Dana College - Danian Yearbook (Blair, NE)

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F Ml 5 1926 5 M, , M rs ,ws .nm A! 'N -' - ? 1 1 x 9 0 xi? ,xf '- -e- sm ' . ' , S4 . ' ,,-:Y .L ,I iv? s - : -in is-. ni -Y-ff . '- V 1 if . . - . if-l f-Us .. . . f . , 41 A fi iglz' ' 5aL '2.31G55' 3-'ix2'- ',? , L.- ll Xia viii' L? F .,:,' ,7 - ' 21' 1. :s:ms.1 .,. .1 'il-Q . -.zavlaszf f-2-aw 1. 1 wtf' ., ,g -'Qu V f n ew 11, 'f -W: -- fp . ... f ' ,w in e ss s ' -' E fe ' AL. seagglss i 'IQUW W 1 With the installation of Dr. C. X. Hansen as president the school began a new era of advancement. I-Ie had been a student, teacher, and president of the same school, and among all three one of the first American 'born. Through his efforts the school has received recognition from the state. Rev. L. A. Laursen served from 1914 to 1919. During the year of 1925-26 Prof. Theo. M. Ha.nsen has been acting president. May due honor be given to all these men whose very lives have been given over to the service of God and their people. On the 10 acres which comprise the college campus are seven buildings: The administration building which has, in ad- dition to class rooms. dormitory accommodations for meng a women's doruiitoryg the building formerly used as women's dormitory converted into a science buildingg the gymnasiumg a heating plant: and two residences, one of which is the Bondo 111e1uorial, a home for the president of the institution. These buildings did not all appear at the same time. The administration build- ing has been enlarged at various times. Originally its dimensions were 60 feet front, 30 feet wide, and G0 feet high, divided into four stories. The ground floor is of brick, the other stories of brick veneer. In 1893 a north wing was added. It is 50 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 60 feet high. This addition cost about 55600, a sum col- lected from the Synod, 95500, however, being presented by Blair citizens. In 1905 the south wing was added. It is 72 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 60 feet high. Its cost was 589000. When the school became co-educational in 1899,-it was necessary to provide a womens dormitory. Accordingly a three-story building was erected. The first floor was set aside as the dwelling for the president's family, and the other two floors were for the accomodation of the women students and teachers. The heating apparatus was in the basement of this building until in 1916 when the heating plant was built, This dormitory is now the science hall. The gymnasium is a wooden structure, and was built in 1899 also. The newest building on the campus is the women's ClOl'1'1l'lt0l'y. Ground was broken for it in the fall of 1922, and in the autumn of the next year it wa.s oc- cupied. It is a beautiful building of brick with accommodation for 60 women to- gether with women faculty ineinbers. The first floor is given over to the dining room and kitchen. On the second floor is a large cheerful reception room and a kitchenette, besides the dean's office, faculty meeting room. and sleeping rooms. The rooms, kitchen, and dining room have been furnished by various church or- ganizations of the Synod, and by individual persons. It is all a. witness as to what can be done when whole hearted co-operation is active. The other two buildings are the Bondo memorial home and the residence on the most recent acquisition to the campus. As has been noted, the work at the institution was originally intended to be theological. Gradually, however, the work has been branching out and made to include more. The original purpose has not been lost sight of, for in all courses in- struction in Christianity is required. The departments of instruction that have been added from time to time are: the Academy, the Normal, the Business, the Con- servatory. the Pro-seminary, and the College. The Normal work which was introduced in 1S99 is pursued in connection with the academy and college work. During Dr. H2111S8D'S presidency this department was developed so to receive state recognition in that it was authorized to grant state certificates for teaching. The Academy was likewise recognized by being placed on the state list of accredited schools. The Business department was also added in 1399. It is 11ow of such rank that it grants diplomas only to hifzh school graduates who take the work. Othe1's are permitted to take the work, but do not receive a diploma. The musical element has always been cliaracteristic of the Scandinavians. In- struction is given in piano, voice, and violin. and a music supervisor's course has recently been introduced. Diplomas and teachers' certificates are granted on com- pletion of certain outlined work. The college department is the last to be introduced. A junior college existed prior to 1921. At the annual convention that year it was decided to center efforts upon the increasing and developing of college work as one of the important steps toward Greater Dana. fu-uu--in-un-mi.1lm-u-m..1m.1 1 1 1 1 1,1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 .. 1 1,1 1 1'-1 1 ...,,

