.” He I worked for had a Danish president dren, Andy, Kai, and Osa. After sell- considers, “It was kind of a…what and I would say at least 75% of the ing the garbage business, the family do you call that? An ego trip.” people who worked there were Dan- took a trip to Denmark—the first time “That’s it, you’re right,” Vera says. ish.” back for Folmer. Taking advantage of Folmer adds, “I don’t have that In August of 1950 Vera took the problem anymore.” 5 Museum Hosts Evenings with Artist- in-Residence Helle Jørvad During September, The Danish Immi- grant Museum’s first artist-in-residence, Helle Jørvad, held several invitational evening demonstrations of her art. A Danish goldsmith and designer, Jørvad shared stories and answered questions about her experiences in specialty design Artist-in-residence Helle Jørvad works as visitors watch. The Museum hosted a series and fine metalworking. of evening events showcasing the talents of this Danish designer and goldsmith. Jørvad’s demonstration evenings offered a unique experience for Museum one-of-a-kind jewelry piece. The result the royal Danish family and for mem- members and area residents. Jørvad was a large, uniquely shaped brooch, bers of the Danish government. She is conducted her demonstration evenings designed specifically for one individual. a member of the association of Danish in different styles. During one of the The questions and answers that flowed silversmiths approved to carry out works demonstrations, Jørvad engaged visi- back-and-forth between Jørvad and her of art for churches. Examples of her tors in playacting. The group selected client gave a sense of the interplay that work may be found in churches on the a “client” from among their members shapes commissioned pieces. islands of Sjælland and Fyn. Photographs and this client then entered into an An exhibition of Jørvad’s work is cur- and miniature reproductions of selected extended dialogue with Jørvad, regard- rently on display at the Museum. Jørvad commissions are part of the exhibit. ing the commission of a personalized, has produced commissioned works for The Danish Immigrant Museum Hosts Car Show The Danish Immigrant Museum was the site of Elk Horn’s Liberty Car Show, sponsored by Liberty Auto Restoration, on Saturday, October 6. There were 28 cars registered with trophies awarded A World War II Weasel creeps over the grounds of The Danish Immigrant Museum for first, second, and third places in a during the Liberty Car Show. variety of categories. show and would like to return next year. The Kimballton Quasquicentennial Elk Horn, gave free rides on a World War The Museum has hosted several Liberty Committee served food and a DJ pro- II Weasel, a tracked military vehicle. Auto events in the past year and appre- vided music throughout the day. Mike Many participants commented that the ciates the opportunity to partner with Howard, owner of Liberty Labs in Kim- Museum was a great place to hold the businesses from the Danish Villages. ballton and Liberty Auto Restoration in 6 Museum Event Held at Walter and Vesta Hansen’s, West Branch, Iowa It was a beautiful, warm Saturday experience first-hand how Walter and afternoon in late August when Museum Vesta and their family have continued the supporters and friends were treated to ingenious self-sufficiency inherited from an unforgettable experience at the farm Walter’s father. After a brief introduction home of Walter and Vesta Hansen, out- and welcome, Walter shared the fascinat- side West Branch, Iowa near the Cedar ing story of his father, Hans, coming to River. America and making a life for himself Walter Hansen’s father, Hans Hansen, and his family. He went on to talk about emigrated from Denmark in 1899, set- the use of tools and equipment invented tling in the West Branch area in 1909. by his father and himself. Hans brought farming equipment with Guests were also given hands-on him from Denmark. What he didn’t demonstrations of the various tools and have, he created himself. Today, on their equipment, such as the lathe, still in use farmstead, Walter and Vesta continue today, as well as a tour of the farm. The to use the same tools and equipment highlight of the afternoon took place invented by Hans. And, like his father, when Walter operated the sawmill his Walter has made equipment himself. As father had acquired in1918. a result, when you step on the Hansen On behalf of The Danish Immigrant farm today, it feels as if you’ve traveled Museum, we would like to thank Walter back in time to the early 1900s. and Vesta Hansen and their daughters, On August 25, nearly 60 people from Carolyn and Lucy, along with the fam- as far away as Davenport, Elk Horn, ily of Gordon and Jan Esbeck of Tipton, and Decorah, Iowa joined local Danes Iowa for their generous assistance in Walter Hansen uses equipment that and Danish-Americans from the West making this event a most interesting his father Hans Hansen, a Danish im- Branch, Tipton, and Iowa City area experience. migrant, created himself in the early to see this lovely tract of land and to 1900s. Here he demonstrates for Mu- seum members and friends.

7 Cynthia McKeen’s Christmas card design celebrates her grandmother Anna Christofferson who emigrated from Denmark at age 14. 2007 Christmas Card Inspired by Danish Immigrant

The Danish Immigrant Museum is In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Iowa. And from Iowa, Grandma Anna proud to present the 2007 Christmas the kitchen produced tins of treats. and her family sent wild plum butter, card, created by artist Cynthia McKeen. A Grandma’s molasses cookies were black walnuts, hazelnuts and molasses native of Exira, Iowa and resident of St. among everyone’s favorites. Anna cut, cookies. Paul, Minnesota, McKeen’s design was McKeen decorated and McKeen’s tire- Grandma Anna had a rare sense of hu- inspired by her Danish grandmother. less mother kept it all running smoothly. mor and told stories while they worked. McKeen’s grandmother, Anna Christ- An unheated room off the kitchen became McKeen remembers a story about Hans offersen, emigrated from Denmark at a treasure trove of Danish delicacies (a Christian Andersen cutting patterns for age 14 with her younger sister Marie. temptation to nisser of all kinds), all cookies for a woman in Sweden. Together they arrived in this country ready for a Danish Christmas when the The annual Christmas card and orna- with one small wooden box and skillful house filled with aunts, uncles, cousins ments can be purchased through the Mu- hands. Anna was ambidextrous and— and pets. seum Shop by calling 1-800-759-9192 among many other talents—could cut The cookies were also sent to other or online at www.danishmuseum.org. whimsical cookie designs with a knife. Danish immigrants. Anna’s Danish The cards are $10.00 for a package of When McKeen was a girl, her cousins had settled in Oregon, California 10 and the ornaments are $14.95 each. Grandma Anna lived with the family. and Texas. At the holidays the cousins sent holly, almonds and grapefruit to 8 From a Curatorial Perspective By Barbara Lund-Jones

