America Letter Fall 2008/winter 2009 Vol. XXI, No. 4

Your Museum in the An International The Danish immigranT museum Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of , Protector Heart of the Continent Cultural Center BOX 470 • ELK HORN, IOWA 51531 ® Member of the American Association of Museums Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations®: Ernst Harboe by Eva Nielsen “I wanted to serve. Since I was a little boy, I loved the guys with the bearskin hats,” says Ernst Harboe of Northfi eld, Illinois. Those guys with the bearskin hats are the members of the Royal Danish Guard, the ones who stand guard outside in — the regiment of the Danish Army that has been charged for the past 350 years with protecting the Danish monarch. Harboe reported for guard duty on November 17, 1939, fi nishing the fi ve- month training one week before the Ernst Harboe fi nished training for the Royal Danish Guard one week before the German invasion of Denmark in April German invasion of Denmark in 1940. Harboe is in the second row on the far left; of 1940. “And,” says Harboe, “I have his guard number, written on the photo, was 482. never, ever worn the uniform or the as the Royal Danish Guard celebrated its 350th anniversary bearskin hat. It’s terrible.” in Copenhagen—Harboe, at 88-years-old, was there. Harboe did perform guard duty at Amalienborg Palace. Let’s back up. When the war fi rst broke out—when Hitler But after the Germans invaded, the guard no longer wore the invaded Poland in September of 1939—Harboe was not actu- traditional dress uniforms. Instead, they used khaki uniforms ally in Denmark. He was in the United States, in Los Angeles, and steel helmets. having his fi rst experience with the country that would one This is not the only way in which Harboe’s guard experi- day be his home. At that time, though, Harboe was a tourist. ence was to He was traveling in the company of one of the Danish princes, be remark- Prince Georg, who had been Harboe’s best friend from fi rst able. His grade and who was planning to be a guardsman as well. (Prince connection Georg’s great grandfather was Christian IX. His father was to the guard the fi rst cousin of Christian X. On his mother’s side, Prince spanned the Georg’s grandmother, Princess Ingeborg, was the sister of World War Christian X.) II years in Harboe shrugs off his association with royalty, saying, Denmark “There were so many princes back in those days. All through and fol- my teen years I had been sitting at the table with kings and lowed him queens from all over because I was so often invited as he immi- for lunch at Georg’s house which was only a block away from grated to our house, so it was just like family…I just grew up with this Harboe (left) pictured with Prince Georg the United as a natural thing, never really thinking much about it. But it (right) and Georg’s father before departing for States. And sure changed my life in many ways.” their boat trip. The two young men were in Los even this Angeles when WWII started. summer— – continued on page 4 Director’s Corner By John Mark Nielsen It is the time beginning our 25th year with operational tainty. After caring for your needs and of year when we debt. How to retire this debt, strengthen those of your loved ones, should you be give thanks for the museum and enhance its reputation, in a position to help, I invite you to think those so impor- even as we remain frugal -- these were of The Danish Immigrant Museum when tant to us. The the questions. considering your charitable giving. same is true at In consultation with the Executive What else can you do to help? The Danish Im- Committee of the Board of Directors, Renew your membership when you migrant Museum. On behalf of our Board we determined how to proceed. We will receive your first renewal notice.(Per - of Directors and the staff, I extend our first pay down our operational debt and haps you might even consider increasing heartfelt appreciation for all the sup- build a cash reserve to avoid finance your membership level!) This helps us port you have provided us throughout charges that accrue when drawing upon avoid the additional expenses of sending the years and especially this, our 25th our line-of-credit. Next, we will con- out follow-up reminders. year! tinue to contribute to our endowment. Give gift memberships for Christ- Turbulence in the financial markets, And, finally, we will be strategic in our mas, birthdays, anniversaries. This however, is concerning all of us. This programming, focusing on services that increases our membership roles and the has been true too for those of us here impact our widely scattered member- potential for creating relationships that at the museum. As a private, non-profit ship. grow closer over time. institution, we depend on the generosity Early in September, I visited with Visit the museum, whether in per- of you, our members; when you face Berniece Grewcock. Readers of past son or through our website and do your economic uncertainties, so do we. America Letters and Annual Reports Christmas shopping in the Museum An important source of revenue to will recognize that she and her husband, Shop (you can do so online too!). operate the museum is earnings from Bill, have generously supported what I Consider providing for the museum the Holger Danske Endowment. While call “infrastructure projects,” projects in your estate. I invite you to contact us we cannot touch the principal, earnings that are not so glitzy, but absolutely to explore ways in which you might do may be used to support operations. For necessary. These have included replacing this. the past three years, we have needed to our climate control systems, paving the Celebrate our Danish and Danish- draw upon these earnings at the end of our parking lot, and providing a new roof American heritage, history and cul- fiscal year which ends on August 31. This for the museum. In response to my ap- ture! We have come far in twenty-five past fiscal year it became increasingly peal, we received a gift in the amount of years. With your support and encour- clear that because of market conditions $100,000 from the William and Berniece agement, we will continue to grow in there would be no earnings. Fortunately, Grewcock Foundation. When I called to reputation and quality. For this we thank we had anticipated a down-turn in the thank Mrs. Grewcock for the gift, she you. markets and had dramatically lowered said “I don’t think the museum should Another way some of you may be our expectations when we planned last have that debt!” able to assist us, is through the Pen- year’s budget. Such a gift is dramatic and impor- sion Protection Act of 2006. Congress I know that we must be good stewards tant, and I am very, very grateful to the recently extended this act through 2009 of the funds you so generously provide Grewcocks for this timely contribution. which gives those at least 70½ the op- us, and I believe we have. The result of Equally important are the many smaller portunity to make tax-free charitable our care was that we stayed well under gifts we receive. One recent donor wrote gifts. Individuals with traditional or Roth budget. Despite this, we ended the year in a note that he wished his gift could be IRAs will be able to make tax-free gifts with a debt of $100,000 on our line-of- larger, that he could do more. All of us directly to qualified charities. Donors credit. (This we need since the timing know, however, that it takes many drops may choose to make charitable distribu- of contributions doesn’t always match to fill a bucket. There is a Danish phrase tions in any amount up to $100,000 per when we need to make expenditures.) that expresses the same idea: mange year, if so desired. A couple with separate In past years we have been able to draw bække små, gør en stor å! It means, IRAs could each give up to that amount. on planned endowment earnings to pay “Many small streams or brooks join to Individuals who are required to take off our line-of-credit. form a great river.” And that’s what it unneeded IRA withdrawals, and others On August 31, there were no earnings takes and will continue to take to assure who have experienced limitations on tax from the Holger Danske Endowment. our museum survives and grows. benefits in the past, will find the new law Though we could celebrate paying off As all of you know, the days and of particular interest. the museum’s mortgage in June, we were months ahead are fraught with uncer-

