Rasmus Bjørn Anderson (January 12, 1846 – March 2, 1936) was an American author, professor, editor, businessman and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the fact that Vikingexplorers were the first Europeans to arrive in the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day.[1][2]
Anderson was born in the Town of Albion in Dane County, Wisconsin and grew up in Koshkoning.[3] His parents Bjørn Anderson Kvelve (1801–1850) and Abel Cathrine von Krogh (1809–1885) were immigrants from Sandeid / Vikedal in Ryfylke in the county of Rogaland, Norway.[4] His mother also had Danish, Swedish, German, Dutch, and Flemish ancestry. His parents were part of a small band of Quaker sympathizers who organized a Norwegian emigration to America in 1836.[5] His father died to cholera when Anderson was four years old.[4]
Anderson was a graduate of Luther College and the University of Wisconsin. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1867 to 1883. While there, he was the founding head of the Department of Scandinavian Studies, the oldest such department in an American university. He also persuaded Norwegian violinist Ole Bull to give a concert for the benefit of a projected Norwegian language library at the university. Ole Bull subsequently paid Anderson's expenses for a trip to Norway to purchase books for the library.[6][7][8]
Rasmus B. Anderson founded a publication company, the Norrœna Society, which focused on republishing translations of texts devoted to "the History and Romance of Northern Europe". Anderson was the author of a number of books with Scandinavian themes. He also did a series of translations from Scandinavian languages, most notably the writings of Norwegian novelist Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. From 1905 to 1907, Rasmus Anderson acted as editor-in-chief of the Norrœna Library. [8]
From 1885 to 1889, Anderson served as the United States Ambassador to Denmark. After his return to the U.S. in 1889, he was editor (1898–1922) of the Norwegian language weekly, Amerika. He also served as president of the Wisconsin Life Insurance Co. from 1895 to 1922.[9][2]
Anderson's book America Not Discovered by Columbus helped popularize the now familiar fact that Norse explorers were the first Europeans in the New World. Anderson was the originator of the movement to honor Leif Erikson with a holiday in the United States. Through efforts he started and led, Leif Erikson Day became an official observance in his native Wisconsin and other US states. Decades after Anderson's death, it first became a federal observance by presidential proclamation in 1964.[10]
Personal lifeedit
In 1868, he married Bertha Karina Olson (1848–1922). They were the parents of five children. His wife died in 1922. Anderson spent the last years of his life in their home in Madison, where he died in 1936. He was buried at Lake Ripley Cemetery in Cambridge, Wisconsin.[7][8]
Selected worksedit
Julegave (1872)
"The Scandinavian Languages" (1873)
Den norske maalsag (1874)
America Not Discovered by Columbus (1874)
Norse Mythology (1875)
Viking Tales of the North (1877)
The Younger Edda (1880)
a translation of Dr. F. W. Horns "History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North" (1885)
Amerikas første Opdagelse (1886)
First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration, 1821–1840 (1895)
Bygdejævning (1903)
The Norse Discovery of America (1907)
Life Story of Rasmus B. Anderson (1915, with Albert O. Barton)
Cleng Peerson og sluppen "Restaurationen" (1925)
The Heimskringla or The Saga of the Norse Kings (1889, rev. 2nd ed. of Samuel Laing, The Norse Kings)
^ abOdd Lovoll. "Rasmus Anderson, author, philologist". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
^"Koshkonong--Mother Colony of Norwegian Settlements". The Minneapolis Journal. January 28, 1905. p. 13. Retrieved September 28, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abJohnson, Rossiter (1906). "Anderson, Rasmus Bjorn" . The Biographical Dictionary of America. Vol. 1. Boston: American Biographical Society. pp. 111–112 – via Wikisource.
^Rasmus B. Anderson. "The First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration to America", Chicago Tribune, December 2, 1894.
^"Rasmus B. Anderson, 'Grand Old Viking,' Dies". Wisconsin State Journal. March 3, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved December 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Life story of Rasmus B. Anderson". Library of Congress. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
^ abcPaul Knaplund. "Rasmus B. Anderson, Pioneer and Crusader". Norwegian-American Studies. 18: 23. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
^"Wisconsin Professor Who Hobnobbed With Kings". The Milwaukee Journal, June 26, 1932.
^"Rasmus B. Anderson's Dream Comes True". The Wisconsin State Journal, May 11, 1929.