We are settling some of the smaller and running water; the farmhouse was items within our collection in a series another matter entirely. Kerosene lamps of viewing drawers located in the lower provided light and water was pumped level of the Museum. These drawers from a well and brought to the house provide our visitors a close encounter in pails. The adjustment for Signe Jor- with some of the treasures from the gensen was enormous. The woven hair collection. I share with you now stories necklace was made from hair belonging associated with two pieces of hair work to Signe’s sister, Augusta Rasmussen, jewelry recently added to these units. who remained in Denmark. For Signe, Braided hair jewelry was quite popu- the necklace most likely served as a very lar during the mid-1800s through the important bond with her sister, reaching early 1900s. Such jewelry often held considerable sentimental value, as it was woven from the hair of a loved one, a close family member or a valued friend. A watch fob made from the hair of At the height of its popularity, there were Inger Christiansen, carried by her hus- even a number of hair work jewelry band Niels. instruction manuals printed; instruction sessions were offered in this art. is a braided watch fob, which belonged The popular tradition of hair work to Niels Christensen, who immigrated jewelry has long receded into the past to America in 1875. It was woven from but many families have a woven hair the hair of his much younger wife, Inger, heirloom that has passed down through whom he married in 1887. They made generations. The Danish immigrants and their home in Wisconsin and had a family their descendants are no exception of ten children. Inger was in poor health One of our jewelry pieces is a long, This necklace was brought to the United for many years and passed away in 1920. delicate single strand necklace of braided States by Danish Immigrant Signe Jor- The fob was carefully preserved within hair brought to this country in 1929 by gensen; the necklace was woven from the the family. It passed to Niels’s children the Danish immigrant Signe Jorgensen, hair of her sister Augusta Rasmussen. and grandchildren. His granddaughter, who left a comfortable city apartment in Shirley Cherkasky, gave the fob to the Denmark to join her only child, a married across oceans and time. Ellen H. Nielsen Museum in 2003. daughter who lived in a small Iowa farm gave this heirloom to the Museum in These and other unique pieces may be house near Ringsted. Signe Jorgensen’s 2002. seen in our viewing drawer in the lower apartment in Denmark had had electricity Another woven hair-piece on view level. We invite you to visit and view.

Scheduled Exhibitions at The Danish Immigrant Museum v Mezzanine From Postcards to Instant Messag- Works from the Museum’s Collection v Bro Alcove: ing: Family and Friends Stay in January 17, 2008 – July 7, 2008 Whimsical Cuttings by Annette Touch Andersen March 30, 2007–February 25, 2008 Jens T. Carstensen July 29, 2007 – January 2, 2008 July 24, 2008 – January 5, 2009 Andersen’s paper cuttings feature Across Oceans, Across Time, Across whimsical motifs from everyday Generations® Gerthe Herlin and Lone Hansen life. March 18, 2008–February 16, 2009 (mother and daughter) January 22, 2009 – July 7, 2009 v Main Floor Front: v Lower Level Gallery The Work of Helle Jørvad, Danish Danish-American Artist Series Evelyn Matthies Goldsmith and Designer Cynthia McKeen July 23, 2009 – January 4, 2010 May 24, 2007 – June 1, 2008 July 29, 2007 – January 2, 2008 9 The Danish-American Artist Series Features the Work of Cynthia McKeen

Cynthia McKeen’s artwork and photographs are currently featured in the Danish-American Artist Series. Her display in the Museum’s lower level is a wonderland of imagination and engagement. Fairy tale mobiles swing gently in the air. A field of intricately cut paper trees delights the eye. Fanci- ful creatures intermingle with delicate watercolors, intricate paper cuttings and remarkable photographs. Artist Cynthia Although the exhibition documents McKeen’s primary considerable diversity of expression, medium is paper. “Its McKeen’s primary medium as an artist lightness,” she says, is paper. Upon entering the exhibit, the “seems to make the visitor’s attention quickly travels to a expression of large, beautifully rendered depiction lightness easy.” of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, The Wild Swans, composed from cut late 1980s. Her paper work has sold in papers, gold, and pastel. Leaving this museum stores across the country. Her image, the visitor is treated to numer- work in a variety of mediums has been ous other pieces of cut paper artwork. shown in several cities in the United The exhibition is interspersed with States and Japan. McKeen’s observations and comments During the 1990s McKeen and about her work. her husband, John McKeen, lived for The importance of paper as a me- a period in Tokyo, where John was dium to McKeen is best conveyed in her engaged in architectural projects for own words: “I very much enjoy paper as 3M. These years played an excep- a medium. Its lightness seems to make tionally important role in McKeen’s the expression of lightness easy. It is my ongoing development as an artist, as view that this world often overlooks the well as marking an important passage significance of lightheartedness. The in her own personal journey. Already day that people take joy as seriously as an established presence in paper art, they do sorrow, perhaps we can turn a McKeen immersed herself in the time- corner . . .” honored traditions of Japanese paper art A graduate of Grinnell College and and related crafts, thereby expanding Drake University, McKeen studied the depth and understanding of her own design in Denmark in the late 1960s art practice. The current exhibition con- at Charlottenborg, Denmark’s Art tains several references to this passage, McKeen’s work has been influenced by Academy. While in Copenhagen, Mc- expressed through photographs, an her experiences in Denmark and Japan. Keen worked in several design stores, original labyrinth design and origami and examine gækkebrev, which the artist learning the art of store design. Her foldings. has especially designed for children. studies there were interrupted by her As an artist, McKeen engages with The most popular of all engagement father’s failing health. She returned to the visitor throughout her exhibit, invit- points, however, is the labyrinth located the United States, eventually establish- ing participation at a number of points. on the far wall. Many visitors travel the ing herself in St. Paul. In an area featuring brightly colored path with their fingers, caught up in the Under the name of proongily, Mc- animals, children are invited to play challenge of making their way through Keen spent eighteen years in store, with origami animals and to make some the labyrinth. graphic, interior and exhibit design small, simple origami creations. In an- Cynthia McKeen’s work will be on before changing to the die cut and other section, they are urged to pick up display at the Museum through January custom paper cutting business in the 10 2, 2008. the Danish patterns, particularly those reflecting the Danish knack for taking everyday items and turning them into a thing of joy. Andersen works primarily from patterns. She finds this kind of paper cutting relaxing, one of her favorite end-of-day activities. Andersen explains that settling in her favorite chair in the evening with her special cutting scissors and following a pattern allows her to clear her head and put the day behind her. One of Andersen’s pieces, a Danish Christmas tree and surrounding scene, was featured on the Museum’s annual Christ- mas card in 2000. Andersen has also done papirklip demonstrations on both state Andersen, pictured here, has also shown her work at a folk life and ways cel- and national levels. A few years back, she ebration at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. participated in a celebration of folk life and ways sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Museum Exhibits Annette Andersen comes from a tradition of talent. Her mother, Nadjeschda Overgaard was a woman of many artistic gifts, such Andersen’s Papirklip as painting, folk dancing, and handwork to The Bro Alcove has been transformed Andersen, an exhibit of the Danish folk name a few. She may be best known for her into light-hearted merriment. A Charlie art, papirklip. mastery of Hardanger, which earned her Chaplin mobile swings lightly in the Andersen, a Kimballton, Iowa native, a National Heritage Fellowship in 1998. air currents. Nearby, a family of paper became interested in the German paper This award recognizes the contributions of sheep keeps him company. A black and cutting tradition of Sherensnitte twenty outstanding folk and traditional artists. white cow sways in the foreground. years ago. Her work with Sherensnitte Whimsical Cuttings by Annette Ander- More traditional paper cuttings hang in patterns soon led her to the papirklip of sen is scheduled to run through the end of frames along the walls. These pieces are her Danish heritage. She fell in love with the year. part of Whimsical Cuttings by Annette