2 America Letter The Danish Published Three Times Annually By The Danish Immigrant Museum 2212 Washington, POBox 470 Immigrant Elk Horn, Iowa 51531 712-764-7001 800-759-9192 Museum FAX 712-764-7002 Eva Nielsen, editor www.danishmuseum.org Named email: [email protected] Board of Directors Tourism President – Marc Petersen, Omaha, NE Vice-President – Mark Nussle, Palos Park, IL Secretary – Dagmar Muthamia, Long Beach, CA Attraction Terri Johnson (center) of The Danish Im- Treasurer – John Molgaard, Atlantic, IA migrant Museum accepts the museum’s award Dennis Andersen, Atlanta, GA of the Year during the 2008 Iowa Tourism Conference. Carlo Christensen, Glendale, CA Lone Christensen, Brown Deer, WI The Danish Immigrant Museum was and impressive attendance fi gures. Ane-Grethe Delaney, Wayzata, MN named Tourism Attraction of the Year Nancy Landess, Iowa tourism man- Mark Frederiksen, Falcon, CO during the 2008 Iowa Tourism Confer- ager, and Kathy Dirks, Travel Federal Janell Hansen, Elk Horn, IA Bridget Jensen, Houston, TX ence held in Sioux City, Iowa October of Iowa president, presented a total of Erna Jensen, Des Moines, IA 19 through 23. twenty awards at the conference. Pro- Harold M. Jensen, Ames, IA The museum was chosen from eighty fessionals representing several facets Kurt Klarskov Larsen, Oneonta, AL entries in the category for communities of the Iowa tourism industry judged the Kay Esbeck North, Ames, IA Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, Eugene, OR with a population of up to ten thousand. nominations. Accepting the award on Lynette Skow Rasmussen, Johnston, IA The museum tied with the of behalf of the museum was Terri Johnson, The Honorable Consul Anelise Sawkins, Okoboji Athletic Events for the award. administrative manager. Johnson has Minneapolis, MN The wining attractions were chosen based been involved in the tourism industry for Linda Sloth Gibbs, Yuma, AZ Harriet Albertsen Spanel, Bellingham, WA on several criteria, including outstanding a number of years and is currently vice Janet M. Thuesen, Sausalito, CA performance in 2007-2008, outstanding president of the Western Iowa Tourism Ex-Offi cio economic impact, effective marketing Region. Kai Nyby, LaPorte, IN Vern Hunter, Fargo, ND Nils Jensen, Portland, OR Dennis Larson, Decorah, IA Staff Executive Director: Dr. John Mark Nielsen, [email protected] Volunteer Spotlight: General Information, Group Tours, Volunteering Opportunities:Terri Johnson, a Tribute to Howard Christensen [email protected] In this “Volunteer Spotlight” we take the opportunity to Wall of Honor, Donations, Memorial Gifts pay tribute to Howard Christensen, of Atlantic, Iowa, who & Memberships: Debra Christensen Larsen, [email protected] passed away unexpectedly on October 18, 2008. Bookkeeping & Financial Inquiries: Jen- Howard and his wife Shirley became members of the nifer Winters, [email protected] museum in 1985. In 1991 he took his dedication to the Exhibit Questions: museum one step further when he made the very generous Erin Harney, [email protected] offer to excavate the ground on which The Danish Immigrant Artifact Donations & Museum Loans: Museum was to be built. Angela Stanford, Howard served in the U.S. Army during the Korean [email protected] War and he spent three years in Liberia, Africa working for Museum Shop: Raymond International Concrete and Pile Works, building Joni Soe-Butts roads. When Howard returned home to Atlantic he continued [email protected] to work in excavation and eventually began his own business. Donation of Books & Library Questions: Howard was involved in many community organizations and is remembered Michele McNabb, [email protected] for digging a lot of basements for homes in the area as well as the grading work Genealogical & Translation Inquiries: he did on Interstate 80 while it was being constructed. [email protected] Howard and Shirley were familiar faces at the museum and were glad to help Asst. Volunteer Coordinator: out on various projects. We are deeply indebted to Howard for his generosity and Joyce Petersen will miss him. Receptionist: Jane Kite Custodian: Tim Fredericksen 3 Harboe . . . continued from page 1 One of the ways in which it changed his life: Georg’s father was the presi- dent of a Danish steamship line. After completing school Georg invited Har- boe to accompany him on a boat trip to America. Harboe and Georg spent three months on the M/S Canada, traveling from Denmark through the Panama Canal all the way up the west coast of the United States to Vancouver and then back again. “It was an unbelievable experience at 19-years-old,” says Harboe. When the war broke out in Europe, Harboe, at 88-years-old, traveled to Copenhagen for the 350th anniversary Georg and Harboe both felt they would celebration of the Royal Danish Guard. Approximately seven thousand former like to stay in the U.S. “But we were told guardsmen paraded through the streets of Copenhagen in celebration. by Georg’s father that we had to come home,” says Harboe. “So that’s what we Germans invaded. He remembers waking feet and horses hooves and that was very did.” at 5:00 a.m. the morning of April 9, 1940 strange.” Returning to Denmark proved tricky. to the sounds of low-flying airplanes. Despite the German invasion, guard By the time Harboe and Georg’s ship He and his fellow guard trainees hoped duty continued at Amalienborg. Harboe reached London the Germans had the planes were British. But as the skies guarded Christian X and did office work blocked the North Sea route between grew lighter, they saw the Iron Cross, the at the barracks. He finished his six months England and Denmark. Eventually, the symbol of the German Army, under the of service and was sent home in the fall two were able to take a small boat from planes’ wings. of 1940. (The German Army later occu- Newcastle to Bergen, . At breakfast that morning a lieutenant pied all Danish military installations and In Norway, Harboe and Georg made came around the mess hall asking for interred Danish soldiers, ending guard their way to Georg’s aunt’s home, volunteers to go out to the streets around duty at Amalienborg. The Copenhagen Skaugum, outside Oslo—Prince Georg’s the barracks. “And,” says Harboe, “I police took over guard duty.) aunt, Princess Märtha, was married to volunteered, like an idiot.” In 1943, Harboe reconnected with Prince Olav of Norway. Harboe and another trainee were set other former guardsmen. That year, he One of the days they were there, they up about a block away from the barracks, joined the Danish Resistance Movement, were invited to lunch by King Haakon lying flat on their stomachs behind a the underground insurgency that was of Norway. Harboe remembers, “At the machine gun. Every half hour or so a working against the German occupation. lunch at the castle in Oslo there was a lieutenant came around on a bicycle, Harboe worked with a group of former lady sitting between the king and me at each time with a different message: if guardsmen who lived in the suburbs of the table and at some point in the middle the Germans come, shoot. Then, the next Copenhagen. of the lunch the king leaned over and time, the lieutenant told them to hold Harboe was involved in the printing asked in Danish—because he was a their fire. “It went on all morning,” says and distribution of illegal anti-occupation grandson of Christian IX—‘Vil du ha’ Harboe. “And we didn’t know whether publications that were printed on the old en øl til?’ So one of the few times I’ve we were going to shoot or hold our fire. fashioned duplicators and then distrib- been spoken to by a king he asked, ’Do Luckily, we never saw a German; they uted as secretly as possible. you want another beer?’” never came.” He was also involved in the receiving Harboe and Georg made it back to Ten days after the invasion, Harboe and distribution of weapons—mostly Denmark, beginning their guard train- had opportunity to travel to the main American weapons—that were parachut- ing in November. And, when Harboe barracks at ; he wanted ed from British airplanes over Jylland. recalls the ensuing German invasion of to see the Germans for himself. “I re- The plan was that when the war ended, Denmark and the years following, he member standing in a window, looking every underground member would have shakes his head and says, “It was such at these columns of Germans marching a weapon. a crazy time.” by with horse-drawn carriages...I can still Harboe recalls, “I was in Harboe was stationed at Jærgersborg remember the sound of their marching once when two fishing boats came from Kaeserne outside Copenhagen when the 4 – continued on page 5 with boxes that looked like they “I was pumping my bicycle up the hill to Germans surrendered.” had fish in them, but really they had get home and my brother came walking Harboe was also there on May 6 Husqvarna guns in them. And we un- down the sidewalk toward me white as when the first British soldiers came in a loaded those boxes right there in Nyhavn a sheet. And all he said was, ‘The door jeep to report to King Christian X that right under the noses of everybody.” He is closed.’ So we knew they had been they were there as liberators. He and the continues, “And another time I traveled there.” guards stayed at Amalienborg for about out in the suburbs with a big burlap sack The Germans had come in the middle a week longer, until the Danish Army on my bicycle full of German hand gre- of the night, looking for the Harboe could organize the guardsmen and get nades.” brothers. Harboe’s family told the Ger- them back into uniform, ready for guard When the Germans arrested some mans that neither lived there, but they duty. of Harboe’s friends, he and his brother searched the house anyway. The German When he tells these stories, Harboe Frederik, also a former guardsman and lieutenant became suspicious, Harboe stresses that he didn’t do anything partic- underground member, knew they were says, because the breakfast table was ularly special, that about ninety percent at risk; the Germans would pressure already set for four people: for Harboe’s of young Danish men were doing the their friends to learn the names of other father, his sister, his brother Frederik same. “But,” he says of the occupation, underground members. Frederik and and for him. When questioned about it, “it seemed endless—five years seemed Harboe started sleeping elsewhere at Harboe’s sister lied, saying that the two a long, long, long time.” night. Frederik stayed with a neighbor live-in maids joined her and her father for Shortly after the war, Harboe returned and Harboe rented a room a couple blocks breakfast at the table. Harboe’s mother to the United States. Curious to pursue away from the family home in Gentofte was out of town. his advertising career, Harboe enrolled under an assumed name. Harboe knew that the Germans would in a journalism and advertising program The two young men continued to next come for him at his work. “But,” at Penn State. He met his wife Suzanna return to the family home every morning says Harboe, “One of the headmen at in 1947 while working for an ad agency to eat breakfast and bathe. However, the the advertising agency where I worked in Chicago and the two married in 1948 family put a warning system in place. was very sympathetic towards all this and moved back to Denmark. Harboe explains that his parents had a underground business. So he arranged Though they lived in Denmark for a balcony on the second floor outside their that I got a job at Berlingske Tidende time, the Harboes ultimately settled in bedroom. Every morning when his father under an assumed name.” the United States in 1950; they have three woke, he would go out on the balcony and So Harboe changed his job, working sons—and now four grandsons. And the take a breath of fresh air. If the balcony at the newspaper as a copywriter. But he family’s connection to Denmark remains door was open when Harboe approached was still being paid by his advertising strong. the house, it was safe. If the door was agency. Harboe’s connection to the guard closed, this meant the Germans had come When liberation day came in May remains as well. Harboe has been part to search the house in the night. of 1945, Harboe and his underground of the garderforening for years. These “One morning,” remembers Harboe, group were charged with taking over are associations of Royal Danish Guards guarding Amalienborg. “At 7:00 a.m. formed around the world by former on May 5, I gathered guardsmen—there are three in the United together with my States and three in Canada, for example. group, which con- These clubs were started by the famous sisted of about eight Danish tenor and former guard member, or ten other guards, Lauritz Melchior. Harboe himself be- and we met out in a came the president of the Royal Danish garden in the suburb Guard in foreign countries, serving in of Hellerup. We had that role for five years. our armbands on That connection with the Royal Dan- and our weapons ish Guard led Harboe back to Denmark and, this is so ridicu- once again this past summer. There he lous, we bicycled attended the 350th anniversary celebra- to Amalienborg tion of the founding of the guard in because our duty Copenhagen. Harboe says, “It was 7,000 was to take over old guard and new guardsmen marching the guard duty at through Copenhagen and I just sat there Amalienborg—the at the parade ground in a wheelchair.” first ones after the “It was a fantastic experience to see,” Harboe on his 89th birthday with grandsons (left to right) says Harboe—a former guardsman who Graham, Henry, Brory, and Louis. 