Title: Rasmus B. Anderson Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1823-1936

Creator:

• Anderson, Rasmus Bjorn, 1846-1936

Call Number: Wis Mss HD; File 1843 March 3 Oversize; Micro 124

Quantity: 16.6 c.f. (65 archives boxes, 1 flat box, 3 card file boxes, and 1 oversize folder) and 1 reel of microfilm (35 mm)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Rasmus B. Anderson, a leading scholar of Scandinavian life and literature.

Language: English and Norwegian

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000hd

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The three paragraphs which follow are from a sketch of Rasmus B. Anderson written by C.W. Butterfield in 1879 for the History and Biographical Annals of the University of Wisconsin:

In June, 1875, Rasmus B. Anderson, A.M., was elected professor of Scandinavian languages in the University of Wisconsin. He was born the twelfth of January, 1846, in Albion, Dane county, Wisconsin, of Norwegian parents,--his father having been, in 1835, the leader of the first large company of emigrants that came from Norway to the United States,--arriving in Wisconsin in September, 1841. The son received such common school instruction as the pioneer settlement afforded. At the age of fourteen, he left home, leading a somewhat unsettled life for the next two years. He then entered an Iowa college, where he studied over three years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Wisconsin and, in June, 1866, was elected professor of Greek and modern languages, in Albion academy, in his native county. This position he held for nearly three years, drawing into the institution a large number of Scandinavian pupils.

Prof. Anderson then entered as student the post-graduate course in the University of Wisconsin, where he remained during the spring term of 1869. In the summer thereafter, he was appointed instructor in langugages in that institution, continuing in the position until the summer of 1875, when as before stated, he was called to the chair of Scandinavian languages,--the first native-born citizen of Wisconsin to be honored with a full professorship in the institution....He was appointed librarian of the University in 1877....He has established, in the institution, a Scandinavian Mimer's Library, the best one of the kind in the United States. It contains over one thousand volumes. In the founding of this library, he received much assistance from Ole Bull, the world-renowned violinist, who on the seventeenth of May, 1872, gave a concert in Madison, Wisconsin, in aid of the enterprise.

Prof. Anderson is, for his age, one of the most prolific writers of the country. As a contributor to the periodical press and as an author of books for general reading, no other citizen of Wisconsin has gained so extended a reputation. He early began to feel an especial interest in Norse literature....Since then, he has contributed extensively to newspapers and magazines published in the Norwegian language, in the United States and Norway.

Butterfield goes on to describe Anderson's English-language articles, books and pamphlets in Norwegian and English, notable lectures and translations, Anderson's idea of erecting a monument to Leif Ericson, and his continued relationship with Ole Bull. He refers to him as “the father of Norse literature in America.”

Anderson also served as minister to Denmark from 1885 to 1889. He was instrumental in bringing to the U.S. on tour or as permanent residents many Scandinavians prominent in the world of music, literature, religion, and science. From 1898 to 1922, he edited the Norwegian language weekly Amerika; and in 1895 published his First Chapter of Norwegian Immigration, a history of the movement up to 1840, embodying numerous narratives by the immigrants themselves. He also engaged for brief periods in business enterprises, including the sale of life insurance, the American agency for a Norwegian cod liver oil, and the development of a rubber plantation in Mexico.

Anderson carried on a voluminous correspondence in Norwegian, English, and other languages, covering all the phases of his career. Also in this collection are translations, articles, and addresses; social memorabilia for his years in the diplomatic service; an account book for a Mexican rubber plantation; diaries kept by Mrs. Anderson, 1876-1889 (with gaps); and other financial records. More than 2,500 correspondents are represented in the collection. Among them are his classmates at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; faculty members there and at Albion Academy; aspiring writers and translators of Scandinavian literature; notable critics and authors; newspaper and magazine editors; book publishers and dealers; churchmen; committees seeking Anderson's services as a lecturer; guests whom he had entertained; personal friends; pioneer Norwegian settlers giving historical information; diplomats; travelers; and, in general, almost everyone in the United States and many in foreign countries interested in the study of Scandinavian life and literature. Included are literary figures Bjornstjerne Bjornson, Georg Brandes, Knut Hamsun, Jonas Lie, Viktor Rydberg, and Thorstein Veblen.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Rasmus B. Anderson and his heirs in 1931 and 1936. Box 54 was presented by Donald McGill in 1949. Additions to the collection were made by Susanna E. Wieland and the Mrs. Henry Hulst Estate in 1957. The microfilm reel was presented by Mrs. Hjalmer Anderson, Seattle, Washington, through Einar Haugen of the University of Wisconsin, June 29, 1955. The Appendix was prepared and presented by Robert Bjerke, University of Wisconsin Department of Scandinavian Studies, August 1965.

