Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [7]
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2011.013.169 |
Object Name |
Letter |
Donor |
Snow, Carey |
Scope / Description |
Set of nine letters to Magda Clement and her family from Magda's sister Karen Laugesen. Among the letters are two aerograms, and one of the letters has an envelope. The letters are all written in 1972. In the letters, Karen writes about her problems with her health. She also comments on news about the family in the U.S. Letter 1: Two pages, both with writing on the front and blank back sides. The letter is written on a typewriter. On the first page, it says "København, 5.Marts 1972." at the top corner to the viewer's right. The letter is signed in blue pen at the bottom of the second page. The paper has a watermark with two concentric circles and text in between them. In this letter, Karen writes about the health of herself and her friends. She begins the letter by explaining why she has not written to Magda sooner, and she writes about the winter weather. She mentions that one day it was especially icy, one of her friends, Karen Madsen, fell and broke her thigh bone. Karen then writes about a dinner that she gave before her friend's accident. She writes that it used to be easier having parties since she used to have a help, and she writes that it is ironic that it is only now that she is old lady that she has to do everything herself. Then she writes about a dinner she had with two friends, and she writes about how they are doing. She also mentions that she has seen the first winter aconites in the small yard outside her apartment building. Then she writes that one of her friends died recently, and she mentions another friend who has troubles with her eyes. She then writes that she has gotten home help granted. Then she writes that the Nielsens received Magda's Christmas card and were happy to receive it. She writes that she Mr. Nielsen does not need to help her anymore, and she writes that she did not want to take advantage of his help, since he has to take care of his own wife. She also writes that she might soon need his help again, since it does not look like she will be able to get a flat at a shared housing facility for elderly within the next few years. Her friend Kamilla is more fortunate, she writes, and she then writes about how it has been arranged that Kamilla can move into a nice flat at a retirement home in Aarhus. She then writes that she would like to hear more about how the work on the new house is going, and she writes that she has had several letters from other family members living in the U.S. Then she writes that she has been writing letters all day and that it is the first time since New Years that she has written any letters. She mentions that since Christmas she has received four letters from Magda's sister in law Gerda who must now think that Karen is ill since she has not heard back from her. Then she writes about her summer plans. She writes that she hopes that Magda received the magazines and articles about king Frederik IX's death, and she writes that the royal family have done a remarkable job of handling the difficult situation. She then asks Magda to write to her soon, and she writes that she hopes that they are all in good health. 7 x 11 3/4. Letter 2: One ruled sheet of paper folded like a booklet. There is handwriting in blue pen on all four pages. At the top corner to the viewer's right on the first page, it says "Kbh. 29-3-72." On the last page, the letter continues along first the edge to the viewer's left and then along the edge to the viewer's right. The letter is signed at the top part of the edge to the viewer's right on the last page. In the letter, Karen writes about an accident she had and about her stay at two different hospitals. The letter opens "Dear everybody", and she then thanks everyone for all their letters and kind thoughts. Then she writes about how she fell in a store one day she was out shopping. She writes that Jarl and Gudrun from Aarhus have done so much for her, and that Gudrun's sister who live in Copenhagen has promised to help her as well. She then comments on the winter weather and writes that she hopes they will be able to start soon, and then it will not take long, she writes. She writes that she is happy that they can take pictures and that Annelise can write about it. Then she writes about the food that is served at the hospital she is at, and she writes about washing herself and having her hair washed. She then writes that the weather is nice but cold. Then she writes that it will be Easter that week, and that Jarl, Gudrun, their son Niels, and Gudrun's mother have all gone to Rome. Then she writes about her friend Kamilla who has gotten a flat at a retirement home in Aarhus. She then writes about letters, flowers, and visitors she has had, and she mentions how a few of her friends are doing. Then she writes about two visits that she had before her fall. Then she writes that she had an attack of gout in her wrist. She writes that she could use some hair nets but that she has a nice pair of shoes that she uses. She also mentions that she spends most of her day sitting in the living room and reading magazines and newspaper, and she takes afternoon naps, she writes. She also writes that she takes a lot of pills, she mentions when the visiting hours are, and she writes that she now has to get some of her correspondence taken care of. She writes that she does not have her address book with her, so she can only write to people who send her a letter with their address on it. She then sends her best wishes to the person celebrating their birthday soon, and she writes that she is happy that this person is in good health and that they will be able to celebrate on the boat. 6 1/4 x 7 1/4. Letter 3: An aerogram with handwriting in blue pen on the inside and on the outside of the flaps. On