11 The Cedar Valley Danes, pictured in front of the Museum, spearheaded the project to move and restore the Jens Dixen House. Jens Dixen House Dedicated in October The Jens Dixen House was officially was given to the Cedar Valley Danes The menu was a recreation of a typical dedicated at the Museum’s October board whose diligence and commitment church dinner served in 1919 at Bethany meeting. Moved to Museum grounds brought the Dixen House project to Lutheran Church of Dickson in Alberta, from North Dakota, Danish immigrant fruition. While many members of the Canada, which Missionary Jens Dixen Jens Dixen lived in the house around group participated in the project, the attended after initiating congregations 1906. member of the group most consistently in the United States. The meal included: Opening ceremonies were initiated there through all stages was Ronald Bro, fried chicken, baked ham, scalloped with a hymn, “Beauty Around Us,” sung also a member of the Museum’s board of potatoes, corn, applesauce, home baked in the original Danish and led by board directors. On behalf of the Cedar Valley bread with jams, carrot cake and pumpkin member, Benedikte Ehlers Olesen. After Danes, Bro spoke to the guests about the pie, coffee, tea, and lemonade. extending special greetings to the guests, project, describing the physical move Opening events, originally planned John Mark Nielsen, executive director, of the cabin from North Dakota and the for the grounds surrounding the cabin, gave a presentation entitled “Roots of process of its restoration on Museum were held indoors, owing to rain, wind the Inner Mission,” providing context for grounds. and chill. The sun came through in time to Jens Dixen’s life of missionary work. Guests adjourned to Elk Horn’s town brighten individual visits to the cabin. Bertel Schou, whose family pur- hall, where a special picnic was held. chased the North Dakota house and land from Jens Dixen and whose father had been taught by him, spoke of Dixen as a person, providing insight into the nature of Dixen’s religious commitment. Realizing the importance of preserving Dixen’s story, the Schou family generously made a gift of the cabin to the Museum in 1999. Special recognition

The Jens Dixen House, a homestead shanty moved to the Museum grounds from North Da- kota, is open to visitors.

12 Board of Directors Meet in Elk Horn The Danish Immigrant Museum’s board of directors at- Petersen (Omaha, Nebraska), Kai Nyby (outgoing president tended the 24th Annual and 77th Regular meetings in Elk from LaPorte, Indiana), Ane-Grethe Delaney (Wayzata, Min- Horn, October 18 – 20, 2007. The board of directors meets nesota), Lois Christensen (outgoing member from Elk Horn, three times each year in February, June, and October. Gen- Iowa), Dagmar Muthamia (Long Beach, California); erally, the February and June meetings are held out of state Second row, left to right – John Molgaard (Atlantic, Iowa), in locations where there is support from Museum members John Mark Nielsen, executive director (Blair, Nebraska), Lone and local Danish groups in the area. The annual and regular Christensen (Brown Deer, Wisconsin), Ken Gregersen (An- meetings in October are held in Elk Horn. keny, Iowa), Harold Jensen (Ames, Iowa), Dennis Andersen The board of directors is made up of 25 members from (Atlanta, Georgia), Janet M. Thuesen (Sausalito, California), around the country and, currently, 22 of the 25 board member Linda Sloth-Gibbs (Yuma, Arizona), Anelise Sawkins (Min- positions are filled. Each board member is responsible for all neapolis, Minnesota), Kurt Larsen (Oneonta, Alabama), costs associated with the meeting, including travel, meals, Erna Jensen (Des Moines, Iowa), Lynette Skow Rasmussen meeting room/facility expense. Each board member serves on (Johnston, Iowa), Janell Hansen (Elk Horn, Iowa); at least one if not more of the following committees: Collec- Third Row, left to right Mark Frederiksen (Falcon, Colo- tions, Development, Endowment, Executive, Facilities, Family rado), Dennis Larson, ex-officio (Decorah, Iowa). Missing History, Finance, Marketing, Museum Shop, and Nominating. from the picture are Carlo Christensen (Glendale, California), After a board retreat on Thursday, committee meetings Friday Bridget Jensen (Houston, Texas), Kay Esbeck North (Ames, and Saturday, the annual and regular meetings were held at Iowa), Harriet Albertsen Spanel (Bellingham, Washington) the Elk Horn Town Hall. as well as outgoing board members Gordon Esbeck (Tipton, Front row, left to right – Benedikte Ehlers Olesen (Eugene, Iowa) and Ronald Bro (Cedar Falls, Iowa). Oregon and Denmark), Mark Nussle (Palos Park, Illinois), Marc

Gift Allows Museum to Create Promotional Video In June, The Danish Immigrant We are excited to show you this new Skow Rasmussen for their wonderful Museum received a generous gift from video in the near future. We are especially support. Lynette is a current member of the Rasmussen Foundation/Rasmussen grateful to Sandra Rasmussen and her son the Museum’s board of directors. Group of Des Moines, Iowa to underwrite and daughter-in-law, Kurt and Lynette the production of a Danish Immigrant Museum promotional video. 13 Thank You Businesses and Organizations

