Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2012.036.069 |
Object Name |
Book, Autograph |
Donor |
Pallant, Susan |
Scope / Description |
A diary book used as an autograph book and an extra page. All text is handwritten in blue or black ink. 1 of 2 The book is rectangular and is oriented vertically. It has a blue cover and on the right edge there is a lock, however the band securing the lock is cut. Inside the cover, front and back, is a decorative endpaper of an absract beige and white pattern. The pages inside are beige and unlined. On the second page is a clipping glued to the page. The clipping is a poem about longing for Denmark. The edge of the pages have a blue swirl design on the bottom right and top. Inside, the pages have notes thanking (Tak) Gudrun. The first half of the book is filled with notes starting in June 1949 and ending in August 1949. The remaining half is left blank except for the last page which has the final note. 2 of 2 A separate page written on beige, lined note paper with a horizontal orientation. This is also a note of thanks. At the bottom is a note written in English saying how much the writer enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. West's visit. Dimensions 1 of 2 3.125" Height 6.313" Width 2 of 2 5.313" Height 6.750" Width FAMILY HISTORY: Jens Georg West was born November 3, 1883 in Onslev, Falster, Denmark to parents Jens Rasmussen and Karen Mortensen West, and immigrated in 1904 through Ellis Island. He married Gudrun Simonsen Overgaard on March 10, 1913 in Kimballton, Iowa. Jens was trained as a blacksmith and bicycle mechanic in Denmark before he immigrated. He traveled for some time before settling in Kimballton where he opened a blacksmith shop. He later trained as a auto mechanic and converted his blacksmith business to an auto mechanic/auto and tractor dealer. He died in 1958 in Kimballton. Gudrun Simonsen Overgaard was born March 10, 1887 in Dyngby, Denmark to parents Peter and Mariane Jakobsen Overgaard. She immigrated ca. 1909 through Ellis Island, and married Jens in 1913. Gudrun died Jan. 14, 1964 in Omaha, Nebraska. Gudrun had worked as a "domestic" when she first immigrated until she married Jens. Einar West, son of Jens and Gudrun and brother to Ebba and Vera, was born Dec. 23, 1915 in Kimballton, Iowa. On September 13, 1947, he married Mildred Jean Babcock (b. Nov. 11, 1921 in Wichita, KS; d. Dec. 2011). Mildred had been a roommate to Einar's sisters Ebba and Vera. Ebba West Stabell, daughter of Jens and Gudrun and sister to Einar and Vera, was born Oct. 7, 1921 in Kimballton, Iowa, and married Sigurd Stabell (b. April 23, 1920) on April 29, 1951. Sigurd was a Dane working in New York for an aquavit importer. Ebba and Sigurd moved to Denmark and had two children, Joan and Eva. Vera West Reinhart, daughter of Jens and Gudrun and sister to Einar and Ebba, was born in 1925. She married George Reinhart, who worked for the Treasury Department in Omaha, Nebraska. They had four children: James, Betty, Janet, and Mary. Peter Andreas West, brother to Jens Georg West, was born June 26, 1888 in Falster, Denmark to parents Jens Rasmussen and Karen Mortensen West. He immigrated through Ellis Island in 1904 with brother Jens. Peter farmed in Shelby County, Iowa, and later retired to the Salem Home in Elk Horn. He suffered a farming accident after immigration to the U.S., though it was before 1945. In that accident, he lost a hand, and later used the artificial hand that is part of this donation, likely made in the U.S. Peter died May 28, 1973 in Elk Horn.Union suit worn by Peter Andreas West. |
Language of Material |
Danish/English |
Date |
1949 |
Dates of Creation |
1949 |
Associated People |
West, Gudrun |
Search Terms |
Notes |
Date Received by Museum |
10/06/2012 |
Images |
251\2012036069-2.JPG |
Accession number |
2012.036 |