the outside, there is a red, white, and blue border on both the front and the back, and there is text and pre-printed stamps in blue. On the front, there is a postage stamp with a red, blue, and green braid in the middle and the U.N. logo and some text at the top. Across the postage stamp is a postal mark, and below it is an address written in hand in blue pen. The aerogram is addressed to "Mrs. A.J. Clement". When opened, the letter is vertically oriented. At the top of the page, it says "Kbh.3-4-1972." The letter is signed on the outside of one of the flaps. One of the flaps is secured to the rest of the letter by adhesive tape. In the letter, Karen writes about her stay at the hospital. She begins the letter by wishing Magda a happy birthday and reminiscensing about when Karen visited Fox Island in 1967 and could celebrate Magda's birthday with her. She also writes about the bad weather on Fox Island, and comments on what a great house Magda has. Then she writes that she is making progress, although she has not had as much rehabilitation as planned because of the holidays. Then she writes about all her visitors and the letters she has received. She also writes about how some of her friends who have visited her are doing. Then she writes about visiting hours and meal times. She also writes that because of her gout, she is on a special diet. She writes that people tell her she looks great, and she writes that she feels good too. She also writes about the bathing and bathroom routines at the hospital. Then she writes that the pictures that Annelise took in Karen's living room were great. She then writes that Gudrun's sister is going to bring Karen's address books and her English-Danish dictionary to her at the hospital soon. In the meantime, she ask Magda to tell everyone how happy Karen has been to receive letters from them. She also asks her to write and describe how the building is coming along. She then comments on the weather, and she writes that she hopes that her handwriting is readable. Folded: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2. Unfolded (with flaps out): 8 1/4 x 10 3/4. Letter 4: An aerogram with handwriting in blue pen on the inside and on the outside of the flaps. On the outside, there is a red, white, and blue border on both the front and the back, and there is text and pre-printed stamps in blue. On the front, there is a postage stamp with a red, blue, and green braid in the middle and the U.N. logo and some text at the top. Across the postage stamp is a postal mark, and below it is an address written in hand in blue pen. The aerogram is addressed to "Mrs. Magda Clement". On the back of the folded aerogram is another handwritten address in blue pen. When opened, the letter is vertically oriented. At the top of the page, it says "11-4-1972". The letter is signed on the outside of one of the flaps. In this letter, Karen writes about her stay at the hospital. She begins the letter by writing about a letter Magda wrote her on April 5 (not in the collection), in which Magda wrote about the celebration of her birthday. Then she writes about a letter from her friend Karen Madsen who also recently fell and hurt her leg but who is now in recovery. Karen then writes about her own progress, and she mentions that she can now get out of bed herself and walk with her walker to the bathroom, and she writes that she is quite proud of herself. She then writes that she gets treatments for the pain in her knees, and she writes about how good the food is at the hospital. Then she writes about the visitors she has had, and she mentions a party invitation. She also got a letter from the office supervising home care, in which they said that she would be welcome to contact them if she needs help once she gets home, and she writes that she was very happy to receive that message. Then she writes that it might be a while before she gets a new home at a retirement home, and she writes that she wants to wait till she finds somewhere she thinks she will be happy living. She also mentions that her friend Kamilla is soon moving into a nice retirement home. Then she mentions that she received a card from Hawaii, and she writes about some friends of hers who will be going on a trip of South-Eastern Europe. Then she writes about how her friends have helped her and been kind to her, and she writes about the nurses at the hospital. She then writes about the weather and about what kind of clothes people wear at the hospital. She also writes that she has got a haircut and a great pedicure during her stay at the hospital. Folded: 3 1/2 x 5 1/2. Unfolded (with flaps out): 7 x 10 3/4. Letter 5: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet. There is handwriting in blue pen on all four pages. The first page is the front of the booklet, the second page is the back of the booklet, and the third and fourth page are the two pages inside the booklet. The letter is signed at the bottom corner to the viewer's right on the fourth page. On the first page, it says "26 April 1972" at the top corner to the viewer's right. Along the edge to the viewer's left on the first page, two lines have been added. In this letter, Karen writes about her stay at the hospital. She begins the letter by writing about the weather, and then she writes that she is slowly getting better. Then she writes about all the guests she has had and how kind they have been to her. She also writes about how the guests are doing. She mentions that Gudrun's sister and her husband came to see her. She then writes that everyone thinks she is making progress and will probably be able to walk on stairs again, but she writes that she is still looking for a flat in a retirement home that has an elevator and from which she will have access to green spaces. But with her condition as it is now, she writes, she would not be able to go see a place if she had a flat offered to her. She also mentions that she has been granted a stay at Staus sanatorium in June and that it is still possible that she will be well enough to go. Then she writes about the evening routine at the hospital. She mentions that she has written to her and Magda's relatives Minna and Grace, and she asks Magda to give her greetings to Annelise and Warder. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 6: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet. There is handwriting in blue pen on all four pages. The first page is the front of the booklet, the second page is the back of the booklet, and the third and fourth page are the two pages inside the booklet. On the first page, it says "Kbh. 7. Juni 1972." at the top corner to the viewer's right. On both the first, the second, and the fourth page, lines of text have been added along the edge to the viewer's left, and at the bottom of the fourth page, there are a number of lines written upside-down. The letter is not signed. In this letter, Karen writes about her stay at a rehabilitation facility in Copenhagen. She begins the letter by writing that she has not forgotten about her family but that she has been busy adjusting to a new situation. She is staying at a rehabilitating facility at a hotel building in Copenhagen, she writes, and she writes about the organization and furnishing of the building. She also writes about the transfer from Rudolf Bergh's hospital to the new facility, Hotel Concorde. Karen also writes about some visitors that she has had, and she mentions that Gudrun came to visit her on her last day at the hospital. She also writes about her upcoming stay at Staus sanatorium, and she mentions that she has asked for a room on the first floor so that she can practice walking on stairs. She writes that friends and relatives from far and near have shown her so much kindness during her illness. She then writes about a letter she received from Julia who writes that she might be coming to Denmark and that she hopes that Karen will be well enough to accompany her on visits to the family. Karen then writes that Julia mentioned that the weather was good, so Karen writes that she hopes that the building of Annelise and Warder's new house is coming along. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 7: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet. There is handwriting in blue pen on all four pages. The first page is the front of the booklet, the second and third page are the pages inside the booklet, and the fourth page is the back of the booklet. On the first page, it says "23-6-1972." at the top corner to the viewer's right. On both the first and the fourth page, lines of text have been added along the edge to the viewer's left, and at the bottom of the fourth page, there are two lines written upside-down. The letter is signed upside-down at the bottom of the fourth page. In this letter, Karen writes about her stay at a sanatorium. At the beginning of the letter, she writes that she just received a long awaited letter from Magda, and she writes about her own last letter. She writes that after her stay at Hotel Concorde, she only had three days to prepare for her stay at Staus sanatorium, and she would have never made it without her kind neighbors' help. Then she writes about her bus ride to the sanatorium, where she saw the first signs of spring after having been in the hospital for three months. Then she writes about some outings she went on with the sanatorium, and she mentions a visitor she has had. She also writes about her upcoming birthday. A friend is coming to visit her on that day, and she writes about the arrangements at the sanatorium as well. She then writes about some visitors she had at the hospital before she was transferred to Hotel Concorde. Then she writes about another outing she went on with the sanatorium. They drove around Northern Zealand in a bus and had coffee at Nødebo Kro, and she met someone who knew some of her old friends or relatives. She then writes that they are going to celebrate "Sankt Hans Aften" that evening at the sanatorium. They will celebrate inside as bonfires are not allowed on the nearby beach and since there is a storm outside. She writes that she wished she could stay there for three more weeks, but everything is booked till the end of September, she writes, and she was lucky that she booked her stay before she fell. On the first page, Karen has added a note saying that she will be back home on July 1. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 8: One sheet of paper that has been folded like a booklet and another sheet that is half the size of the first one. The edge to the viewer's right on the second sheet of paper is unevenly cut. There is handwriting in blue pen on all four pages of the booklet and on both the front and back of the smaller sheet. The first page is the front of the booklet, the second and third page are the pages inside the booklet, the fourth page is the back of the booklet, and the fifth and sixth page are the front and back of the smaller sheet. On the first page, it says "28-6-1972" at the top corner to the viewer's right. The letter is signed at the bottom of the sixth page. In this letter, Karen writes about her stay at a sanatorium and her birthday that she celebrated there. She begins the letter by writing about the weather, and she mentions that her birthday was the first day of full sunshine. Then she writes about her birthday at the sanatorium. She had visitors, received a lot of cards and letters, the dining room had been decorated very festively, and she gave all the residents and the kitchen staff as well as glass of sweet wine for the dessert. She also writes about a celebration of "Sankt Hans Aften" at the sanatorium with festive decorations and musical entertainment. Then she writes that she went to visit a friend yesterday, and she writes that the place that her friend lives is nice but too expensive for Karen. She also writes that she will need home care when she gets back home, and she writes that she really needs to stay at a sanatorium at least another month, but that it is impossible to find any vacancies at that time of year. Then she writes about an outing to the Tegners Museum, and she writes about the works of art that are displayed there. She then writes that the excellent cook at the sanatorium has fallen ill and that he will not recover before she goes home, but then the change will not be as great as otherwise, she writes. Then she sends her love to all of the family. 