These businesses and organi- Danish Brotherhood Lodge #348, California zations have contributed annual Eugene, Oregon Marge’s Hair Hut (Kent & Marge memberships of at least $100. We Danish Club of Tucson, Tucson, Ingerslev), Elk Horn, Iowa recognize their generosity and sup- Arizona Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Co., port in each newsletter during their Danish Countryside Vines & Wines Elk Horn, Iowa membership. (Allan & Carol Petersen), Exira, Midwest Groundcovers (Peter & Iowa Irma Ørum), St. Charles, Illinois A & A Framing (Annette Ander- Danish Ladies Relief Society, Santa Nebraska District of DBIA, Kear- sen), Kimballton, Iowa Rosa, California ney, Nebraska AmericInn of Elk Horn, Elk Horn, Danish Mutual Insurance Associa- Nelsen & Nelsen, Attorneys at Iowa tion, Elk Horn, Iowa Law, Cozad, Nebraska Answers (Rick Tighe), Atlantic, Danish Sisterhood Lodge #102, O & H Danish Bakery, Racine, Iowa Johnston, Iowa Wisconsin Atlantic Friends of The Danish Im- Danish Vennelyst Club, Omaha, Odense City Museums (Torben migrant Museum, Atlantic, Iowa Nebraska Grongaard Jeppesen, Director), Carroll Control Systems, Inc., Car- Dike Danish Sisterhood #176, Wa- Odense, Denmark roll, Iowa terloo, Iowa Olsen, Muhlbauer & Co., L.L.P., Cedar Valley Danes, Cedar Falls, Elk Horn Pharmacy (Tim & Mary Carroll, Iowa Iowa and surrounding communi- Waymire), Elk Horn, Iowa Outlook Study Club, Elk Horn, ties Elk Horn-Kimballton Community Iowa Childs & Hall, P.C., Attorneys at School, Elk Horn, Iowa Pacific NW District Lodges Danish Law (Mike Childs), Harlan, Elk Horn-Kimballton Optimist Brotherhood, Spokane Valley, Iowa Club, Elk Horn, Iowa Washington Cutler Funeral Home (Bob & Elverhoj Museum of History and Proongily (Cynthia McKeen), St. Cindy Cutler), LaPorte, Indiana Art, Solvang, California Paul, Minnesota Danebod Lutheran Church, Tyler, Exira Family Medicine Clinic Rebild National Park Society, Minnesota (Dr. Dana & Joan Shaffer), Southern California Chapter, Danish American Club in Orange Exira, Iowa Glendale, California County, Huntington Beach, Faith, Family, Freedom Foundation Rebild National Park Society, Up- California (Kenneth & Marlene Larsen), per Midwest Chapter, Maple Danish American Club of Milwau- Calistoga, California Plain, Minnesota kee, West Bend, Wisconsin Goldsmith Master & Designer Hel- Red River Danes, Fargo, North Danish Brotherhood Lodge #1, le Jørvad, Ringsted, Denmark Dakota Omaha, Nebraska Haldor Topsoe, Inc. (Niels K. So- Ringsted Danish American Fellow- Danish Brotherhood Lodge #14, rensen), Houston, Texas ship, Ringsted, Iowa Kenosha, Wisconsin Hardi Midwest, Inc., Davenport, Royal Danish Embassy, Washing- Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15, Iowa ton, D.C. Des Moines, Iowa Harlan Newspapers, Harlan, Iowa Shelby County State Bank, Elk Danish Brotherhood Lodge #56, Heartland District of the DBIA, Horn, Iowa Lawrence, Kansas Ventura, Iowa Symra Literary Society, Decorah, Danish Brotherhood Lodge #75, Jacquelyn’s Danish Bake Shoppe, Iowa Albert Lea, Minnesota Elk Horn, Iowa The Viking Club of Orange Coun- Danish Brotherhood Lodge #84, Kessler Funeral Homes, Inc. (Mark ty, Seal Beach, California Lincoln, Nebraska Kessler), Audubon, Iowa Westergaard Farms and Scandi- Danish Brotherhood Lodge #144, King of Kings (Richard & Bonnie navian Bed & Breakfast (Dale Waterloo, Iowa Andersen), Anchor Point, Alaska & Ellen Westergaard Jackson), Danish Brotherhood Lodge #268, KJAN Radio, Atlantic, Iowa Whiting, Iowa Eugene, Oregon KNOD Radio, Harlan, Iowa Danish Brotherhood Lodge #283, Knudsen Old Timers, Glendale, Plentywood, Montana Danish Brotherhood Lodge #341, Kimballton/Elk Horn, Iowa 14 New Additions to the Wall of Honor June 1, 2007-October 8, 2007

The Danish Immigrant Museum’s Wall of Honor ALFRED FABER, Gordon & Sally Faber, Des provides families and friends with a means of pre- Moines, Iowa serving the memory of those who emigrated from INGVARD LAURITS FABER, Gordon & Sally Denmark to America. Over 4,500 immigrants are Faber, Des Moines, Iowa currently recognized on the Wall. Their stories and NIELSINE (LARSEN) FABER, Gordon & Sally the stories of their families contribute importantly Faber, Des Moines, Iowa to the growing repository of family histories at the PETER FABER, Gordon & Sally Faber, Des Museum’s Family History and Genealogy Center. Moines, Iowa If you would like to memorialize your forbearers EINAR SPELLING HANSEN & MAREN by adding their names to the Wall of Honor, contact JOHANNA HEIBERG HANSEN, Helen Marr, Deb Larsen, development associate. St. Paul, Minnesota PER KRISTENSEN HESEL, Laurie Hesel, REVERAND KNUD C. BODHOLDT, Agnete Pawnee City, Nebraska Buhl, Tyler, Minnesota; Kristian & Ruby Frost, ANE JENSEN JACOBSEN, Martin Pedersen, Maple Plain, Minnesota; Iver & Lis Jorgensen, Bennington, Nebraska Burnsville, Minnesota; Richard & Rita Juhl, CHRIS P. LARSEN, Doris J. Larsen Hedgcock, Edina, Minnesota; Carl Laursen & Karen Colorado Springs, Colorado Kadighn, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Svend & Elin TOMMY IVAN NIELSEN, Tommy & Judith Koch, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Anna Laursen, North Nielsen, Kenosha, Wisconsin Canton, Ohio; Alma Metzler, Evanston, Illinois; CHRISTIAN PETERSEN RATTENBORG & Paul Pedersen, Honolulu, Hawaii; Axel & Lou GUDRUN SORENSEN RATTENBORG, Ann Thomsen, Ringsted, Iowa William & Christine Rattenborg, Fort Collins, SWEND AAGE CHRISTENSEN, David & Mary Colorado Jo Christensen, Paradise Valley, Arizona AXEL SORENSEN & ELLEN (HANSEN) SORENSEN, Evelyn Petersen, Van Horne, Iowa

