Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Object Identification Number |
2000.023.016 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Donor |
Larsen, Peder H. |
Description |
A black and white photograph of the Harmonien Singing Society dressed in formal tuxedos, standing in three rows. All the men except one, the director, have dark vests and black bow ties. The director has a white vest and white bow tie. All of the men have dark suit coats, pants, white shirts and black shoes. Some of the men have pins on their proper left lapels. They are all looking at the camera. Under the men is a rug, and behind them is a backdrop with a false curtain. The picture is in a brownish tan paperboard frame. On the bottom to the viewer's left is a small paper Danish flag that has been pasted onto the mat. Along the bottom in the middle is the studio information: "P. Holgerson / 1654 NO. CALIFORNIA AVE. / CHICAGO". On the lower right side is a sticker with a blue "15". On the back is brown paper with an imprint of the studio's mark. There are holes along the top and side edges, perhaps from being nailed for display at some time. |
Print Size |
12 5/16 x 9 5/8 |
Photographer |
P. Holgerson |
Creation Date |
ca. 1930s |
Place of Creation |
USA/Illinois/Chicago/1654 No. California Ave |
Associated People |
Sorensen, Karl Petersen, Holgar Jensen, Otto Mosberg, Joel |
Search Terms |
Sorensen, Karl Petersen, Holgar Jensen, Otto Mosberg, Joel Chicago Singing Society Harmonien Dania Society Chicago singing music concert singer P. Holgerson |
Subjects |
Singing Society Harmonien |
Given In Memory Of |
In memory of Karl Sørensen, Earl Biehel, Wayne Spless, Edwin Kramer, and Peder M Larsen. |
Date Received by Museum |
04/22/2000 |
Provenance |
Earl Bichel, a member and past director of Singer Society Harmonien has given identifications of person in photographs, a photocopy of which is in the accession file. The man in the center front wearing the white tie is the Director, Joel Mosberg. Directly to his left from the viewer's perspective is Karl Sorensen (father). The fourth man from the viewer's left in the middle row is Holgar Petersen. The man to the far right in the back row is Otto Jensen. Picture believed to be taken in the 1930s. Peder M. Larsen wrote a history of the Harmonien's 100 years that might provide more information. According to correspondence, the objects in this accession used to adorn the club house walls. The donor, Peder H. Larsen, was a Danish immigrant. He was born on May 7, 1919, and married to Edith V. Andersen (b. March 25, 1922). They had three children: Steen H. Larsen (b. April 27, 1946), Jan H. Larsen (b. June 1, 1949), and Marianne K. Larsen (b. February 27, 1957). Peder H. Larsen was the president of the "Singing Society Harmonien" in Chicago for 17 years. Prior to the position as president, he held an officer's job for 22 years, and spent five years as secretary and vice president. The "Singing Society of Harmonien" was founded in Chicago on November 10, 1886, by Helmer Hansen and was together with "The Dania Society of Chicago" the oldest Danish society of its kind in the USA. The name was originally "The Danish Workmen's Singing Society", but was later changed into "Singing Society Harmonien". Theodor Elberg, known as a fine musician and director in Denmark, was hired in 1886 to travel weekly from Chicago to Racine to "train" the Harmonien singers for $2 weekly. The first concert was given on May 14th, 1887 at Concordia Hall. Besides from touring the USA and Denmark (in 1924, 1930 and 1947) giving concerts, "The Singing Society of Harmonien" also supported artists, among others the singer Valborg Andersen, the actress Elizabeth Riis, poet Holger Drachmann, singer Karl Brisson and the Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior. On November 15th, 1986, the "Singing Society of Harmonien" had their centennial. Peder H. Larsen received a telegram of congratulations from United States President Ronald Reagan. According to handwritten notes, Peder H. Larsen received it the day before the centennial. Today, "The Singing Society Harmonien" is working together with the "Norwegian-Bjornson Male Chorus". |
Images |
126\2000023016.JPG |
Accession number |
2000.023 |
Collection |
Danish Communities / Illinois / Chicago |