Andreas Nilsen Rygg
Encyclopedia
Andreas Nilsen Rygg was Norwegian-American newspaper editor and author. He is most associated with his 1941 study, Norwegians in New York 1825-1925
, in Rogaland
, Norway
. In 1888, the 20 year old Rygg immigrated to the United States and located in Chicago
. He first worked at a nickel plant and entered simultaneously in a trade school, then he studied law for a time at the Chicago College of Law. After three years he was employed as a cashier in the Skandinaven
business department and stayed there for 12 years.
. In 1915, he was elected to the board of the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconesses' Home and Hospital in Brooklyn and 1922 he became chairman. He was chairman of the Norwegian Immigrant Home (emigranthjem) commonly known as the Norway House in Brooklyn. He was also a founder and director of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce which was founded in New York in 1915. He led the committee for the 150-year anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1926 and was chairman of the committee that arranged the memorial dinner for Roald Amundsen
. He supported the Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by Ole Windingstad
which were held in Brooklyn and New York. He was also active in The American-Scandinavian Foundation
.
The Norwegian language newspaper Nordisk Tidende had been founded in Brooklyn in 1891, but had for many years find it difficult to reach a wider audience. In 1912, Rygg became co-owner with Sigurd J. Arnesen, who was the business manager. Over the next 17 years, Rygg introduced a series of reforms, many of them influenced by the major U.S. daily newspapers. Rygg resigned as editor of the fall of 1929.
Rygg was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1920 and Commander 1933. That same year he was honored as an honorary doctor at St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
. In 1925, A.N. Rygg and a group of community leaders persuaded City Hall to create a new public park to be located in Bay Ridge. The site was named Leif Ericson
Park. A.N. Rygg spoke as the opening ceremonies together with New York City Mayor John F. Hylan
and Norwegian Consul General Hans Fay. In 1926 he was chairman of the collection committee to restore Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger domkirke), Norway's oldest cathedral.
In 1941, Rygg, completed and published his study Norwegians in New York 1825-1925 (Norwegian News Company. New York: 1941). This book documented the history of Norwegian immigration and settlement in New York City over a hundred year period. During World War II, Rygg was active in the American effort in provide support to the Norwegian people during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
. His book American Relief for Norway (Arnesen Press. Chicago: 1947) served to document the nationwide efforts made on behalf of the people and nation of Norway.
Background
Andreas Nilsen Rygg was born in StavangerStavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, in Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. In 1888, the 20 year old Rygg immigrated to the United States and located in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He first worked at a nickel plant and entered simultaneously in a trade school, then he studied law for a time at the Chicago College of Law. After three years he was employed as a cashier in the Skandinaven
Skandinaven
Skandinaven was a Norwegian language newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois from 1866 until 1941.-Background:Skandinaven was established by three Norwegian immigrants; John Anderson, Knud Langeland and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the business side of the newspaper. Iver Lawson...
business department and stayed there for 12 years.
Career
In 1909 he became secretary and from 1911-21 served as chairman of the Norwegian Children's Home in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. In 1915, he was elected to the board of the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconesses' Home and Hospital in Brooklyn and 1922 he became chairman. He was chairman of the Norwegian Immigrant Home (emigranthjem) commonly known as the Norway House in Brooklyn. He was also a founder and director of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce which was founded in New York in 1915. He led the committee for the 150-year anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1926 and was chairman of the committee that arranged the memorial dinner for Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
. He supported the Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by Ole Windingstad
Ole Windingstad
Ole Windingstad was a Norwegian-American conductor, pianist and composer. He was the conductor of the Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra in Brooklyn, New York and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. His most notable symphonic composition was The Tide.-Biography:Ole Windingstad was born in Sandefjord,...
which were held in Brooklyn and New York. He was also active in The American-Scandinavian Foundation
The American-Scandinavian Foundation
The American-Scandinavian Foundation, is an American non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting international understanding through educational and cultural exchange between the United States and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden...
.
The Norwegian language newspaper Nordisk Tidende had been founded in Brooklyn in 1891, but had for many years find it difficult to reach a wider audience. In 1912, Rygg became co-owner with Sigurd J. Arnesen, who was the business manager. Over the next 17 years, Rygg introduced a series of reforms, many of them influenced by the major U.S. daily newspapers. Rygg resigned as editor of the fall of 1929.
Rygg was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1920 and Commander 1933. That same year he was honored as an honorary doctor at St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
. In 1925, A.N. Rygg and a group of community leaders persuaded City Hall to create a new public park to be located in Bay Ridge. The site was named Leif Ericson
Leif Ericson
Leif Ericson was a Norse explorer who is regarded as the first European to land in North America , nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus...
Park. A.N. Rygg spoke as the opening ceremonies together with New York City Mayor John F. Hylan
John F. Hylan
John Francis Hylan , nicknamed "Red Mike", was the Mayor of New York City from 1918 to 1925.-Biography:Hylan was born in Hunter, New York a town in upstate Greene County where his family owned a farm. Hylan married young, became dissatisfied with farm life and moved to Brooklyn with his bride, and...
and Norwegian Consul General Hans Fay. In 1926 he was chairman of the collection committee to restore Stavanger Cathedral (Stavanger domkirke), Norway's oldest cathedral.
In 1941, Rygg, completed and published his study Norwegians in New York 1825-1925 (Norwegian News Company. New York: 1941). This book documented the history of Norwegian immigration and settlement in New York City over a hundred year period. During World War II, Rygg was active in the American effort in provide support to the Norwegian people during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
. His book American Relief for Norway (Arnesen Press. Chicago: 1947) served to document the nationwide efforts made on behalf of the people and nation of Norway.
Selected works
- Norwegians in New York 1825-1925 (1941)
- American Relief for Norway (1947)
- "Ørkenen Sur" (2010)