	Series: Correspondence
Micro 124	Microfilmed Correspondence, 1875-1909 Note: Filmed from originals in the possession of Mrs. Hjalmer Anderson, Seattle, Washington, in 1955. These letters are unarranged. At the back of Box 65 are cards that may refer to these letters.
Wis Mss HD	Index to Correspondence Note: These three boxes of index cards refer to letters in Boxes 1-48; the citations do not indicate in which category (Personal and Family or General) the correspondence is filed, so both may need to be checked to find a cited letter.
Box   63	A-G
Box   64	H-M
Box   65	N-Z
	Personal and Family Correspondence Note: Indexed in Boxes 63-65.
Box   1	1860-1868
Box   2	1869-1884 May
Box   3	1884 June-1886 April
Box   4	1886 May-1887 July
Box   5	1887 August-1888
Box   6	1889-1894
Box   7	1895-1896 June
Box   8	1896 July-1898 June
Box   9	1898 July-1900 December
Box   10	1901-1903
Box   11	1904-1905 June
Box   12	1905 July-1908
Box   13	1909-1912
Box   14	1913-1916
Box   15	1917-1921
Box   16	1922-1929
Box   17	1930-1936
	General Correspondence Note: Indexed in Boxes 63-65.
Box   18	1841-1873
Box   19	1874-1875
Box   20	1876-1877 May
Box   21	1877 June-1878 September
Box   22	1878 October-1879
Box   23	1880
Box   24	1881 January-October
Box   25	1881 November-1882 August
Box   26	1882 September-1883 March
Box   26a	1883 April-1884 June
Box   27	1884 July-1885 September
Box   28	1885 October-1886
Box   29	1887
Box   30	1888
Box   31	1889
Box   32	188?-1890
Box   33	1891
Box   34	1892-1893 March
Box   35	1893 April-1894 March
Box   36	1894 April-1896 March
Box   37	1896 April-189?
Box   38	1900-1906
Box   39	1907-1913
Box   40	1914-1919
Box   41	1920-1923
Box   42	1924-1925 August
Box   43	1925 September-1927 August
Box   44	1927 September-1929 February
Box   45	1929 March-1931 June
Box   46	1931 July-1935
Box   47	1936
Box   47	A-K, undated
Box   48	L-W and unknown, undated
Box   56	Letters from Norwegian Authors Note: See appendix for list of letter writers. Arrangement of the Materials: Arranged chronologically.
	Additional Correspondence Note: Mainly family correspondence; processed in 1964 and not indexed.
Box   57	1868-1885 August
Box   58	1885 October-1886 July
Box   59	1886 August-1887 July
Box   60	1887 August-1892 April
Box   61	1892 May-1925; undated
	Series: Other Papers	⇧
Box   49-50	Manuscript translations
Box   51-54	Addresses, articles, memorabilia
Box   54	Miscellaneous papers Scope and Content Note: Includes three small unnumbered financial record books kept by Anderson consisting of a notebook with a few diary entries and miscellaneous, 1880; a cashbook, 1894 November 5-1896 January 13; and an account book with Olsen and Jacobsen, grocers, 1901 October-1903 December 14.
Box   55	Miscellaneous papers (continued) Scope and Content Note: Includes an autograph book, social event memorabilia, correspondence, poetry, and music sheets. Volumes are small and unnumbered.
Box   61	Ephemera
Box   62 Volume   7-15	Diaries, 1876-1878, 1880, 1886-1889, and Diary notes
Box   62 Volume   16	Bank book, 1885-1888
Box   62 Volume   17	Account book, 1903-1905
Box   62 Volume   18	Travel accounts, 1903
Box   66 Volume   1	Memorabilia, 1883-1888
Box   67 Volume   2	Memorabilia, 1883-1888 (continued)
Box   67 Volume   3	Calling cards
Box   67 Volume   4	S.H. Carpenter's volume on Beowulf
Box   68 Volume   5	Mexican Plantation Association account book
Box   68 Volume   6	Ambassador's autograph book, Copenhagen
File 1843 March 3 Oversize	Diplomas, land grants, certificates, and college and honorary degrees awarded to Anderson or his family, 1843-1914