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41 B Eje WN BA 1926 ,fp- A' sf' A si, .. gk . 'T y ' msn 5-is at - .gi ' -1-Qu: - 1 V F - ,, . A, l.. H If fill g.?Nii'if?.: .. 4?'nf ', V. ,Q -X 3:25. f--. -..gfa r ?q,9f'z-if , ' f'r. aw - 'Q' i s vii fi. 1 , . 'z. . - . . 4 ' 5.- . imma-Q wir lvl. Andersen, Chairman, Rev. H. P. Bertelseng and Rev. G. B. Christianseng and two laymen: G. A. Byije and P. T. Jacobsen. This committee was instructed to prepare plans and to send a call to Rev. H. Steffensen at Smidstrup, Denmark, to become a. teacher at the Theological School. The undertaking seemed well-nigh impossible. The mission field was enormous and workers few-in actual numbers only nine. At this time Rev. Andersen was living in Blair. He was authorized to begin a school for theological students, and in spite of the fact that he was secretary of the Synod and was serving five or six congregations, he assumed the work of teacher, also. Thus in October, 1884, the Danish theological school began in the private home of Rev. A. M. Andersen with an enrollment of four pupils and with one teacher as faculty, all sharing one and the same house as home and school. It was clear, however, that the school should be a separate institution. Questions arose as to its location, its comprehensiveness,--whether it should be limited to a theological school, or whether provisions should be made for other departments- and finally as to the procuring of funds with which to build it. Times were hard for this was the year of great cholera ravages among swine. Rev. Andersen estimated that a building which should have dormitory room for 40 students, rooms for a family, school rooms and a dining room, would cost 86000. That the school was established at Blair, and not in Hamilton County where the largest congregation was, was decided on because of an offer made by the city of Blair to contribute 553000 and building grounds for the school, if the Synod would raise a. like sum and build in Blair. This offer was accepted. At the same meeting it was decided to name the school Trinity Seminary. In July of 1885 the school committee met and formulated Incorporation Articles, and elected as Board of Trustees: Rev. A. lVI. Andersen, chairman, L. Nyboe, secretaryg M. Beck, treasurer, N. J. Petersen, Andrew Larsen, Rev. G. B. Christiansen, and Rev. J. Risdall. Through Mr. Kenny it was learned that the city of Blair had received 5152300 of the promised 553000. Upon motion of Rev. A. M. Andersen, the committee accepted the offer of grounds made by Mr. H. B. Dexter and lVl1'. W. Cline. A building committee was elected and specifications for the building were made. The building committee met in September, and by November the building was well under way. In December a storm very nearly razed it, but Providence spared it. At the next annual church convention the school committee received instructions to make arrangements for admission of girls to the school. The subsequent year this instruction was followed by a motion to provide for an academy course in English. On the 21st of October, 1886, the schoal was dedicated. The impressive cere- mony was opened by a passage from Isaiah: 'tLord, send me, as a fitting message to those who should attend this school. lVlay these words shape the lives of many who come to Dana! The school has had several leaders. The first of these was Rev. A. M. Andersen, who had charge of it from its beginning to 1889. He was re-called in 1895, but re- signed again in 1897. Too much cannot be said in honor of Rev. Andersen, who, in spite of many pressing duties, kept the weighty responsibility of carrying on the school. Rev. G. B. Christiansen was president during the interim from 1889 to 1896. Under his leadership girls were admitted to the regular school course, whereas hitherto only summer school provisions had been made for them. Dr. P. S. Vig was called in 1896. He left his position at the high school in Elk Horn, Iowa, and came to Trinity Seminary, remaining until 1899. I-le was succeeded by Rev. Anker, who remained until 1905. Under his leader- ship the scope of the school was greatly widened. Enrollment was increased, build- ing additions were made. The school became co-educational, a business course and a normal department were added, and a steam heating apparatus was installed. From 1905 to 1908 Rev. J. P. Jensen was president. l-le worked for the interests of the school until his death in 1908. At that time Dr. C. X. Hansen became president of Dana College and Professor S. C. Eriksen, president of the theological department. Upon the resignation of Professor Eriksen, Dr. Vig became president of Trinity Seminary, a position which he held from 1908 to 1914, and from 1919 to 1925. -,--M-----------------........-..------.... 4.

