Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession number |
1991.176 |
Object Identification Number |
1991.176.064 |
Object Name |
Ribbon, Fraternal |
Donor |
Larsen, Peder H. |
Description |
A membership ribbon or badge used in the Danish Brotherhood in America organization. The two-part ribbon is made from metal and most likely silk. The top portion consists of a golden metal sunburst with raised beams of light and the letters "DB" at center. The back of the sunburst has a horizontally oriented pin used to secure the ribbon to clothing. A rectangular silk ribbon with a vertically oriented red and white Danish flag design is attached to the bottom edge of the sunburst. The bottom edge of the ribbon has silver spiral fringe. The back of the ribbon is mostly white. There is circular seal stamped onto the back of the ribbon with dark ink. The seal reads "DET DANSKE BRODERSAMFUND / CHICAGO / No. 17 / LOGE / CHICAGO, IL". |
Dimensions |
W-2.75 L-6.5 inches |
Place Of Origin |
USA/IL/Chicago |
Owned By |
Larsen, Peder H. |
Used By |
Danish Brotherhood Lodge 17 |
Material |
metal/silk |
Associated People |
Larsen, Peder H. |
Search Terms |
Larsen, Peder H. Danish Brotherhood in America DBIA DBS DB ribbon badge membership Lodge #17 Lodge 17 Chicago IL Illinois det danske brodersamfund |
Provenance |
Gift of Peder H. Larsen of Wauconda, IL. The majority of the badges/ribbons in this donation have a seal stamped on the back indicating Danish Brotherhood Lodge #17 of Chicago, Illinois. It is assumed the ribbons were used at Lodge #17. ----------------------------------------------------- FAMILY HISTORY: Peder H. Larsen was a Danish immigrant. He was born on May 7, 1919, and married to Edith V. Andersen (*March 25, 1922). They had 3 kids: Steen H. Larsen (* April 27, 1946), Jan H. Larsen (* June 1, 1949) and Marianne K. Larsen (* February 27, 1957). As of April 2000 they had one grandson Ryan J. Larsen (* July 5, 1972). (Accession file 2000.023.) 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 officers job for 22 years, 5 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. Its name was originally "The Danish Workmen's Singing Society", but was later changed into "Singing Society Harmonien". The first concert was given on May 14th, 1887. 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 congratulationtelegram from 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". ---------------------------------------------------- DANISH BROTHERHOOD HISTORY: The Danish Brotherhood in America (DBIA), originally Det Danske Brodersamfund, was a national fraternal insurance association for Danish immigrant males. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1881 as an outgrowth of several Danish immigrant veterans organizations, the organization was initially open to "honorable men, born of Danish parents or who were of Danish extraction." The first six lodges were chartered in July of 1882, and other lodges soon arose in many communities where significant numbers of Danes had settled. The organization provided a forum for nurturing Danish culture and language as well as providing financial assistance to members in case of death or illness. Some 350 lodges were in the United States along with three in British Columbia and one in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1916, a monthly publication titled "Det danske Brodersamfunds Blad" ("The Danish Brotherhood Magazine"), later renamed The American Dane, began to further communication among members and lodges. After 1920, as Danish immigration lessened and the number of eligible males dwindled, lodges opened their membership to include American-born daughters and later spouses and children of lodge members. The DBIA gradually evolved into a social organization for the entire family. Some lodges were disbanded after a few decades due to economic conditions or changes in the ethnic base of their communities. Remaining members were then transferred to nearby lodges or paid their insurance premiums directly to organization headquarters in Omaha (Lodge #600). In August 1995, the insurance function of the DBIA was merged into Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life Association. A number of DBIA lodges remain active today as organizations that promote the pride of Danish culture and origin. |
Images |
219\1991176064.JPG |
Date Received by Museum |
03/31/1992 |