This list is in chronological order, as the letters appear in the box. This list does not include letters from Knut Hamsun or Bjornstjerne Bjornson, which appear in separate folders in Box 56. Letters from many of the authors may also appear elsewhere in the Anderson Papers. This list was prepared by Robert Bjerke of the University of Wisconsin Department of Scandinavian Studies in August 1965.

• R. Rask to Larsen, 25 April 1823
• C. C. Rafn to Professor L. Abrahams, 16 April 1849
• Autograph poem “Til Frue Julie Winther” by A. Munch
• P. Chr. Asbjornsen to Bogbinder og Kunsthandler Thorkildsen, 6 October 1869
• Alexander Bull to B. W. Suckow, 1 July 1870
• R. B. Anderson and 30 others to Ole Bull, 16 July 1873
• Jon Borkelsson, 4 September 1874, with copy of article “Dagmalastaor og eyktarstaor”
• Laur Larsen, 12 September 1874
• Th. Mobius, 12 November 1875
• H. E. Shepherd to Messers Griggs and Co., 11 November 1874
• Clems Petrn (Clemens Petersen]], 1 May 1874
• Jon Sigurosson, 26 May 1875
• Kristofer Janson, 8 June 1875
• Jon A. Hjaltalin, 13 October 1875
• Matthias Jochumsson, 19 October 1875
• Kristofer Janson, 19 October 1875
• Eirikr Magnusson, 19 October 1875
• George Stephens, 6 December 1876
• F. A. Schmidt, postcard
• John Fiske, 22 November 1875
• F. Max Muller, 21 November 1875
• George Stephens, 11 December 1875
• K. Maurer, 18 December 1875
• Kristofer Janson, 28 December 1875
• [Janson], 6 January 1876
• Jonas Lie, 5 April 1876
• Kristofer Janson, 22 April 1876
• Jonas Lie, 27 August 1876
• Jonas Lie, 6 November 1876
• Kristofer Janson, 29 November 1876
• Jonas Lie, 20 March 1877
• Platou, 3 October 187?
• Matth. Jochumsson, 6 October 1877
• Gudbrand Vigfusson, 7 October 1877
• Siegwart Petersen, 15 November 1877
• Oscar Montelius, 14 December 1877
• Matth. Jochumsson, 14 August 1878
• Arne Garborg, 10 September 1878
• Autograph bibliography of the works of Benedict Grondahl
• J. E. Sars, 26 October 1878
• A. Munch, 13 November 1878, with autograph poems: “I Skoven,” “Septemberklarhed,” “Ved Dantes Monument i F1orents,” “Norge i Amerika”
• Kristofer Janson, 1 April 1879
• Gudbrand Vigfusson, 24 May 1879
• Kristofer Janson, 3 June 1879
• Fr. Hegel, 18 June 1879
• Kr. Kalund, 15 December 1879
• Edmund W. Gosse, 24 December 1879
• Ingvald Undset to Professor Stephens, 22 January 1880
• Th. Mobius, 16 February 1880
• Sophus Bugge, 2 March 1880
• Jon Borkelsson, 30 July 1880
• Edmund W. Gosse, 2 August 1880
• Jon Borkelsson, 16 October 1880
• J. Svendsen, 28 December 1880
• K. Maurer, 29 December 1880
• A. Munch, 1 February 1881, with autograph poems: “De norske Studenter til Ole Bull (10 December 1848)”, “Ved en Afskedsfest for Ole Bull den 9. Januar 1842 af Theatrets og Orchestras Medlemmer i Christiania blev folgende Sang til ham afsunget, til en Melodi of bans egen,” and “Ole Bulls Dod (Juli 1880)”
• K. Knudsen, 5 December 1881
• Georg Brandes, 1 March 1881
• Jonas Lie, 11 March 1881
• Jonas Lie, 25 May 1881
• 0. Thommessen, 28 May 1881