5 truly has seen a lot. A Living Heirloom: The Royal Danish Guard by Yvonne Skov Grønlund, Danish king against the Swedish. The Scan|Design Intern mercenaries fought for their pay wages For the past 350 years, the Royal Dan- rather than for a nationality or an ideol- ish Guard has been on duty to protect the ogy. monarch at Amalienborg Palace. In the However, by the mid-17th century a summer of 2008 their anniversary was new political landscape in Europe was celebrated in Copenhagen with music, emerging. In Denmark, King Frederik III speeches and a parade. However, it is (son of the famous King Christian IV who not just in Denmark that the anniver- built the Round Tower in Copenhagen) sary is marked. From October through wrested power from the nobility and December an exhibit about the guard became the first king of Denmark with is on display at The Family History & absolute power. The Royal Danish Guard Genealogy Center. became a force strongly attached to the The Royal Danish Guard was founded king’s person, but it was also associated in 1658 by King Frederik III. The king with the creation of Danish national feel- The Royal Danish Guard was founded had two plans for the guard. First, he ings. So since its beginning the guard has in 1658 by King Frederik III. wanted his own personal bodyguard; stood out as a special military unit. second, he wanted to strengthen the Dan- Later, in 1799, a royal decree declared Royal Danish Guard motto: pro rege et ish Army with a new unit. This division that the guards should only be selected grege, meaning, “for the king and the has been maintained up to the present, from among the most handsome and people.” with soldiers from the guard serving in cultured men, representing, in this sense, The guard is founded on deeply rooted Afghanistan and also as the Queen’s Life the ideal Danish man. traditions, rituals and ceremonies. Noth- Guard in Copenhagen. Today the king’s officials do not select ing is random. There are even guidelines Over the years the Royal Danish the guards; instead, the guards sign up for the correct polishing of ones duty Guard has almost become an embodi- to perform their national service within bag, which can take up to eighty hours. ment of “Danishness.” Along with other the Danish Royal Guard. Nonetheless, And these routines and traditions have national symbols, such as the Danish flag, the guard still recruits men and women been around for hundreds of years. the Little Mermaid and the fairytales with a certain character or at least a When the Danish Royal Guard cel- of Hans Christian Andersen, images of special eagerness to be a part of the ebrated their 350th anniversary this sum- the Guard have been printed on thou- unit. While ordinary military service mer, it was, therefore, also a celebration sands of postcards, stamps, and tourism lasts four months, soldiers in the guard of a national history. History, roots and brochures. How did this happen? How must serve for eight months. Being a traditions can build up national identi- did the Danish Royal Guard become a guard is somewhat a matter of patriotic ties and that is exactly what the Royal symbol of Danishness? pride; this is also indicated by the official Danish Guard symbolizes. When the guard was founded in the mid-17th century, Denmark was a country quite different from that of today: the no- bility and the well-educated class spoke and wrote almost exclusively German, Latin or French; Danish was a language for the poor. A national symbol such as the red and white flag, Dannebrog, was not normally used among the people. In the ’ everyday life, nationality did not play a big role. The peasant felt like a peasant and the blacksmith like a blacksmith, rather than a Dane. It had been like that for generations. However, during the next two centu- ries things would change. The forming of the guard in 1658 is one indication of some of these changes. Never before had a king formed an entirely Danish force. At that time in Europe, the typical army was a so-called contract army. This means that soldiers were mercenaries who came Royal Danish Guards march through Copenhagen during this summer’s 350th from all over Europe. A German soldier, anniversary celebration. for example, might go to war for the 6 Former Guardsmen Remember their Service by Eva Nielsen It is one of Denmark’s famous images: the Royal Danish Guard, dressed in his red tunic, wool trousers and bearskin hat, standing tall in front of his guard house outside Amalienborg Palace. Now imagine a day so hot that three guards faint, dropping like flies while they wait in full uniform to start their 24- hour duty at the palace. Picture a heavy wet towel stuffed up in that bearskin hat to keep the guard cool. Feel the hat’s chinstrap so saturated with sweat that the guard develops an itchy rash on his chin. This year as Denmark celebrates the 350th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Danish Guard, three former guardsmen and Danish immigrants to the United States, share some of their Paul Larsen stands in the courtyard of Amalienborg Palace where he performed stories—some of the lesser known guard duty over fifty years ago. realities—of being a famous symbol of Denmark. guarding and two hours off in the guard But people would get depressed and quarters. Larsen explains that while sometimes break down. You had to play Paul Larsen, they were on guard they had to stand mental games with yourself and tell Oakdale, California for five minutes outside the guardhouses yourself, ‘I can do this, I can do this.’” and then walk back and forth for ten Larsen remembers guarding while minutes—cuing off the clock that strikes Queen Margrethe, a young girl at the in Amalienborg’s courtyard every 15 time, was running in and out of the palace minutes. Larsen says, “The walking was with the other children. “And of course better, the standing just kills you.” whenever a member of the royal family The guard uniforms, which are wool came out we would have to do a salute and lined, complicated matters. Larsen with our rifle,” says Larsen. “And the says, “You wear nothing underneath kids would run in and out because they because it’s too hot in the summer. We thought it was fun to get the guards to would clean the uniform with water and do this.” a soap and a brush, but it would still Sometimes the Danish Royal Guard stink.” has duty at other royal . Larsen re- Each guard was in charge of caring members guarding at Palace for his uniform. Larsen remembers how when Queen Elizabeth II of England and the guards pressed their wool pants by Prince Philip were there for a visit. “We wetting them down with water at night, were guarding in back by a big balcony laying them under a sheet on the bunks where they must have been having a and then sleeping on the sheet. Larsen good party,” Larsen remembers, “when Paul Larsen started guard duty in the says, “If at inspection you had a crease, Philip came falling down the stairs. But summer of 1955. you would get a demerit.” we couldn’t do anything; we had to Paul Larsen was conscripted in 1954 A demerit meant a guard would have to pretend that we saw nothing. We stayed and chosen for the guards. He says, “I scrub the kitchen floor with a toothbrush tight-faced and stood at attention.” think I was hoping for the guard; it was or be confined to barracks—“all kinds of Larsen immigrated to Canada in May an honor to do that.” silly things,” Larsen laughs. “I did them of 1957. It was both “curiosity and feel- Larsen started his guard duty in the all.” ing dead-ended in Denmark” that led summer of 1955. At that time, the guards He adds, “Today I can laugh at it... him to go. Larsen worked and waited were on duty for 24 hours—one hour 7 – continued on page 8 Former Guardsmen . . . continued from page 7 in Canada for two years before he got a 15 until I was 20, Denmark was occupied visa to enter the United States. [by the German Army]. We couldn’t wait Six months after arriving in the United to get out of there.” States, men were required to register for Like many immigrant guardsmen, the draft. “And, of course,” says Larsen, Viltoft’s connection to the Royal Danish “I was drafted.” Guard remained even as he settled in a Larsen served in the U.S. Army south new country. There are many associations of Munich, Germany. in Denmark for former guard members. How did the U.S. military experience And as guard members emigrated from compare to his training and service in Denmark they formed associations where the Danish Royal Guard? “It was,” says they settled: in the United States and Larsen, “a breeze.” Canada, as well as places as far flung Paul is a member of the Royal Dan- as Australia, Singapore, and Argentina. ish Guard Association in California. He Viltoft feels there is a special connec- attended both the 325th and the 350th tion between former guard members. anniversary celebrations of the guards He cites this example. In1950, Viltoft in Copenhagen. was drafted to fight in the Korean War. Though he wasn’t a U.S. citizen and, Jørgen Viltoft, therefore, not obligated to go, he enlisted. Wayzata, Minnesota As he says, “I decided to live here, so Jørgen Viltoft was assigned to the “We all served with pride and have I decided it was good enough to fight Royal Danish Guard in 1945. stuck together ever since.” That’s how for.” Jørgen Viltoft describes being a member Before leaving for duty, he and his told that instead of serving his six months of the Royal Danish Guard. wife went to see Lauritz Melchior, the of duty guarding Amalienborg that he had As a young Danish man in August of famous Danish tenor, sing in the opera been recommended for officer training. 1945, Viltoft was called in for mandatory Tristan und Isolde in Colorado. After- But before reporting to corporal school, national military service. After a physical wards, Viltoft had the opportunity to he would get to guard at Amalienborg examination, a military panel assigned meet Melchior, who was also a former for one day. him to Royal Danish Guard training. member of the Royal Danish Guard. That day, Larsen was given the job of Viltoft’s group was the first one called Viltoft mentioned to Melchior that he queen’s ordinance. This meant, Larsen up to guard duty following World War II. was on his way to serve in Korea. Then, says, that he was the queen’s errand boy After six months of training at Sandhol- while in Korea, Viltoft received half a for that day. “I simply stood in front of mlejren, the Royal Danish Guard training dozen letters from Melchior. the door to the queen’s private room camp north of Copenhagen, they were Viloft finishes, saying of the guard, and saluted all the folks coming and deemed ready to guard King Christian X “It’s an esprit de corps, like the Marine going—of course, also the queen herself. and his family at Amalienborg Palace. Corps. There’s a great deal of pride. I By 3:30 the queen sent me a ‘Thank you Viltoft remembers night shifts as- wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” and, guard twenty-six, you may be off signed to the backyard, the baghaven, for the day!’” of the palace where King Christian X Kurt Klaskov Larsen, That was all. Days later, Larsen re- had his bedroom and a balcony. “There Oneonta, Alabama ported for officer training and shortly were some garbage cans there and when Kurt Klaskov Larsen reported for the after was chosen to train instead for the we got tired we would sit on the garbage Royal Danish Guard’s six-month training Danish military police, followed by an cans, but keep our feet stomping, so it camp on November 1, 1950. Upon ar- assignment at the Danish command in sounded like we were still marching,” rival, he and the other recruits were told Itzhoe, Germany. says Viltoft. “Well, King Christian must they were no longer names, they were Larsen returned to Denmark this have been able to tell the difference in numbers—and to replace them would past summer for the 350th anniversary the marching sound because he would cost no more than a stamp. Larsen’s celebration of the Royal Danish Guards yell out, ‘Guard!’” The guards would number was 726-50II. As Larsen says, where he marched with thousands of get up and continue marching. he was “generally, named, called, or other guardsmen in a parade through Viltoft spent six months on Amalien- shouted at as ‘twenty-six’” throughout the streets of Copenhagen and before borg duty and—soon after—decided “on training. the Danish royals. “Let’s face it,” says a lark” to immigrate to the United States At the end of training, Larsen’s guard Larsen, “When you’re part of a group of along with a couple of other friends. As experience took an unusual turn. He was thousands…that’s a bit of nostalgia.” Viltoft explains it, “From the time I was 8 The Danish Immigrant Museum Celebrates Twenty-Five

