Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession number |
1986.023 |
Object Identification Number |
1986.023.017b |
Object Name |
Bedding, Doll |
Donor |
Nielsen, Ruth M. |
Description |
Pillowcase for a doll bed. One in a matching pair (1986.023.017a,b). Square in shape in white in color. Open end decorated on both sides with blue geometric embroidery, including V shapes and dots, and scalloped white and blue crocheted edging. |
Dimensions |
W-8.5 L-7 inches |
Made By |
Thorup, Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen? |
Creation Date |
early 20th century |
Place Of Origin |
USA/NE/Omaha |
Owned By |
Nielsen, Ruth |
Used By |
Nielsen, Ruth |
Material |
linen? |
Associated People |
Nielsen, Ruth M Thorup, Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen |
Search Terms |
Nielsen, Ruth M pillowcase pillow doll bedding doll Thorup, Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen Nebraska Omaha embroidery crochet needlework handwork geometric |
Provenance |
This matching pair of doll bed pillowcases belonged to donor Ruth Nielsen. The pillowcases may have been made by the donor's mother, Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen Thorup. Ruth Nielsen was the daughter of Danish immigrants. Her father, Marinus Thorup, was born in 1893 in Aalborg, Jutland, Denmark to parents Moritz Christian Thorup and Anna Marie Thorup. He was baptised and confirmed in Budolphi Kirken in Aalborg. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1911 to avoid military training because Denmark was at peace and he saw no need for it. He established contact with his mother's family in Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania where he had an uncle, several aunts, and many cousins. From there he moved to Hampton, Iowa, and then entered the military during WWI. He received his citizenship papers at his request at Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he took his oath of allegiance. The judge issued them immediately. (Marinus had signed up to go to France. The judge administering the oath asked if anyone had anything to say, and Marinus requested that he be granted citizenship since he was to fight for the U.S. The judge agreed.) Marinus and his future wife, Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen, had a war-time romance. Mathilde and her step-sister responded to a request for correspondence with two Danish servicemen in France. Marinus came back to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and before he was discharged from service in 1918, both Mathilde and Marinus decided they could work in Omaha, Nebraska. On 4 September 1919, Mathilde arrived in Omaha. They were married two days later in Our Savior's Danske Evangeliske Kirke with Pastor V.S. Jensen presiding. Pastor Jensen's two sisters-in-law acted as witnesses. From 1922 to 1930, he and Mathilde had a boarding house in Omaha with as many as 20 young men from Denmark residing there. Marinus also worked at Union Pacific until 1927 when he had the first successsful kidney removal in Omaha. They had two children, Ruth Marie (the donor) and Roy Christian. Roy was killed in an auto accident in 1932. This caused a serious heart attack for Marinus. Marinus was an active member of the Danish Lutheran Church, participated in drama in the Danish community, served as a leader in the Dannebrog Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and belonged to and bowled with the DBIA. Marinus died in 1949 and is buried at Springwell Cemetery in Omaha. Mathilde Christina Jorgena Pedersen Thorup was born in 1892 in Frørup, Fyn, Denmark, and immigrated in 1917. She hoped to make enough money to return to Denmark. She met Marinus, though, and stayed in the U.S. Before immigrating, she worked for a chaplain at the military establishment in Copenhagen. After arriving in the U.S., she settled first in Philadelphia, PA for the summer of 1917. She worked at the rifle plant during the war. She was later a housekeeper in Philadelphia for a widower. In 1919 she came to Omaha to marry Marinus. Shortly after losing her son Roy, she became very active in women's work at the Danish Lutheran Church (Vor Frelsers Danske Evangelisk Lutherisk Kirke). She worked in the kitchen regularly, served on the Sunday school committee, and visited the sick for both the Ladies Aid and the congregation. |
Images |
004\1986023017b.JPG |
Date Received by Museum |
03/22/1986 |