• A. Munch,10 June 1881
• Chr. Tonsberg, 21 June 1881
• Jon Borkelsson, 8 July 1881
• Fr. W. Horn, 13 August 1881
• Georg Brandes, 17 August 1881
• Svend Grundtvig, 18 October 1881
• K. Maurer, 30 October 1881
• Georg Brandes, 15 November 1881
• Viktor Rydberg, 30 November 1881
• K. Maurer, 20 December 1881
• Fr. Hegel, 12 January 1882
• Georg Brandes, 8 March 1882
• Olaf Skavlan, 12 April 1882
• P. Chr. Asbjornsen, 17 April 1882
• P. Chr. Asbjornsen, 26 April 1882, calling card
• K. Maurer, 5 March 1882
• Caroline Rafn, 7 June 1882
• P. Chr. Asbjornsen, 24 June 1882
• Henrik Ibsen, 14 September 1882
• K. Knudsen, 21 May 1883
• Sophus Muller, 2 November 1883, to G, Stephens
• Georg Brandes, 9 November 1883
• Henrik Jaeger, 6 December 1883
• Henrik Jaeger, 28 February 1884
• S. A. Hedlund, 19 February 1885
• Collet, 20 September 1885
• Morgenbladets Redaktion, 16 December 1885
• Fr. W. Horn, 17 December 1885
• John Paulsen, 1 February 1886
• Bryn Julfson, 21 January 1886
• K. Knudsen, 8 March 1886
• J. Sverdrup, 17 March 1886
• P. Mariager, 21 March 1886
• C. Rostrum, 8 April 1886
• Schandorph, 13 April 1886
• Holger Drachmann, 3 April 1886
• Eirikr Magnusson, 10 May 1886
• K. Knudsen, 12 May 1886
• MS of “Mod en Femtidalerseddel” by Henrik Wergeland
• Carl Warmuth, 4 June 1886
• H. Wergeland, 13 June 1886
• H. Lassen, 17 June 1886
• H. Lassen, 9 August 1886
• S. A. Hedlund, 15 September 1886
• George Stephens, 17 September 1886
• S. A. Hedlund, 21 September 1886
• S. A. Hedlund, 23 September 1886
• Chr. Tonsberg, 6 October 1886
• Matth. Joch., 12 October 1886
• Antoinette Meyn, 24 October 1886
• Antoinette Meyn, 12 March 1894, calling card
• Sophus Muller, 10 November 1886
• S. Bauditz, 21 November 1886
• Sophus Muller, 28 November 1886
• G. Brandes, 29 November [1886?]
• G. Brandes, 10 December 1886
• K. Knudsen, 11 December 1886
• Ole Bull to Secretary of State William Ewarts, undated
• Autograph poem “Norge til Amerika ved Ole Bulls Didreise” by Henrik Wergeland, presented to Bull by Wergeland; also a lock of Wergeland's hair
• Sophus Bugge, 14 January 1887
• Amalie Skram, 2 February 1887
• J. Svendsen, 25 January 1887
• A. O. E. Skram, 3 February 1887
• Ludv. Wimmer, 18 November 1887
• Stephan Sinding, 23 February 1887
• J.C. Poestion, 24 March 1887
• H. Wergeland, 6 May 1887
• Chr. Tonsberg, 9 May 1887
• Chr. Tonsberg, 1 June 1887
• Schandorph, 6 June 1887
• F. Boysen, 26 June 1887
• C. Borch, 21 July 1887
• Gina Krog, 25 August 1887
• Laura Kieler, 8 September 1887
• Angelo De Gubernatis, 17 November 1887
• Gina Krog, 16 October 1887
• J. Bennetter, 19 October 1887
• Georg Brandes, 16 November 1887
• Viktor Rydberg, 20 November 1887
• Oscar [II], 19 Deo 1887
• Otto Crintsskbold, 20 December 1887
• Gerda Brandes, 31 December 1887
• J. E. Sars, 1 January 1888
• Johannes Steenstrup, 8 January 1888
• Vilhelm Bergsdo, 1 January 1888
• Gerda Brandes, 12 January 1888
• Autograph biographical sketch of Victoria Benedictsson
• L. Daae, 10 January 1888
• Viktor Rydberg, 11 January 1888