5 3/4 x 8 1/4. Letter 9 (envelope 1): Two pages, both with writing on the front and blank back sides. The letter is written on a typewriter, and the second page is smaller than the first one. At the top of the first page, it says "Købemhavn, 14.Novbr. 1972." (sic). The letter is signed in blue pen at the bottom of the second page. At the beginning of the letter, Karen writes about her and Magda's correspondence during the last few months (many of the letters she mentions are not in the collection). Then she writes that she is always happy to receive letters since she sits at home alone most of her time, and she writes that she loves to hear from her friends who were all so kind to her when she was at the hospital. Unfortunately, she writes, she does not always have the energy to reply to letters right away, and she does not have the energy to go on visits or run errands, she writes. Then she writes about the home care that she receives. She then writes that she is not eager to move into a nursing home, and there are not very many vacant independent apartments in retirement communities, and they are all very expensive, she writes. She also writes that she really likes her apartment and her neighbors, even though she does not get to be outside much. Then she writes that she got an invitation to come to Aarhus for Christmas, and that she was told that she had to come when she mentioned the possibility of staying at home in her apartment. She writes that she is very grateful to be able to spend one more Christmas with Gudrun and Jarl, and she writes about how much she has loved the landscape around their house since she worked in Aarhus as a young girl. She then mentions that her friend Ditte had a coronary thrombosis but is now at home, and she writes about her condition. Then she writes about Annelise and Warder's new house, and she mentions that they will celebrate Christmas there. Then she writes that it was nice of Magda to ask if Karen wanted a Christmas package, but that it would probably be too much trouble, and that she would be really happy to receive a Christmas letter. She then writes that the father of one of her friends died recently. She also writes that she has had several letters from Julia who wrote about how much she enjoyed the visit to Copenhagen and how happy she was to get to see all the family, and Karen writes that she enjoyed spending time with them. Then she writes that she is happy she can write on her typewriter again even though it is troublesome to move it, and she writes that even bringing her breakfast from the kitchen to her bedroom takes a lot of her strength. Then she asks Magda to write her back soon, and she sends her greetings to all of the family. Page 1: 8 1/4 x 11 3/4. Page 2: 8 1/4 x 8 1/4. Envelope 1 (letter 9): The envelope has a red and white border, both on the front and on the back. On the front, the top corner to the viewer's right has been cut off. Both on the front and on the back, there is an address written on a typewriter. Above the address on the front of the envelope, it says "5 GRAM." and below is a dotted line with a "c" between the first two dots. At the bottom corner to the viewer's right on the front of the envelope, it says "Besvaret / 27, November / 72" in blue pen in Magda's handwriting. On the back, there is a blue squiggle below the address at the top center. The envelope is addressed to "Mrs. MAGDA CLEMENT," and it is sent from Karen Laugesen's home address. Magda noted on the letter that she sent a reply on November 27, 1972. 4 1/4 x 5 3/4. |
Language of Material |
Danish |
Title |
Letters and envelope |
Creator |
Laugesen, Karen |
Date |
1972 |
Dates of Creation |
March 5, 1972/March 29, 1972/April 3, 1972/April 11, 1972/April 26, 1972/June 7, 1972/June 23, 1972/June 28, 1972/November 14, 1972 |
Associated People |
Laugesen, Karen Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Clement, Annelise Stoaks, Annelise Stoaks, Warder Madsen, Karen Krarup, Inger Hansen, Kamilla Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Filskov, Ellen king Frederik IX Ege, Johanne Osterhammel, Marie Lauritzen, Kirsten Hansen, Jarl Hansen, Gudrun Hansen, Niels Christiansen, Anna Christensen, Ellen Jensen, Magdalene Ley, Kamma Staus, Elisabeth Tegner, Rudolph |
Search Terms |
Laugesen, Karen Laugesen, Magda Clement, Magda Clement, Annelise Stoaks, Annelise Stoaks, Warder Madsen, Karen Krarup, Inger Hansen, Kamilla Clement, Gerda Clement, Ellen Filskov, Ellen king Frederik IX Ege, Johanne Osterhammel, Marie Lauritzen, Kirsten Hansen, Jarl Hansen, Gudrun Hansen, Niels Christiansen, Anna Christensen, Ellen Jensen, Magdalene Ley, Kamma Staus, Elisabeth Tegner, Rudolph hospital gout arthritis thigh bone fracture Mallorcaklubben the Mallorca club birthday winter aconites home help sick-benefit association Langenæsbo Staus Storedam uric acid Staus short-wave diathermi Kjeldsens småkager Hotel Concorde Rudolph Berghs Hospital Elisabeth Staus Rekreationshjem Sankt Hans Aften Nødebo Kro nursing home retirement community Aarhus Christmas Hareskovbo letter envelope correspondence aerogram |
Given In Memory Of |
In Memory of Annelise Magdelene Clement Stoaks |
Date Received by Museum |
06/06/2011 |
Images |
155\2011013169.TIF |
Accession number |
2011.013 |
Collection |
Stoaks, Annelise Clement Collection |