Update on Danish American Archive and Library

The following email was sent today by the Danish Immigrant Museum:


On Monday, July 12th, the Board of Regents voted to suspend operations of Dana College, which will mean the college will not open for its 127th academic year. The closure was necessitated by action of the Higher Learning Commission that voted to deny the college's request to transfer accreditation to a "for-profit" educational corporation.

The Danish American Archive and Library, located on the Dana College campus, has been moved to a document storage facility in Blair. Nearly a hundred volunteers accomplished this task between Friday morning, July 9th and Sunday afternoon, July 11th!   First Lutheran Church in Blair is providing temporary office space for DAAL so that archival activities can continue during the transition period. Arrangements are being made to relocate the archive to a suitable space in Blair. The intent is that this will be concluded by the end of July.

The Danish Immigrant Museum is assisting the Danish American Archive and Library and Dana College in two ways. Following action by the Board of Regents, the museum has taken temporary custody of historical artifacts that belonged to the college until such time as final ownership is resolved. Among these is the entire Lauritz Melchior Collection (the world famous heroic tenor), numerous paintings, and other artifacts that were displayed in the college's Heritage Room and around the campus.

The museum is also receiving tax-deductable donations to assist the Danish American Archive and Library during the interim period until it can organize as a separate, not-for-profit corporation with 501.c3 status. This is necessary, since the archive lost its entire endowment of almost $300,000 and its operating funds. Gifts will be used to pay storage costs, rent and utilities in the new location and the wages of one part-time employee. Checks may be made out to The Danish Immigrant Museum, with "archive preservation" or "DAAL support" on the memo line. The museum will deduct 10% to cover expenses of processing, tracking and receipting gifts.

This emergency presents The Danish Immigrant Museum with two challenges.   Storage space at the museum is at capacity even without taking on this responsibility, requiring the museum to expand into existing gallery space.  While donor numbers have increased, gift amounts are less due to the economic environment.  Even as we invite you to support the Danish American Archive and Library, we ask you to remember The Danish Immigrant Museum.

Sincerely,

Debra Christensen Larsen
Development Associate/
Membership Coordinator
The Danish Immigrant Museum
2212 Washington Street
Elk Horn, IA  51531
(712) 764-7001
development@danishmuseum.org
www.danishmuseum.org

Featured Nebraska county: Sarpy County

Sarpy county is located in eastern Nebraska, just south of the Omaha metro area (Douglas county). It is also adjacent to Pottawatomie county, Iowa where Council Bluffs is located. The county is named after Peter Sarpy, an early fur trader in the area. The county seat is located in Papillion. Other cities in the county are Bellevue, Gretna,  LaVista and Springfield. Also located in Sarpy county is Offutt Air Force Base. Sarpy county was organized in 1857. Bellevue was the original county seat, Papillion has been the county seat since 1875.

Ken Burns kicks off the opening of the National Archives exhibit "Discovering the Civil War"

Ken Burns, the documentary filmmaker who brought the Civil War to life for so many of us, joined the National Archives in opening a press preview of the National Archives' latest exhibit: Discovering the Civil War.

The exhibit aims to make the Civil War "strange again." While you'll find Manassas and Appomattox, you're just as likely to run across a letter from the Confederate government seeking recognition from Pope Pius IX, or see a facsimile of two separate versions of the 13th amendment--one that outlawed slavery, and one that did not.

Part One of the exhibit runs from April 30, 2010 through September 6, 2010.
 


Related video:
The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns

Visit to Quilt Museum a must-stop for visitors to Lincoln Nebraska

Many of us treasure the family heirloom quilts that have been passed down to us through the generations. If a research trip will be bringing you to Lincoln, Nebraska, schedule time to visit the International Quilt Study Center and Museum at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. The museum is located on the northwest corner of 33rd and Holdrege Streets (1523 North 33rd Street). There are rotating exhibits from the museum's collection and you will no doubt be awed and enchanted by the quilts that have been brought together in this magnificent museum.

Hours

Tues.-Sat. 10:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Sun. 1-4:30 P.M.

Closed Monday,major holidays and during University WINTER break shutdown.

Related book:
500 Art Quilts: An Inspiring Collection of Contemporary Work (500 Series)