Years From left to right, Henrik Fogh Rasmussen, co-founder of Competere Geopo- On Saturday, October 18, a luncheon litical Management and son of the Danish Prime Minister; Lisa Riggs, manager was held in a sprawling white tent on the of the Danish Windmill; Janell Hansen, manager of Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company and a member of the museum’s board of directors; Danish Ambassador rolling east lawn of the museum, marking to the United States Friis Arne Petersen; and Bruce Lauritzen, chairman of First The Danish Immigrant Museum’s 25th National Bank of Omaha and the Honorary Royal Danish Consul for Nebraska. anniversary. The intent was to recreate All attended the 25th anniversary celebration. the experience of the tent luncheons held in the Rebild Hills of Denmark each 4th of July. The 220 guests included current and former members of the Board of Direc- tors, museum members, volunteers, friends of the museum from the com- munity, staff and honored guests. On the program for the afternoon’s event were remarks by Danish Ambassador to the United States, Friis Arne Petersen, Henrik Fogh Rasmussen, co-founder of Competere Geopolitical Management and son of the Danish Prime Minister and Lynette Rasmussen, of Johnston, Iowa who serves on the museum’s board. A traditional Danish meal was served Former and current board members, museum members, volunteers, community mem- starting with a first course of herring and bers, staff and honored guests gathered to celebrate the museum’s 25th anniversary. rye bread, followed by frikadeller (meat- balls), stuffed pork loin, new potatoes, red cabbage, and cucumbers and onions in a cream sauce. The meal ended with delicious desserts including Danish layer cake, cheesecake, and blueberry tarts with plenty of strong coffee. Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, a member of the museum board, arrived in Elk Horn early in the week to prepare the 23 layer cakes that were served. In traditional Danish custom the meal was interrupted with many rousing toasts, speeches, salutes, and singing. The songs were led by Ehlers Olesen, accompanied by Glenn Henriksen, an accomplished pianist and member of the museum from Armstrong, Iowa. 9 The luncheon was held in tents on museum grounds. Two Danes at Norsk Høstfest The Museum’s Danish Interns reflect on their experience at a Scandinavian-American festival By Yvonne Skov Grønlund and weaving, and carving wood. Historical (except Native Americans, of course) Helle Hovmand-Olsen institutions like Vesterheim, the Norwe- are aware that their ancestors came from As the current Danish interns at The gian immigrant museum, and the State somewhere else and often identify them- Danish Immigrant Museum, we had Historical Society of North Dakota were selves of being that nationality. But does the pleasure of joining museum staff there too. having Danish parents and grandparents members Debra Christensen Larsen and Our job at the booth was to converse make a person Danish? Isn’t the influence Michele McNabb on their trip to Norsk with people visiting us—to share infor- from living in Danish society a big part Høstfest, a Scandinavian festival in Mi- mation about the museum and about of it too? However, having been in the not, North Dakota, from October 1-4. Denmark. We also helped Deb sell mer- States and in a Danish community for Before leaving, we were told that chandise from the museum’s gift shop. some time now, we have become con- Høstfest is the largest Scandinavian fes- One thing that caught us by surprise scious that we cannot fully comprehend tival in North America, that there would during the four days was the large num- how important it is for many people in be booths with crafts, food, clothes, ber of people who came to our booth America to be of Danish descent. music from all five Scandinavian coun- and told us they were Danish, meaning Høstfest passed quickly and we were tries, and that five halls named after the their parents or grandparents had come on our way back to Elk Horn. Now we Scandinavian capitals would be packed from Denmark. That forced the two of us are left wondering: How long can Høst- with people coming from all over the Danish interns to rethink our conception fest continue to exist? Right now it is a United States and Canada to celebrate of nationality; we are used to connect- huge success, but the majority of guests their Scandinavian heritage. This infor- ing the notion of being a nationality were in their early seventies and older. mation filled our minds with curiosity with speaking the country’s language How long will Scandinavian-Americans as we made the fourteen-hour drive to and living in the country. But this was continue to celebrate this Scandinavian Minot. rarely the definition used by people at heritage? In our experience the younger As the festival started, we quickly Høstfest. One example, Yvonne had a generations don’t seem to have the same saw the reality of the things we had been conversation with a man who told her interest in their roots as the older genera- told. There really were people all over that he was German, so naturally she tions do. Whatever the reason for that the place; hundreds had driven their RVs began speaking German to him. The may be, we hope that Norsk Høstfest to the Høstfest grounds and an incred- man looked at her, perplexed; he didn’t will continue for years to come, not ible number of tour buses came in from know the language. only because it gives joy to people who Canada. The atmosphere was amazing The lesson for us: as Europeans we attend, but also because it is a festival in the five halls! The Danish Immigrant have a different conception of national- that says something about what it means Museum’s booth was in the Copenhagen ity than Americans. In America people to be Scandinavian-American. Hall alongside craftsmen spinning wool,