Memorials – May 31, 2007-October 8, 2007 Memorials have been received in loving memory of the following individuals:

Darlene (Soe) Andersen Erik Hansen Ardis N. Petersen Emmert Andersen Vera Ledet Haworth Edith Rachlitz Harold Andersen Howard Krogh Jensen Shirley Rosse Ruth Boast Bill Karwal Bessie Mae Sorensen Charles Christensen Kirstine Knudsen Merlin Sorensen Jan Christensen Hardy Miller Ledet Jytta Svendsen Viola Cook Eivind Lillehoj Dorothy Marie Albertsen Swensen Donald Esbeck Sigurd Molgaard Edward C. Terkelsen Einar A. Faaborg Jeanette Nixon Marian Karr Weiss Alice M. Flynn Ollivene Olsen Bodil Ruggard Wilson Imo Jean Griffin

15 Volunteer Spotlight: Sharon Winchell People who come to the Family His- ily Mary did dressmaking and millinery. tory and Genealogy Center on Wednes- She married a third time in 1911 and died days for help researching their ancestors later that year at the age of 77. Sharon’s will often find Sharon Winchell at the grandfather, Albert Simon Christensen, front desk, where she’s been a regular was a champion bicycle rider in the early fixture for several years. 1890s. A harness-maker by profession, he When she first visited the Museum married Malinda Johnson, the daughter years ago Sharon told herself that it was of Norwegian immigrants, in 1900. They a place she’d like to volunteer when she made their home in Story City and, later, retired. Starting out as a high school math in Clemons, Iowa. teacher, she then spent 23 years as Cass Sharon says the following about her County Treasurer working with both FHGC work: “Family research is very people and public records, skills that were interesting. Beginning with a few clues, to stand her in good stead in her post- you search and continue to search and work “career.” After retiring in 2003, she document the names and lives of ances- knew she wanted to spend her volunteer tors and/or descendants of patrons. It is Sharon Winchell is one of the regu- time doing something interesting. About very time-consuming, with many “brick lar faces seen at the Family History & then she read an article in the Atlantic walls,” but with the help of colleagues, Genealogy Center, where she volunteers paper about the FHGC and learned that – continued on page 17 every Wednesday as a researcher. more volunteers were needed. She visited, filled out an application and began volunteering on a weekly basis. Sharon says she had always been interested in the immigrant experience and admired the courage it took to pull up roots and leave one’s homeland, knowing that one would likely never return or see one’s family again. Her interest in genealogy was encouraged by an aunt who had compiled what was known about her Danish and Norwegian roots. Her aunt would ask from time to time whether Sharon thought there was anyone in her family who would be interested in any of it, and Sharon’s reply was always, “Yes, someday, but not yet.” Sharon’s Danish great-grandmother, Juliane Marie “Mary” Enevoldsen, was born in Lindved in Sindbjerg parish, Vejle County. Widowed young, she came to the United States in 1870 with daughters Bodil Marie and Antonie “Nea” Olesen. Like many Danes they initially settled in Chicago, where Mary met and married another recent immigrant, Hans Chris- tensen, in 1871. Sharon’s grandfather, Albert Simon, and two younger sisters, Winchell’s great-grandmother, Mary Christensen, was left a young widow with Thora and Clara, were born there. In 1878 the family moved to Story City, Iowa. five children to support. Here she is seen with her children and grandchildren Hans, a house-painter, died in 1886 at the around 1900. age of 43. To support herself and her fam- 16 Volunteer . . . continued from page 16 other paths are suggested and it’s back on the trail. The most challenging part for me is putting all the information into a written narrative that often covers multiple generations in both the U.S. and Denmark. My last report had more than 80 pages of attachments, including translations of church records, documenting the material con- tained therein. Family research is very satisfying, especially when we hear from patrons who are so excited to learn of previously unknown ancestors and their families, or who now have immigration information or other documentation they have been searching for for many years.” While working as a volunteer Sharon has become the FHGC “expert” in Danish immigration to and through Canada and recently held an in- service session for her fellow volunteers to teach them about some of the available resources in this area. She has also twice traveled Fargo-Morehead Sharon Winchell’s Danish-American grandfather, cham- to provide Danish genealogical expertise at the pion bicycle racer Albert Simon Christensen, spurred her annual Hjemkomst Festival there. interest in researching her roots.

Collections Department Welcomes a New Intern In late August, Erin Harney joined the Museum Studies Certificate Program. the Museum staff as the new collections Following graduation, Erin plans to find intern. She works most directly with An- a position as a collections manager at a gela Stanford, collections manager and natural history or anthropological mu- registrar, in the collections department seum. and has already proven to be a valued Erin is the third American intern to member of the Museum staff. work in The Danish Immigrant Muse- Erin assists with ongoing activities: um’s collections department. Each year, cataloging artifacts into the collection, internship notices are sent to graduate monitoring pest activity and recording level museum studies departments at col- storage area temperatures and humidity leges and universities across the United levels. One of the larger projects she is States. The internship is a six-month assisting with is conducting a complete position beginning in September and inventory of the Museum’s collection. running through the end of February. She and Angela record object identifi- This program has been very successful; cation numbers, descriptions, physical each year we have been fortunate to be conditions, and locations of objects able to select a distinguished individual and enter those into PastPerfect, the such as Erin from a number of highly Museum’s cataloging database. qualified applicants. A graduate of the University of Wis- We at The Danish Immigrant Mu- Erin Harney, a graduate student at consin at Madison, Erin is currently a seum are happy to have Erin on board Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, student in the anthropology master’s and extend to her a very warm Danish is the latest participant in The Danish Im- migrant Museum’s internship program. program at Northern Illinois University welcome. at DeKalb, where she is also completing

