Library Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
1994.038.018 |
Object Name |
Book |
Donor |
Harkay, Edna Christensen |
Summary / Description |
Hard cover book, black covers. On the front cover is an impressed cross near the center. The title is in gold on the upper spine. Inside the front cover is stamped in purple at the top "Property of / St. Stephens Danish Ev. / Lutheran Church / Broad St. Perth Amboy, N.J." Adhered to the center between the cover and facing page is a white paper label with the donor's name and address on it. Above is written "donated by:" and below "I used this in church. It / helped me to learn Danish. / Our church had a Danish / Service until 1944." 3 1/2 x 5 PROVENANCE: The donor used this book in church so that she could learn Danish after the church started doing services in English. She was confirmed at the St. Stephan's Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1940, the last class confirmed in Danish. At the time of donation, the donor was a member of the Danish Sisterhood Frija Lodge # 36. The donor's parents were Otto and Ellen Christensen. Otto Christensen was born on April 30, 1900, and died September 20, 1948 from a ruptured appendix. Ellen Christensen was born June 13, 1902 and died February 7, 1996. The couple had four children together, 3 girls and 1 boy. The boy died at age 6 of pneumonia. The donor is the oldest child. Otto was one of eight children, and immigrated to America in 1922. He was sponsored by Christian Christiansen, one of his two brothers who had immigrated to the U.S. Otto returned to Denmark in 1924 and married Ellen in Struer on February 15 of that year. He returned to America and Ellen followed in the spring. The couple lived in South Ozone Park, Long Island, New York until 1926. This is where the donor was born. By 1929, they had lived on Staten Island and in two places in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This is where their next child was born. In 1930, they lived in Fords, New Jersey where their third girl and only boy were born. Fords became their permanent home. The donor lived only two houses away from her parents' home. The family belonged to the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church. There were Danish services into the 1950's. Ellen sang in church and at weddings, funerals, minstrel shows, christenings, and special Danish functions. At the time of this donation, the church was celebrating 125 years and the donor was co-chairman. Otto worked on sewers in Long Island and Staten Island, and later as a crane operator. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 to do his part in the war effort. Otto was very patriotic and flew the American flag every day. In late 1945, he was discharged and went back to being a crane operator until his death. Ellen became a waitress in the 1940's, which led into catering Danish open-faced sandwiches, smørrebrød, and cold tables. |
Language Of Material |
Danish |
Title |
Salmebog for Kirke og Hjem |
Publication Date |
1948 |
Publisher |
Det Kgl. Vajsenhus' Forlag/P. Haase & Søns Boghandel |
Publication Place |
Denmark/Copenhagen |
Associated People |
Harkay, Edna Christensen |
Search Terms |
Det Kgl. Vajsenhus' Forlag P. Haase & Søns Boghandel Salmebog for Kirke og Hjem Harkay, Edna Christensen religion St. Stephens Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Perth Amboy, New Jersey |
Date Received by the Museum |
1994 |
Images |
298\1994038018.JPG |
Accession number |
1994.038 |