Museum Shop has New Manager

Joni Soe-Butts has managed the parents Darrell and Rosemary Soe still museum shop since September 8 and reside. Soe-Butts and her husband Kevin is a welcome addition to the museum live on an acreage in Earlham. When not staff. This position was a natural fit for at work she likes to relax at home with Soe-Butts as she has experience in both her cats and large golden retriever, Ab- marketing and merchandising. bey. She also enjoys helping her husband Soe-Butts is happy to be working in with the remodeling of a barn that sits her hometown of Elk Horn where her on a farm north of Kimballton.

10 Meet Danish Interns Helle Hovmand- Olsen and Yvonne Skov Grønlund

Helle Hovmand-Olsen Helle Hovmand-Olsen is one of two Danish interns at the museum this fall. She grew up in a suburb of Esbjerg on the west coast of . Four years ago Hovmand-Olsen moved to Copenhagen to attend the where she is studying American Indian languages and cultures. After returning from this internship she will have one year of studies left to earn her master’s degree. The internships of Hovmand-Olsen (right) and Skov Grønlund are funded Hovmand-Olsen is a docent at Den- through a grant from the Scan|Design by Inger and Jens Bruun Foundation of mark’s National Museum where she Seattle. leads school class tours in the North and South American rooms in the Eth- nographic Collection. museum for Halloween and Julefest, and she will begin preparing for her thesis. Hovmand-Olsen began her four and assist the curator of exhibits with the up- Skov Grønlund applied for this a half month internship at The Danish coming exhibit in the Danish-American internship looking for more museum Immigrant Museum in September. She Artist Series and the travelling exhibit and archives experience. The challenge hopes the internship provides her with on Victor Borge. of being an intern in a foreign country some knowledge of the way American also attracted her attention. However, museums are operated and some practi- Yvonne Skov Grønlund the reason she really wanted to come to cal training in the areas of exhibits and Yvonne Skov Grønlund grew up in Elk Horn was to learn more about the collections. a small town near Roskilde. Today she cultural encounter between American While at the museum Hovmand-Olsen lives in Copenhagen, but travels back to society and the Danes that came to the will work to translate the English exhibit her hometown daily to attend Roskilde U.S. in the 1800s. Likewise, she finds it panels into Danish, help inventory the University. In January she completed her interesting to study how culture and tradi- contents of Bedstemor’s House, develop bachelor’s degree in social science and tions today are interpreted, maintained and organize children’s activities at the history. When she returns to Denmark and developed abroad. Glædelig jul og godt nytår!