17 Fa m i l y Hi s t o r y & Ge n e a l o g y Ce n t e r Stamtræ [email protected] News from the Family History & Genealogy Center By Michele McNabb, librarian The Sand Family Reunion / Sammenkomst for Slægten Sand Some families remain cohesive units for several generations, getting together periodically or holding regular family reunions. Other families disperse early and wide and later generations quickly become strangers to each other. Thanks to the efforts of Family History & Geneal- ogy Center remote volunteers Kenneth and Carolyn Sand, one of these latter families bridged the years and waters to come together this past summer. On August 4, 2007, the Sand family held its first ever reunion in Galena, Illinois. Seventy-eight descendants of Peder Andreas Sand (1804-1882) from Denmark and several American states attended the gathering. In addition, several families from Denmark and family members in many states sent Nærgaard in Stauning parish, Ringkøbing County, ca. 1890. letters and e-mails with greetings and well wishes. The Sand family traces its origins Tang Kristensen (Evald Tang’s mother to a farm near Ringkøbing Fjord called was a Sand), says “The Sands, on the Norkærgaard (North Farm), located other hand, kept the same name, which near Mejlby in Stauning Parish, in the Kristensen notes in his account as very former Ringkøbing County in Jutland. exceptional and comes from a farm they The Sand surname first came into usage owned for many generations in Stauning. around 1697-1700, when a man called To keep the same family name was an Anders Albeck was referred to in the old extraordinary sign of stability and secu- records as Anders Albeck of Sand and rity: it had only been the aristocracy and Anders Albeck Sand (the name “Sand” especially the most important of them, derives from the sandy soil common to who in the past had taken and kept family West Jutland). names—and then only from 1526. The The family tie to the Norkærgaard custom of permanent family names came Memorial stone located at the entrance farm and the adoption of the family name late and gradually in Denmark, despite to Norkærgaard. Sand over 150 years before it became many royal edicts (1771, 1828, 1856, common practice in rural Denmark to 1898) to enforce it. The Sands must really The Sand family had firm ties to West adopt a fixed surname was significant be reckoned, in some of the branches, as Jutland until the late 1800s, when the for the Sand family. Joan Rockwell, in ‘perhaps a bit aristocratic…’.” family began to immigrate to America her biography of Danish folklorist Evald – continued on page 19

18 This Sand family genealogy board was created by Kenneth Sand to illustrate the various family lines at the family’s recent reunion. Sand Family . . . – continued from page 18 and also spread throughout Denmark and other countries. • Anders Pedersen Sand, his wife Petrea and daughter Prior to this time almost all members of this Sand family lived Mildred settled on a farm in the Poplar area of Audubon in the parishes of Stauning, Nysogn, Gammelsogn, Hover, County, Iowa. Anders initially came to America in 1902, Ringkøbing, and Brejning. then went back to Denmark in 1920. In 1925 he returned Peder Andreas Sand was born in Nysogn in 1804 and suc- to the United States for good. cessfully farmed in Gammelsogn and Hover parishes prior • Mariane Sand, her husband, Anders Thomsen, and chil- to his retirement in the 1860s. At one time he owned 200 dren Thomas and Maren came to America in 1907. They hectares of land, which was a very large farm in nineteenth farmed in Audubon and Guthrie counties in Iowa before century Denmark. With his two wives, Else Jensdatter and, moving to California in the early 1930s. then, Karen Marie Jakobsen, Peder Andreas Sand had the • Peter Marinus Grimstrup Sand immigrated in 1906. Peter following children: raised his family on farms in Guthrie County, Iowa. 1 Ane Catherine Sand. She married Jens Iversen Brostrup. • Andrea Sand married Jens Block. Their children Niels, Her son, Peder Andreas Sand Brostrup, settled in Omaha, Chris, Hermann, and Emil Gustav Block, immigrated Nebraska. between 1920 and 1948 and all settled in the Lincoln, 2. Karen Pedersen Sand, who married Clemmen Jensen. Nebraska, area. Descendants of Karen and Clemmen settled in the Charles 7. Susanne Elisabeth Dorthea Sand married Jens Knudsen. City, Iowa area. Their many descendants live in Denmark. Six members of 3. Ane Katrine Pedersen Sand. She married Povl Andersen. this family attended the reunion. Their descendants settled in New York City. 4. Jens Christian Sand. He married; his descendants stayed Since Anders Albeck Sand first used the Sand surname in Denmark. in about 1697 the Sand family has extended down twelve 5. Karen Hvistendahl Sand. She married Peder Jakobsen. generations. Attendees at the reunion belonged to the eighth Their son, Anton Jacobsen, came to America about 1904 to eleventh generations. and settled in Chicago. Twenty-one descendants of this While the Sand family for several centuries had its roots family attended the reunion. deep in the soil of West Jutland current research has found no 6. Hans Peder Andreas Sand married and had seven children. member of the Sand family in the United States or Denmark Fifty-two of his descendants attended the reunion. The still actively engaged in agriculture. following descendants of Hans Peder came to America:

19 Activities and News from the Family History & Genealogy Center

• During October – Family History the arrival of Danish history graduate time on the numerous paid research Month – there were two displays in student Marianne Sletten Paasche, inquiries received at the library. the FHGC lobby. The fi rst dealt with who will be working in the FHGC the life of Reverend Anders Hansen, next spring and early summer. We • On Saturday, October 27, Michele the guiding spirit behind the Salem will also share her for a time with presented a two-hour workshop on Home, which is now celebrating its the Sheffi eld Historical Society in Danish-American genealogy during 75th anniversary. The second, cour- Sheffi eld, Illinois. the Danish Sisterhood National Con- tesy of FHGC volunteer Kenneth vention in Chicago. She also learned Sand, was a photographic overview • The green light has also been given more about the records of the Sister- of the ancestors and descendants of to begin searching for a library intern hood and how to access information Peder Andreas Sand (1804-1882) of to assist Michele with cataloging the about the various lodges and their Stavning and Hove parishes in Ring- FHGC collection in PastPerfect™. members. købing County, showing one way of • A change has recently been made • Thanks go out to the many individuals tracking family lines. in the research assistance available who have donated to the FHGC 10th to visitors who come to the FHGC. Anniversary campaign. To date we’ve • From November through April the Library volunteers will continue to raised about $15,000 of the $25,000 FHGC will be on winter hours: assist patrons in fi nding their family that will enable us to purchase addi- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays or ancestral information for the price tional materials, including microfi lms from 10-4. Appointments outside of admission and photocopies. If in- of selected Danish-American news- these hours may be made by calling depth research assistance is desired papers and Danish church registers, in advance of your intended visit. beyond what a volunteer is able to do, add Danish Brotherhood lodge ma- the library manager will be available terial to the Museum webpage, and • A notebook collection of the vignettes to work with patrons at the regular start cataloging the library collection. written by Barbara Lund-Jones, An- FHGC research rates ($20/hour for Several fund-raising projects are un- gela Stanford and Michele McNabb museum members; $30/hour for non- derway. There’s still time to help us for The Danish Pioneer and Bien has members). Advance appointments are realize our dreams through a gift of been compiled and is available for also recommended. This change was any amount designated “FHGC 10th browsing in the FHGC lobby. necessary, given the time-consuming Anniversary Fund.” A listing of all nature of genealogical research, to donors will appear in the next issue • An intern is coming to the FHGC! allow the FHGC staff to spend more of the America Letter. Paperwork is underway to prepare for