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mail 'fiery 1926 . , t 15 ,gt B I lg.: 'UNI' 2 Q' u 52.7 f SSRN?-' 231 Mo-i491-H ,e num MP 19 '1 ' . I gg . - It A 1 1- 45315 5 , V UL ' ' ' 1 '- . ' mr v' f' .- ' -' , f ,. ,, The aggregate enrollment of students that have attended Dana College is 3956. From the college department there have been only three graduates. The first graduate was Esther Bonnesen who graduated in 1922. The next two were Carl Nelson and Knud Larsen in 1925. This year there will be 2 graduates. The college 9I11'O11lllG1lt for the year 1925-26 is 67. This shows a decided increase over former years. , Student life in the earlier days was very different. in some respects from what it is now, The students as a rule were older men and their view of life was rather more sober than that of students of to-day. They lived much as one large family. This atmosphere of one family has been endeavored to be made a permanent characteristic of Dana. to the present day, and just how successful these efforts are, can be best judged by spending a few days at Dana.. During the first years a. much simpler life prevailed. Each one had to keen himself supplied with an oil can, a custom which was kept up until the installation of electricity in 1909. Many humorus experiences are on record in connection with these oil CELHS. If the supply ran sho1't, and lessons were unprepared, no doubt many an i1npai1'ed mental vision was the result for the following day in the class rooms. A students boarding club continued until 1899. The club elected a chairman whose duties involved the buying' of food, engaging a cook and maids, and t.he like. The expenses were divided among the members of the club. Many pleasant memories are associated with this boarding club. ' Societies and organizations rightly have a place in school lite. The Students' Christian Association, organized in 1890, is one of the the most prominent of these. Its tneinbership comprises the majority of the student enrollment. Meetings are held weekly in which talks of a. devotional nature are given both in Enfzlish and in Danish. During the winter term Sunday afternoon ineetinas are held. This organiza- tion is of deep spiritual significance in t.he life of the school. Literary work apart from class room work has been given much attention. The two literary societies are the Danish and the English-Dannebrog and Hesperian. Programs are alter- nately rendered weekly. each society havingej bi-weekly meetinxrs. Until t.he organiza- tion of the Student Body, the two societies annually gave a joint program 'followed by a banquet. This banquet, one of the most important festivities of the year, has now been taken over by the student organization. The Trinity Seminary Hedningemissionsforeninxg is of comparatively recent organization. Its aim is to work for the interests of mission activities. A mission study class not connected with the society, hc-wever, conducts weekly studies. Various athletic organizations have been made. The Basket Bajl team was a member of the Nebraska Conference this year, winning more than half of the games played. The tennis club maintains three tennis courts and holds an annual tourna- ment. G-ymnasinin classes are held for both men a.nd women. The two musical organizations, the choir and the orchestra. are constantly gaining in prominence. The choir was organized in the fall of 1914 under 'thc leadership oi' M1's. Agnes Nielsen-Andersen. It was then called the Dana College Choral Union. In the spring of 1916 it made a tour in Iowa singing a. repertoire of religious songs. Tours have been made annually for several years. This year the most extensive trip of all has been planned, and will include cities in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. A Norse reading circle meets once a month to discuss studies in Norse literature. The club includes members from the city of Blair and usually meets in private homes. Declamatory contests have been given for several years. Two of Blair's citizens. Mr. Van Duesen. editor of the Pilot, and Mr. Brock of the Citizens State Bank, have each established prizes tor annual contests in oratorical and dramatic work. An contest provides for a prize of F525 annually. The contest is alter- nately English and Danish, Tho Student publication of I-Iermes is of widest interest. It goes wherever the students rio. and even farther to friends and well-wishers oi' Dana. It is now published bi-monthly. A few years ago an Alumni orgzanization was formed. It is doing active work for its Alma. Mater, and much of Greater Dana will no doubt be due to its influence. Forty years have gone their way for Dana, years of constant progress. This progress has not been through the efforts of one man alone, but through that of a whole Synod. What its future will be, is not for us to know exactly, but with Gocl's blessing upon it for the years to come as it has been upon it in the past, we can be assured that its future is secure. l l l l 1 l l I imrinu.-.n.r.,.m1m..-n1:1n,,,,,-nn1nu...,H.-.rur.1.,,,1m,-un-I...-.m,...rur..m1.,.1.,...,..-M11 -mln -. .1,.u...,n.-.,.i1..i.1i.,i. 4