• C. Hostrup, 19 January 1888
• Carl Lumholtz, 24 February 1888
• Stephan Sinding, 27 February 1888
• J. Bennetter, 12 March 1888
• Viktor Rydberg, 23 August 1888
• J. J. Weber, 2 ? 1885
• Elise Bjornson, 16 September [1888]
• Ludvig Wimmer, 10 January 1888
• Elise Bjornson, 5 October 1888
• Matth. Jochumsson, 9 October 1888
• Carl Lumholtz, 19 October 1888
• Schandorph, 25 November 1888
• George Stephens, 1 December 1888, and copy of a letter to The Nation
• S. Laing, 4 December 1888
• S. A. Hedlund, 4 December 1888
• Viktor Rydberg, 21 December 1888
• Viktor Rydberg, 24 December 1888, calling card
• Stephan Sinding, 8 January 1889
• Elise Bjornson, 16 January 1889
• K. Knudsen, 23 January 1889
• Stephan Sinding, 24 January 1889
• Matt. Bewer, 30 January 1889
• Georg Brandes, 31 January 1889
• Georg Brandes, 31 January 1889 [another one)
• Sophus Muller, 31 January 1889
• Stephan Sinding, 9 February 1889
• L. Frolich, 20 February 1889
• Viktor Rydberg, 9 March 1889
• Jul. Lange, 17 March 1889
• L. Frolich, 24 March 1889
• Stephan Sinding, 15 April 1889
• Georg Brandes, 5 May 1889
• Susan Rydberg, 9 May 1889
• S. A. Hedlund, 25 May 1889
• Crintsskold, 29 June 1889
• Matth. Jochumsson, 28 July 1889
• Viktor Rydberg, 11 July 1889
• Viktor Rydberg, 30 August 1889
• K. Maurer, 14 November 1889
• S. Bauditz, 10 January 1891
• Sophus Muller, 27 January 1891
• Otto Sinding, 5 February 1891
• Christiane Rafn, 16 March 1891
• Gina Oselir to Randall, 29 March 1891
• Christian Teilman, 18 July 1891
• Christian Teilman, 14 October 1891
• Caroline Rafn, 15 November 1891
• Christian Teilman, 15 December 1891
• Stephan Sinding, 11 Oeb 1892
• Georg Brandes, 25 March 1892
• O. A. Overland, 20 September 1892
• Car. Gudrid Rafn, 9 December 1892
• Christian Teilman, 11 January 1893
• Christian Teilman, 14 March 1893
• L. Frolich, May 1893
• Antoinette Meyn, 9 October 1893
• Matth. Jochumsson, 20 January 1894
• L. Frolich, 13 February 1894
• Antoinette Meyn, 2 April 1894
• Einar Bjornson, 6 December 1894
• Fridtjof Nansen, 15 October 1896
• Finnur Jonsson, 30 April 1897
• J. C. Poestion, 19 January 1898
• J. circa Poestion, 10 January 99
• Clara Tschudi, 7 June 04
• Laur Larsen, 23 January 09
• R. B. Anderson to “Min kjaere gamle laerer,” 25 January 09
• Laur Larsen, 26 January 09
• Laur Larsen, 30 January 09
• Garda Brandes
• Garda Brandes
• Elisabeth Sohoen
• Schandorph
• Schandorph
• Autograph of R. Rask
• Christiane Rafn, 23 April
• Dagmar Rafn
• Magdalena Thoresen, 19 September
• Clemens Petersen
• John Paulsen
• John Paulsen, calling card
• John Paulsen
• Magnus Lagerberg
• Otto Sinding
• Newspaper clipping, “Norwegian Poets on Abraham Lincoln” by Julius E. Cason
• Kristofer Janson
• Amalie Skram, 25 April
• “Sinding Larsen's Tillaegsbemaerkninger til Dr. W. Horns Biografie”
• Camilla Collett, 28 February
• “Din Mo'r er dod” by Kristofer Janson
• Stephan Sinding
• S. A. Hedlund
• Stephan Sinding
• Lorens Frolich, calling card
• Ole Bull, card with introduction