Admission & Hours aDMISSIon MUSeUM HoURS: FaMILy HISToRy & (Includes Bedstemor’s House) Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Sat.: GeneaLoGy CenTeR HoURS Current Museum Members: 10:00 am-5:00 pm; May-Oct.: Tues., Wed., Fri., FREE with Membership Card Sun.: 12:00 noon-5:00 pm 9:00 am-5:00 pm; 1st & 3rd Non-Members: Adults, $5 Saturday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Children (ages 8-17), $2 BUSIneSS HoURS: Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Nov.-April: Tues., Wed., Fri.: 10 am-4 pm Other Times By Appointment all facilities are closed on new year’s Day, easter Sunday, Thanksgiving & Christmas. (Local weather conditions may cause occasional closures.)

20 Wish List • Family History & Genealogy Center

Thanks to J. Brent and Shirley • Children of Ellis Island, by yearbooks, and high school year- Nörlem of Monticello, Minnesota, Barry Moreno (Arcadia Publish- books (especially pre-1960) from for adopting the compilation of ing, $19.99) Cass, Audubon and Shelby Coun- Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska Civil • A Global Citizen: Letter to my ties and other Iowa communities War veterans. It will be a welcome Descendants, part II, by Niels with signifi cant Danish-American addition to the FHGC collection. Aage Skov (University Press of populations. The following are some of the Southern Denmark, 2006; $30). If you have any of these items materials that we would like to add • Ib Melchoir: Man of Imagina- please contact Michele McNabb to to the library. If they are sitting tion, by Robert Skotak. (2000; see if we already have them before unwanted on your bookshelves or $15 on amazon.com). sending or bringing them to the you would like to make a dona- • With a Brush and Muslin Bag: Museum. Although we appreci- tion toward their purchase please the Life of Niels Ebbesen Hansen ate the underlying thoughtfulness contact Michele McNabb at librar- (2003), by Helen H. Loen. of unsolicited donations of books, [email protected] or 712- • Among the Danes, by F. M. many times we receive duplicate 764-7008. Butlin (available from abebooks. titles or ones that do not fi t our • A History of Ida County [Iowa], com for ±$50.) collection guidelines, and hence edited by Bruce L. Godbersen We are also interested in acquir- which will not be kept. An advance (1977). This was a limited edi- ing older (pre-1950) telephone list of titles sent by mail or email tion, so if anyone has a copy directories from Danish communi- or sometimes just a phone call can they no longer want it would ties throughout the United States, save both potential donors and fi nd a good home at the FHGC. Dana and Grand View College FHGC staff time and money.

Are You a Danish Immigrant or Long-term Resident?

Many Danes have immigrated to time. If you fi t one of these categories, Information Forms for yourself or for the United States since WWII, have we would like to have some informa- distribution at meetings of your local been exchange students or resided tion in our library on you! Contact Danish-American organization, in this country for longer periods of the FHGC for copies of Immigrant

Database Updates • The FHGC now has an index to in marketing policy, however, the have been putting off looking in obituaries found in the Elk-Horn HQO vendor, ProQuest, no longer the various HQO databases you Kimballton Review from 1916-21 allows non-public libraries to offer may want to do so before your and 1928-1997. remote access. We are currently subscription lapses. For those • For the past three years we have negotiating an agreement with members who will suffer from been able to offer remote access to the fi rm that will allow current ‘HQO-withdrawal,’ many public HeritageQuest Online™ to Muse- subscribers to fi nish out their libraries provide remote access to um members at the $100 level and subscription year, and will be no- their card-holders. A visit to your above. We currently have around tifying them once this is fi nalized. local library may give you your 275 subscribers. Due to a change So, if you are a subscriber now and fi x!