11 Collection

The Connection C By Angela Stanford How does a museum keep track of with the location of the piece within the thousands of artifacts? How do muse- museum. We also write a brief physical ums know if the physical condition of description, and evaluate each artifact’s an object changes? physical condition. Finally, photographs Intern Hayley The answer: an inventory! are taken of all sides, details, and dam- Chambers Joins An inventory gives the exact lo- age. cation of every single artifact and, The second stage involves taking all Collections preferably, is electronically accessible of that information and entering it into and searchable. If the process has PastPerfect. That way, all known infor- Department been done accurately, for example, mation is searchable within the system, Hayley Chambers is the newest Amer- any donor could ask a museum to see making it accessible not only to staff, but ican intern working in the collections the artifact they donated years ago also to members who are able to view department of The Danish Immigrant and a staff member would be able to the collection through the museum’s new locate it in a moment. Conducting a PastPerfect On-line feature (available at Museum. our website). Chambers grew up in Daytona complete inventory of a collection is a time-consuming process. But Completing the inventory process will Beach, Florida. She completed her un- have numerous benefits, not the least of the information gained is integral to dergraduate work at Hollins University which are: in Roanoke, Virginia and then earned professionally cataloging, preserving, • Updated records which in turn will her master’s degree at the University of and interpreting the artifacts in a col- help us verify legal ownership of all North Carolina at Greensboro. There, she lection. artifacts; Ideally, a museum should have a full majored in history with an emphasis in • Almost immediate access to any piece and accurate inventory of every object European history, and had a concentra- we search for, which will benefit in its collection. Obviously, the ideal anyone who comes to the museum tion in museum studies. She graduated is sometimes a challenge to achieve, this past May. asking to see an artifact; but that is what staff at The Danish • An accurate total of the number of Among Chambers’ primary duties Immigrant Museum is striving for. artifacts in the collection; at The Danish Immigrant Museum will Since the late-1990s, collections • The ability to assist researchers to be the daily cataloging of new artifact staff have been using PastPerfect, a a much larger degree than currently donations. She will assist the curator database that allows us to process possible because we will know what of collections/registrar, writing detailed and track the collection electronically. people, events, and places are repre- descriptions of artifacts, assessing their Most of the artifacts donated since then sented in the collection; physical condition, and digitizing artifact have been added to this system and are • Eligibility for more grants; records. Chambers will also take a lead completely accessible and up-to-date. • Assistance as we look to our future role in the complete inventory of Bed- However, the artifacts that arrived prior goal of becoming accredited through stemor’s House, the historic Victorian to the late-1990s are, for the most part, the American Association of Muse- home that is operated by the museum. not yet in the system. For those, only ums, a prestigious honor. Outside work, Chambers enjoys trav- paper records exist, making searching Would you like rare, direct access to our artifacts? Are you interested in eling, meeting new people, and learning for information, and even the artifacts themselves, difficult. being involved with this essential proj- about new cultures. She is looking for- ect? If you are a detailed, patient person About two years ago, we set out ward to reading for pleasure again now capable of safely handling artifacts, you that her studies are complete. Chambers to create a complete inventory of the may be able to help. Perhaps you are also has a unique goal for her time spent museum’s approximately 35,0000 only interested in computer data entry; here in the Midwest: she wants to learn to artifacts. While we have made good you may be perfect for the second stage work on a farm! She enjoys the outdoors progress, the task has proven greater of entering the information into our and spent a few weeks hiking and camp- than expected—more than one staff database. For more information about person and an intern can tackle in a ing through Canada on her trip between the inventory process and the training reasonable amount of time. an internship in Alaska and her latest in provided, or for any other collections- Our inventory is more involved than Elk Horn. related questions, please contact me the standard location-only process. The by phone (712-764-7001) or by e-mail Chambers’ internship will last six first stage is recording the identifica- ([email protected]). I look months. We are excited to welcome her tion number assigned to and found forward to building a strong, capable both to the museum and to Elk Horn. on the surface of each artifact, along team of inventory experts!

12 ON DISPLAY Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations® Since the opening of The Danish Generations highlights the success that Immigrant Museum in its current loca- three Danish immigrants found in the tion, 14 years ago, the museum has told United States, both through their busi- the story of the journey of the Danish ness ambitions and their family’s abil- immigrant through the exhibition en- ity to preserve and maintain the busi- titled, Across Oceans, Across Time. nesses through successive generations. On August 25, 2008 the museum con- The three families featured in the tinued this story in an exhibition, lo- exhibition are the Olesens of the O & cated on the mezzanine level, entitled, H Danish Bakeries in Racine, Wiscon- Across Oceans, Across Time, Across sin, the Bansens of Bansen Dairies in Generations. Oregon and California, and the Ander- Across Oceans, Across Time, Across sens of the Andersen Window Corpora- tion in Bayport, Minnesota. While each of these families differ in history and their approach to business, each of their businesses began with one individual’s dedication and affection for a particular Christopher Olesen, 1979, O&H Danish trade. Bakeries in Racine, Wisconsin In addition to the sections dedicated to the Olesens, Bansens, and Anders- ens, there is also a section with hand- outs that encourage visitors to begin thinking about their own family histo- ries. There are memory books located within that section for visitors to record their own family memories and tradi- tions to be accessioned into the perma- nent collection for future generations to read and enjoy. Across Oceans, Across Times, Across Generations will run through May of 2009. Peter & Anne Bansen wedding December 1919.

Hans Andersen and children of Bayport, Minnesota.

Museum Staff Attend Conferences The Danish Immigrant Museum and artifact care. In this spirit, during the Museums Conference in Kansas City, provides an opportunity for visitors to month of October, Erin Harney, curator of Missouri. further their knowledge of Denmark, exhibitions, Angela Stanford, curator of These conferences provided the staff the story of Danish immigration, and the collections/registrar, and Hayley Cham- members the opportunity to meet with immigrant story in the United States. bers, the collections/registration intern, and learn from other museum profession- In order to best tell this story, museum participated in the Iowa Museum As- als from around the country. They also staff must be continuously bettering sociation Conference in Council Bluffs, visited a range of museums and libraries, themselves in the current practices and Iowa and the Association of Midwest where they saw the most current trends schools of thought regarding exhibition in museum practice. 13 MEMORIALS June 21, 2008 – October 13, 2008 Memorials have been received in loving memory of the following individuals: Jens C. Andersen Richard Hemmingsen Kaja & Mads Peder Madsen Charles Andrew Philipsen Jan & Thomas Christensen Valdemar E. Hoppe Elsie Rasmussen McNabb Alma & Niels Pilgaard of Thomas L. Christensen Deppe & Anna Jensen and 4 Maren Kirsten Nielsen Denmark Albert H.L. Eve of their children who came Niels Nielsen Family Andrew & Rosa Rosenkild Hans & Mathilde Farstrup to Albert Lea, MN from Richard Norgard Emma Morsing Safley Tom Flynn Denmark in May, 1910 Beverly Olsen Jo Sindlinger Mildred Hoegh Frederick Byron Johnson Mary Ann Olsen Gerda Sundberg Rhoda Graves Folmer Johnson Ole & Marie Olsen Dagny Svendsen Louie O. Hansen Lars Christian Larsen & Ma- Soren C. Pedersen Family Clifford Szpekowski Ralph & Evelyn Hansen rie Pedersen Larsen husband, Scott Pettit Wilbur J. Williamson

In Honor June 21, 2008 – October 13, 2008 The Danish Immigrant Museum has received gifts in honor of the following people or special events. Lois & Barry Eldal’s Marriage Stewart & LeNore Hansen’s 60th Wedding Anniversary Kris N. Kristensen

