Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2009.031.044 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Donor |
Hansen, Estate of Rita Neergaard |
Description |
Black and white photo of Rita Neergaard Hansen and her husband Roy Hansen. Photo is rectangular, horizontally oriented, and has a white border around all edges. The two are seated in two different upholstered chairs, but are leaning together for a hug at the center of the image. Roy has on a suit and tie and glasses. Rita has a suit coat on with a ruffle and ribbon decoration at the front center. She is leaning into Roy whose arms are wrapped around her. Both are smiling. There is a small table in the background with knick knacks on it. There is nothing on the back. |
Print Size |
5 x 3 1/2 |
Creation Date |
20th century |
Associated People |
Hansen, Rita Neergaard Hansen, Roy |
Search Terms |
Hansen, Rita Neergaard Hansen, Roy couple hug smiling |
Date Received by Museum |
07/16/2009 |
Provenance |
This photo shows Roy and Rita (Neergaard) Hansen. Family Info: Peder (b. March 5, 1847, d. Apr. 4, 1923 in Kenosha) and Kirsten (Simonsen) Neergaard were farmers from Nødager (the Grenaa-Æbeltoft area of Jutland) with their three sons, Christian, Achton, and Sophus. They came to the U.S. on the ship Thingvalla in 1888 (Christian was 17, Achton 15, and Sophus 13), and docked in Canada. Peder and the boys worked with maintenance of the Canadian railroad, living in a boxcar with Kirsten as housekeeper. They ended up on the West Coat, came across the border into Washington state, lived in Kent for awhile, and then worked their way east to Wisconsin. They stayed in Neenah for a time, and then settled in Kenosha. Kirsten died in 1905. Peder wrote to Kirsten's sister Maren and asked her to come to America to help keep house. Maren came with a friend, Olivia Poulsen, and Olivia and Christian married in 1907. In 1908, the donor's sister Kirsten was born, and Rita followed in 1912. Olivia died in 1930. In 1937, Kirsten and Rita took Civil Service exams and were called to work for the government in Washington, D.C. Their widower father, Christian, went with them. In 1940, when the Nazis invaded Denmark, the U.S. government established a Consulate in Reykjavik, Iceland (at that time part of Denmark), and Rita was chosen to go there for two years. During her service, the Consulate in Iceland was elevated to a Legation. After her assignment in Iceland, Rita was transferred to the Legation in Stockholm, Sweden and was there for a year before returning to Washington, D.C. In 1944, Rita's father Christian died. When the war ended in 1945, Rita and Kirsten were asked to go to Copenhagen, Denmark on separate assignments. Rita had known Roy Hansen through the Danish church in Kenosha, Wisconsin for many years, but Roy's service in the Army and Rita's service in the Foreign Service had precluded their relationship. Rita and Roy married in December of 1950. Kirsten, Rita's sister, died in July of 1987. Rita died in the summer of 2009. |
Images |
147\2009031044.TIF |
Accession number |
2009.031 |