21 Further Wall of Honor Information Requested The FHGC would like to obtain more tive. If you have information on any Alternatively, a Wall of Honor Informa- information on the following persons of the individuals below please contact tion form may be downloaded from the on the Museum Wall of Honor whose Michele by phone at 712.764.7008 or Museum website. files are empty or rather uninforma- email to [email protected]. Surname Given Names Year of County Settled State Spouse(s) WoH ID # Immigration Settled Aagaard...... Bertha Koch...... 1891...... Shelby...... IA...... Andreas Aagaard...... 419 Aagaard...... Hans L...... 1894...... Audubon...... IA...... ?...... 1806 Adelsen...... Agnes Kirstine Houmann...... 1915...... Kenosha...... WI...... Niels Peter Adelsen...... 4754 Adelsen...... Niels Peter...... 1915...... Kenosha...... WI...... Agnes Kirstine Houmann...... 4753 Albertsen...... Ole Anton...... 1900...... Hamlin...... SD...... ?...... 4589 Amand...... Fritze...... 1963...... New York...... NY...... ?...... 4569 Andersen...... Anders Peder...... 1907...... Cascade...... MT...... ?...... 4669 Andersen...... Andrew P...... 1907...... Aitkin...... MN...... ?...... 1032 Andersen...... Andrew Peter ...... 1882...... Audubon...... IA...... Johanna Marie -?-...... 37106 Andersen...... Ane Marie Jensen...... 1903...... Niobrara...... WY...... Peder Christian Andersen...... 40745 Andersen...... Anna...... ?...... O’Brien...... IA...... ?...... 1649 Andersen...... Anna Rasmussen...... 1891...... Audubon...... IA...... ?...... 1177 Andersen...... Anne Marie...... ?...... Shelby...... IA...... ?...... 674 Andersen...... Anton Carl ...... 1910...... Middlesex...... NJ...... Kristine Kaae...... 880 Andersen...... Axel Miller ...... 1906...... Cook...... IL...... Olga Easterhope...... 39606 Andersen...... Carl William...... 1909...... Black Hawk...... IA...... ?...... 4910 Andersen...... Christian ...... c1896...... Audubon...... IA...... Christiana Thomasen...... 1378 Andersen...... Christine...... ?...... Pottawattamie ...... IA...... Nels P. Andersen...... 62 Andersen...... Edvard...... 1910...... British Columbia.....CANADA ?..1035 Andersen...... Emanuel T...... 1916...... Shelby...... IA...... ?...... 960 Andersen...... Erik M...... 1955...... Platte...... MO...... Anna Elisa -?-...... 1022 Andersen...... George (Jorgen)...... 1915...... Audubon...... IA...... Laura Kristine Rasmussen...... 1637 Andersen...... Hans H...... Humboldt...... CA...... Helene Birgitte -?-...... 1181 Andersen...... Helge E...... 1927...... Alameda...... CA...... Mette E. -?-...... 4957 Andersen...... I. Margrethe...... 1912...... Arapahoe...... CO...... 1592 Andersen...... Jacob Martin...... 1891...... Audubon...... IA...... Anne Marie Jensen...... 5117 Andersen...... Johanne Marie ...... 1879...... Audubon...... IA...... Andrew Peter Andersen ...... 37106 Andersen...... John C...... 1906...... Kenosha...... WI...... ?...... 1174 Andersen...... Kristine Kaae...... 1927...... Middlesex...... NJ...... Anton Carl Andersen...... 880 Andersen...... Lars Peter ...... 1912...... Linn...... IA...... Anna -?-...... 2111 Andersen...... Laura Kristine Rasmussen...... 1906...... Audubon...... IA...... George (Jorgen) Andersen...... 1638 Andersen...... Lauritz Frederick...... <1905...... Lake...... IL...... Mette Marie Jacobsen...... 5090 Andersen...... Marie Cecilia Jacobsen...... 1883...... Dawson...... NE...... ?...... 4573 Andersen...... Marie Laurentine Nielsine Larsen...... 1909...... Black Hawk.IA...... Peder Chris- tian Andersen...... 4909 Andersen...... Marius A...... 1921...... Douglas...... NE...... Augusta Pedersen...... 169 Andersen...... Mette E...... 1927...... Alameda...... CA...... Helge E. Andersen...... 4957 Andersen...... Nels P...... ?...... Pottawattamie ...... IA...... Christine ?...... 62 Andersen...... Niels Christian...... ?...... Dawson...... NE...... Marie ?...... 4572 Andersen...... Niels Peter...... ?...... Sheridan...... MT...... ?...... 1992 Andersen...... Peder Christian...... 1909...... Black Hawk...... IA...... Marie Laurentine Nielsine Larsen.4908 Andersen...... Peder Christian ...... 1903...... Niobrara...... WY...... Ane Marie Jensen...... 40745 Andersen...... Robert...... 1868...... Wyandotte...... KS...... ?...... ???? Andersen...... Soren ...... ?...... McLeod ...... MN...... Marie Christiansen...... 473 Andersen...... Soren C...... 1911...... Polk...... IA...... ?...... 922 Andersen...... William...... 1855...... Cook...... IL...... ?...... ???? Anderson...... Andrew ...... ?...... Cheyenne...... NE...... Elsie M. Jensen...... 1058 Anderson...... Andrew H...... ?...... Lorah...... IA...... Anna Marie Jorgensen...... 632 Anderson...... Anna Marie Jorgensen...... ?...... Lorah...... IA...... Andrew H. Anderson...... 632 Anderson...... Axel Emil Algren ...... 1914...... St. Clair...... IL...... Sophie Magdaline Anderson ...... 5082 Anderson...... Christen ...... 1912...... Langlade...... WI...... ?...... 5192 Anderson...... Christine Andersen...... ?...... Hamilton...... NE...... ?...... 731 Anderson...... Dorothea Jorgensen...... 1872...... New Denmark...... WI...... Peter Anderson...... 728 Anderson...... Edward...... ?...... Morgan...... CO...... ?...... 1059 Anderson...... Elsie M. Jensen...... ?...... Cheyenne...... NE...... Andrew Anderson...... 1058 Anderson...... Jens Jorgen...... 1877...... Washington...... NE...... Anna -?-...... 5172 Anderson...... Margaret Nelson...... ?...... Washington...... NE...... ?...... 1057 Anderson...... Sophie Magdaline Anderson...... 1929...... St. Clair...... IL...... Axel Emil Algren Anderson...... 5082

22 Vacation in Denmark and Support The Danish Immigrant Museum Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, a member of The Danish Im- • The house has two bathrooms, both have showers and one migrant Museum’s Board of Directors, and her husband has a hot tub. Poul Olesen are making a fabulous offer. They are opening • There is a kitchen with refrigerator, oven, and micro- their Danish summer home for rental at a reduced price— wave. and all proceeds will be donated to The Danish Immigrant • The home has a flat screen television and DVD player. Museum. • Beautiful views of unbelievable sunsets year-round from The summerhouse: inside and from the outside decks. • The house is located in the middle of Jutland, a 10-minute • Stroll down the hill to the water, visit an inn or—some drive from Viborg, Denmark’s second oldest town (after nights—watch sailboat races. Ribe). It’s two hours to Skagen to the north, two hours to • The home is a five minute drive to shopping—bakery, the German border to the south, one hour to the Atlantic butcher shop, bank, post office. Ocean on the west, and one hour to the Kattegat on the • With electric heat, this is a wonderful place to stay in any east. season. • The house is a 45-minute drive to Århus, Denmark’s second The house is available for rental in 2008 and beyond. It largest city, and a 40-minute drive to Ålborg. costs a minimum of $1,000 a week. (Usually, it costs around • There are wonderful views of the Limfjord from most rooms $3,000.) Again, all proceeds are being generously given to in the house. The Danish Immigrant Museum. • The house has three bedrooms—two with queen-sized beds Interested individuals should contact the Museum at and one with two bunk beds. It sleeps six adults comfort- 1-800-759-9192. ably, but can sleep a total of eight.

23 PRSRT STD NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID ® Permit No. 19 The Danish Immigrant Museum Elk Horn, IA 2212 Washington Street • PO Box 470 • Elk Horn, Iowa 51531-0470 (712) 764-7001 • Toll Free (800) 759-9192 • FAX (712) 764-7002 E-Mail: [email protected]

Family History & Genealogy Center 4210 Main Street • PO Box 249 • Elk Horn, IA 51531-0249 (712) 764-7008 • Toll Free (877) 764-7008 • FAX (712) 764-7010 E-Mail: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.danishmuseum.org Glædelig jul og godt nytår!