New Additions to the Wall of Honor June 21, 2008 – October 13, 2008 The Danish Immigrant Museum’s Wall of Honor provides Payson, AZ; Dr. Jan V. Jensen, Kearney, NE; Suzanne families and friends with a means of preserving the memory Jensen Medlock, Pine Bluff, AR of those who emigrated from Denmark to America. Over ANKER & JOHANNE K. ANKERSEN NIELSEN, 4,500 immigrants are currently recognized on the Wall. Their Herbert & Carol Nielsen Jorgensen, Green Lake, WI stories and the stories of their families contribute importantly ELLA INGEBORG CHRILLESEN PETERSON, to the growing repository of family histories at the Museum’s Larry & Jeanne Ent, College Station, TX; Dan & Lynn Family History and Genealogy Center. Carlson, Santa Rosa, CA; Robert Fletcher, Belgrade, If you would like to memorialize a family member or MN; Galen C. Knutson, Burnsville, MN; Lanny D. friend by adding their names to the Wall of Honor, contact Knutson, Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Twyla Knutson, Debra Christensen Larsen, development associate. Olathe, KS KRISTEN (CHRIS MILLER) MÖLLER & ELSIE CHRISTOPHER SORENSEN & AUGUSTA JEAN LARSEN HUNSKJÆR MILLER, Christie Jensen SORENSEN, Mary P. Cole, Tucson, AZ; George F. Gehringer, Omaha, NE; Karen L. Sorensen, Overland Hurst, Enterprise, OR Park, KS RIGMOR ERNA NUSSLE PETERSEN; Steven & ALFRED LAURITS SORENSEN, Christie Jensen Pamela Petersen, Washington, IL Gehringer, Omaha, NE; Karen L. Sorensen, Overland SOREN & MARIE CATHERINE FRIIS HANSEN, Park, KS Harry & Rowena Hansen Johnson, Lexington, KY; KRISTOFFER “STOFFER” JENSEN, Grandchil- Donald G. & Jacqueline Hansen, Ankeny, IA; Gordon dren: Christie Jensen Gehringer, Omaha, NE; Gary & Diane Hansen, Kingman, AZ C. Jensen, Sterling, AK; Linda Jensen Wade, Payson, GERTIE LAURSEN JOHNSON JORDAHL, Richard AZ; Dr. Jan V. Jensen, Kearney, NE; Suzanne Jensen and Jo Ann Kleber, Northfield, MN Medlock, Pine Bluff, AR PAUL “PAT” MATHIAS KNUDSTRUP, Robert & EMILIE M.H. SCHNEIDER JENSEN NIELSEN, Barbara Knudstrup, Manistee, MI Grandchildren: Christie Jensen Gehringer, Omaha, CHRISTIAN BIRK, Don & Lila Huff, Anita, IA; Alan & NE; Gary C. Jensen, Sterling, AK; Linda Jensen Wade, Virginia Dressler, Fredericktown, MO Payson, AZ; Dr. Jan V. Jensen, Kearney, NE; Suzanne CATHARINE MARIE VALBORG GADEBERG Jensen Medlock, Pine Bluff, AR BIRK, Don & Lila Huff, Anita, IA; Alan & Virginia MARIUS KRISTIAN PAUL “CHRIS” NIELSEN, Dressler, Fredericktown, MO Grandchildren: Christie Jensen Gehringer, Omaha, NE; Gary C. Jensen, Sterling, AK; Linda Jensen Wade,

14 An E-Newsletter Exclusively for Friends of The Danish Immigrant Museum HELP US GO GREEN Sign up now for E-museDK News • It’s Free • It’s Eco-Friendly • It’s Fast In an effort to help The Danish Im- e-mail you its current news and details ishmuseum.org. In the subject field of migrant Museum stay in touch with you of upcoming events. the e-mail, type Subscribe E-museDK while conserving both economically and How Do I Subscribe? Don’t News. You will begin receiving your environmentally, we would be pleased waste paper or a stamp. Instead, send e-newsletters shortly. It’s that easy! to have your subscription to our free an e-mail to Debra Christensen Larsen, Be assured that we will never sell or e-mail outreach program, E-museDK development associate/membership distribute your e-mail address. News. Periodically, the museum will coordinator, at development@dan-

Thank You Businesses and Organizations

These businesses and organizations have contributed annual Faith, Family & Freedom Foundation (Kenneth & Marlene Larsen), memberships of at least $100. We recognize their generosity Calistoga, CA Guldsmedemester Helle Jørvad (Goldsmith Master & Designer), and support in each newsletter during their membership. Ringsted, Denmark Harlan Newspapers, Harlan, IA A & A Framing (Annette Andersen), Kimballton, IA Heartland District of the Danish Sisterhood Lodge #102, Johnston, IA AmericInn of Elk Horn, Elk Horn, IA Heartland District of the DBIA, Ventura, IA Answers (Rick Tighe), Atlantic, IA JAWICO (Gert Lykke), Anaheim, CA Audubon Family Chiropractic (Douglas & Nichole Olsen), Audubon, IA Kessler Funeral Homes, Inc., Audubon, IA Carroll Control Systems, Inc., Carroll, IA King of Kings Fishing Guide Service & Lodge (Richard & Bonnie Cedar Valley Danes, Cedar Falls, IA & surrounding communities Andersen), Anchor Point, AK Danish American Club in Orange County, Huntington Beach, CA KJAN Radio, Atlantic, IA Danish American Club of Milwaukee, West Bend, WI Knudsen Old Timers of The Danish Lutheran Church, Danish Brotherhood Lodge #1, Omaha, Ne Yorba Linda, CA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #14, Kenosha, WI Liberty Auto Restoration, Inc., Elk Horn, IA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #15, Des Moines, IA Liberty Labs, Inc., Kimballton, IA Danish Brotherhood (Chicago) Lodge #17, Lodi, WI Marne & Elk Horn Telephone Co., Elk Horn, IA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #56, Lawrence, KS NE Gen Comm. Danish Brotherhood, Omaha, NE Danish Brotherhood Lodge #84, Lincoln, NE Nelsen & Nelsen, Attorneys at Law, Cozad, NE Danish Brotherhood Lodge #126, Los Angeles, CA Northwest Danish Foundation, Seattle, WA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #144, Dike, IA O & H Danish Bakery (Eric Olesen), Racine, WI Danish Brotherhood Lodge #211, St. Paul, NE Olsen, Muhlbauer & Co, L.L.P., Carroll, IA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #268, Eugene, OR Pacific NW District Lodges D.B.I.A., Spokane Valley, WA Danish Brotherhood Lodge #283, Dagmar, MT Proongily (Cynthia & John McKeen), St. Paul, MN Danish Brotherhood Lodge #341, Kimballton-Elk Horn, IA Rebild National Park Society, Southern California Chapter, Danish Brotherhood (Centennial) Lodge #348, Eugene, OR Glendale, CA Danish Club of Tucson, Tucson, AZ Red River Danes, Fargo, ND Danish Countryside Vines & Wines (Allan & Carol Petersen), Exira, IA Ringsted Danish American Fellowship, Ringsted, IA Danish Ladies Relief Society, Santa Rosa, CA Shelby County State Bank, Elk Horn, IA Danish Mutual Insurance Association, Elk Horn, IA Steffenie’s Good Eats Bakery & Grill, Elk Horn, IA Danish Sisterhood (Heartland District) Lodge #102, Johnston, IA Stig Hansen, Cooking Danish, LLC, Eden, UT Danish Sisterhood (Dike) Lodge #176, Cedar Falls, IA The Rasmussen Group, Inc., Des Moines, IA Danish Vennelyst Club, Omaha, NE The Viking Club of Orange County, Seal Beach, CA Elk Horn Pharmacy (Tim & Mary Waymire), Elk Horn, IA World Cal, Inc., Elk Horn, IA Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School, Elk Horn, IA Elk Horn-Kimballton Optimist Club, Elk Horn, IA 15 Subscribe to our ONLINE COLLECTIONS DATABASE To access this benefit, a minimum $100 annual membership is necessary!

When renewing your annual membership, we invite you to Upgrade so you don’t miss out on this new membership benefit. ARE YOU ELIGIBLE NOW? To Subscribe simply call or e-mail the Museum’s development department: 1-800-759-9192 The Danish Immigrant Museum [email protected] Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Protector or go ON-LINE to Renew, Upgrade or Subscribe ® Member of the American Association of Museums

Clint Hansen, a fifth generation Danish American, designed this year’s Christmas card and keepsake ornament Hansen works with oils, scratch board, paper sculpture, stained glass mosaic and engraving. He’s done work for the Smithsonian Institute, the NBA, Coca-Cola, and Disney among others. Hansen painted the oil painting of Iowa Congressman Jim Nussel hanging in the U.S. Capitol.

The annual Christmas card and ornament can be purchased through the Mu- seum Shop by calling 1-800-759-9192. Cards cost $10.00 for a package of ten and the ornament costs $12.95.