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Rasmus Bjorn Anderson January 12 1846 March 2 1936 was an American author professor editor businessman and diplomat He brought to popular attention the fact that Viking explorers were the first Europeans to arrive in the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day 1 2 Rasmus Bjorn Anderson Contents 1 Life and career 2 Personal life 3 Selected works 4 References 4 1 Sources 5 External linksLife and career editAnderson was born in the Town of Albion in Dane County Wisconsin and grew up in Koshkoning 3 His parents Bjorn Anderson Kvelve 1801 1850 and Abel Cathrine von Krogh 1809 1885 were immigrants from Sandeid Vikedal in Ryfylke in the county of Rogaland Norway 4 His mother also had Danish Swedish German Dutch and Flemish ancestry His parents were part of a small band of Quaker sympathizers who organized a Norwegian emigration to America in 1836 5 His father died to cholera when Anderson was four years old 4 Anderson was a graduate of Luther College and the University of Wisconsin He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison from 1867 to 1883 While there he was the founding head of the Department of Scandinavian Studies the oldest such department in an American university He also persuaded Norwegian violinist Ole Bull to give a concert for the benefit of a projected Norwegian language library at the university Ole Bull subsequently paid Anderson s expenses for a trip to Norway to purchase books for the library 6 7 8 Rasmus B Anderson founded a publication company the Norrœna Society which focused on republishing translations of texts devoted to the History and Romance of Northern Europe Anderson was the author of a number of books with Scandinavian themes He also did a series of translations from Scandinavian languages most notably the writings of Norwegian novelist Bjornstjerne Bjornson From 1905 to 1907 Rasmus Anderson acted as editor in chief of the Norrœna Library 8 From 1885 to 1889 Anderson served as the United States Ambassador to Denmark After his return to the U S in 1889 he was editor 1898 1922 of the Norwegian language weekly Amerika He also served as president of the Wisconsin Life Insurance Co from 1895 to 1922 9 2 Anderson s book America Not Discovered by Columbus helped popularize the now familiar fact that Norse explorers were the first Europeans in the New World Anderson was the originator of the movement to honor Leif Erikson with a holiday in the United States Through efforts he started and led Leif Erikson Day became an official observance in his native Wisconsin and other US states Decades after Anderson s death it first became a federal observance by presidential proclamation in 1964 10 Personal life editIn 1868 he married Bertha Karina Olson 1848 1922 They were the parents of five children His wife died in 1922 Anderson spent the last years of his life in their home in Madison where he died in 1936 He was buried at Lake Ripley Cemetery in Cambridge Wisconsin 7 8 Selected works editJulegave 1872 The Scandinavian Languages 1873 Den norske maalsag 1874 America Not Discovered by Columbus 1874 Norse Mythology 1875 Viking Tales of the North 1877 The Younger Edda 1880 a translation of Dr F W Horns History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North 1885 Amerikas forste Opdagelse 1886 First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration 1821 1840 1895 Bygdejaevning 1903 The Norse Discovery of America 1907 Life Story of Rasmus B Anderson 1915 with Albert O Barton Cleng Peerson og sluppen Restaurationen 1925 The Heimskringla or The Saga of the Norse Kings 1889 rev 2nd ed of Samuel Laing The Norse Kings References edit Rasmus Anderson Norske leksikon a b Odd Lovoll Rasmus Anderson author philologist Norsk biografisk leksikon Retrieved September 1 2018 Koshkonong Mother Colony of Norwegian Settlements The Minneapolis Journal January 28 1905 p 13 Retrieved September 28 2014 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Johnson Rossiter 1906 Anderson Rasmus Bjorn The Biographical Dictionary of America Vol 1 Boston American Biographical Society pp 111 112 via Wikisource Rasmus B Anderson The First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration to America Chicago Tribune December 2 1894 Rasmus B Anderson Grand Old Viking Dies Wisconsin State Journal March 3 1936 p 1 Retrieved December 1 2018 via Newspapers com nbsp a b Life story of Rasmus B Anderson Library of Congress Retrieved September 1 2018 a b c Paul Knaplund Rasmus B Anderson Pioneer and Crusader Norwegian American Studies 18 23 Retrieved September 1 2018 Wisconsin Professor Who Hobnobbed With Kings The Milwaukee Journal June 26 1932 Rasmus B Anderson s Dream Comes True The Wisconsin State Journal May 11 1929 Sources edit Husvedt Lloyd Rasmus Bjorn Anderson Pioneer Scholar Northfield Minn Norwegian American Historical Association 1966 Knaplund Paul Rasmus B Anderson Pioneer and Crusader Norwegian American Studies vol 18 p 23 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rasmus B Anderson University of Wisconsin Madison Department of Scandinavian Studies Works by Rasmus B Anderson at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Rasmus B Anderson at Internet Archive Works by Rasmus B Anderson at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Diplomatic postsPreceded byWickham Hoffman U S Ambassador to Denmark1885 1889As Minister Resident Consul General Succeeded byJohn A Enander Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rasmus B Anderson amp oldid 1176602650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