16 Vacation in Denmark and Support The Danish Immigrant Museum Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, a member of The Danish Im- has a hot tub. migrant Museum’s Board of Directors, and her husband Poul • There is a kitchen with refrigerator, oven, and micro- Olesen are making a fabulous offer. They are opening their wave. Danish summer home for rental at a reduced price–and all pro- • The home has a flat screen television and DVD player. ceeds will be donated to The Danish Immigrant Museum. • There are beautiful views of unbelievable sunsets year- • The house is located in the middle of Jutland, a 10-minute round from inside and from the outside decks. drive from Viborg, Denmark’s second oldest town (after • Stroll down the hill to the water, visit an inn or–some Ribe). It’s two hours to Skagen to the north, two hours to nights–watch sailboat races. the German border to the south, one hour to the North Sea • The home is a five minute drive to shopping–bakery, butcher on the west, and one hour to the Kattegat on the east. shop, bank, post office. • The house is a 45-minute drive to Århus, Denmark’s second • With electric heat, this is a wonderful place to stay in any largest city, and a 40-minute drive to Aalborg. season. • There are wonderful views of the Limfjord from most rooms The house is available for rental in 2009 and beyond. It in the house. costs a minimum of $1,000 a week. (Usually, it costs around • The house has three bedrooms–two with queen-sized beds $3,000.) Again, all proceeds are being generously given to and one with two bunk beds. It sleeps six adults comfort- The Danish Immigrant Museum. ably, but can sleep a total of eight. Interested individuals should contact the Museum at • The house has two bathrooms, both have showers and one 1-800-759-9192.

17 Stamtræ –

Danish Roots, American Branches News from the Family History & Genealogy Center By Michele McNabb, librarian [email protected] Activities and News from the Family History & Genealogy Center

• What turned out to be a very busy newspaper published in California, summer and early autumn saw, of donated the back issues of the publi- course, library patrons from many cation. Although we are still sorting parts of the US as well as Canada. and organizing, it appears that the The FHGC also had many Dan- FHGC now has a nearly complete ish visitors this year. Residents of run of the paper from 1892 through Holbæk, Nyborg, Højby, Toftlund, the present—truly a gold mine of Rungsted Kyst, Jyllinge and Aal- information for researchers! borg in Denmark, as well as Danes living in Australia and Luxembourg dropped in for assistance with find- • Thanks to a suggestion from former ing relatives who had immigrated to FHGC Committee chair Mark the U.S. Nussle the FHGC’s street façade • The FHGC is on its winter sched- has been augmented by a beauti- ule, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, ful new street sign. Located on the Wednesdays and Fridays, from light pole outside the main door, November through April. Appoint- detachable magnetic strips now let ments may be made for other days. passers-by know when we are open for business. If you are coming from out of town • The above acquisition meant that • In recent months the FHGC has and wish research assistance, we more shelving was needed to house been the recipient of several major recommend that you call in advance both bound and unbound issues gifts: of your intended visit. of Bien as well as the expanding • Kirsten and Forrest Strnad gave • The FHGC has a newly updated collection of the local Kimballton- a cash gift to assist in upgrading handout of useful websites for re- Elk Horn paper, which dates back the FHGC’s six-year-old computer searching Danish genealogy, adding to 1927. A $3000 grant from the system. several new resources, and general Shelby County Endowment Fund • In late summer the FHGC received information brochure. If you would has allowed us to purchase modular a major addition to the collection, like a copy of either, please call or shelving appropriate for archival when Jytte Madsen, editor and pub- e-mail the FHGC at genealogy@ use. danishmuseum.org. lisher of Bien, the Danish-language

Are You a Danish Immigrant or Long-term Resident? Many Danes have immigrated to the U.S. since WWII, have been exchange students or resided in this country for longer periods of time. If you fit one of these categories, the FHGC would like to have some information in our library on you! Contact Michele McNabb at the FHGC for copies of Immigrant Information Forms for yourself or for distribu- tion at meetings of your local Danish-American organization.

18 Genealogical Tip - Military Records: Veterans of the Dano-Prussian Wars of 1848-50 and 1864

58,000 could obtain the 1864 medal; National Archives in Denmark; some of fewer than 3000 men were eligible to the records have been microfilmed by the receive both. LDS Family History Library. A listing Following these military events a To be eligible for the medal a person of around 1300 veterans of 1864 from decision was made to create a medal for had to have participated in active Dan- Ringkøbing Co. may be found at www. those who participated in the wars, but ish Army or Naval service during either holstebro-slaegtsforening.dk/Veteraner. so much time elapsed before the final or both of the two engagements and doc. The FHGC is compiling a listing of determination was made that it was de- received an honorable discharge. those veterans who applied for the medal cided to make commemorative medals In addition, beginning in 1914, King from the U.S.. instead. Three distinctive medals were Christian X decreed that an annual mon- Early members of the Danish Brother- struck, one for those serving in each war etary payment of 100 kroner should be hood in America may also have been and one for those who served in both. given to those participants of the War eligible, since the organization was Veterans of the two wars could apply of 1864 who were still living. Nearly originally formed from the member- for the medals beginning in 1876. It was all surviving veterans applied for the ship of four Danish-American veterans’ estimated that around 46,000 men were payments in 1913. Applications for the groups. eligible for the 1848-50 medal and some medals and payment may be found in the

Intern News Early September saw the arrival of a Danish immigrants, Skov Grønlund has the college working with archivist Sheri new FHGC intern, created a commemorative display for the Kleinwort Muller. During the latter part history graduate student Yvonne Skov 350th anniversary of the Royal Danish of her stay she will be visiting several Grønlund, one of two interns the museum Guards that can be viewed in the FHGC other museums and archives, working is currently hosting as part of a grant lobby through the end of the year. on collection descriptions, and holding from the Scan|Design by Inger & Jens As part of a collaborative arrangement a series of Danish culture and language Bruun Foundation of Seattle. with the Grand View College archives, classes with fellow intern, Helle Hov- In addition to inputting data into Skov Grønlund is spending a week at mand-Olsen. the FHGC’s ever-growing database of Information Wanted • Do you have an obituary of a Danish immigrant? If so, the FHGC would like to have a copy to add to the obituary collection. If the obituary is in Danish, the FHGC would be happy to provide a complemen- tary translation of the document. Obituaries may be sent to Obituary Collection, c/o the FHGC. • Martin Alejandro Adair ([email protected]) is the grandson of a Danish immigrant to Buenos Aires province in Argentina. He is looking for material comparing the experiences of Danish-American farmers in the U.S. with those who settled in Argentina. Does anyone have any material on family mem- bers who went to South America and perhaps later came to the U.S. to share with the FHGC? • Carol Strazer ([email protected]) is researching East German Mennonites who fled to Denmark and were placed in refugee camps established in Denmark following WWII for a book she is writing. She is particularly interested in the camps called Rom 1 in western Jutland, Hørup Klint and Kolding in the southern part of the country, and Kopenhagen. She would like to have contact with anyone having information or photographs of the camps or who perhaps worked there after the war.

19 Admission Business Hours Other Times By Appointment (Includes Bedstemor’s House) Monday - Friday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Current Museum Members: All facilities are closed on New Year’s Day, FREE with Membership Card Family History & Non-Members: Adults, $5 Easter Sunday, Genealogy Center Hours Children (ages 8-17), $2 Thanksgiving Admission May-Oct.: Tues., Wed., Fri., & Christmas. 9:00 am-5:00 pm; 1st & 3rd & Hours Museum Hours: Saturday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm (Local weather conditions may cause occasional closures.) Mon.-Fri.: 9:00 am-5:00 pm; Nov.-April: Tues., Wed., Sat.: 10:00 am-5:00 pm; Fri.: 10 am-4 pm Sun.: 12:00 noon-5:00 pm www.danishmuseum.org Glædelig jul og godt nytår! PRSRT STD NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 19 ® Elk Horn, IA The Danish Immigrant Museum 2212 Washington Street • PO Box 470 • Elk Horn, Iowa 51531-0470 (712) 764-7001 • Toll Free (800) 759-9192 • FAX (712) 764-7002 www.danishmuseum.org