Brynild Anundsen (Publisher)
Encyclopedia
Brynild Anundsen was a Norwegian-American newspaper editor and publisher. He was the founder of Decorah Posten
, a Norwegian language
newspaper.
in Telemark county
, Norway
. Anundsen immigrated to the United States during 1864 settling first in to La Crosse, Wisconsin
. Anundsen served as a private
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
between 1864 and 1865.
and Fædrelandet og emigranten of La Crosse, Wisconsin
. In 1867 he moved to Decorah, Iowa
where he established Ved Arnen, a Norwegian language literary magazine in 1866 and a newspaper, Fra Fjærnt og Nær in 1869.
On September 18, 1874, Anundsen started Decorah Posten. It was a well-edited newspaper, its size and familiar format developed gradually. The publisher avoided areas of political and religious controversy, which had destroyed so many earlier papers. Anundsen made a success of the Decorah Posten and went on to establish the Anundsen Publishing Company. Anundsen was a founder of the Norwegian Society in America (Norwegian: Det Norske Selskab i Amerika). In 1895, he was chosen president of the Norwegian-Danish Press Association of the United States.
. She died during 1899. Following the death of his first wife, he married Helma Beatha Hegg in 1901. In 1906 he represented the state of Iowa at the coronation of Haakon VII of Norway
and Queen Maud
and was made a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav by King Haakon VII. Anundsen was an active member of the United Lutheran Church of Decorah.
Decorah Posten
Decorah-Posten was a notable Norwegian language newspaper published in Decorah, Iowa. It was founded in 1874 by Brynild Anundsen, a native of Skien, Norway, and widely read by Scandinavian immigrants in several states.-History:...
, a Norwegian language
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
newspaper.
Background
Brynild Anundsen was born in SkienSkien
' is a city and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Skien. Skien is also the administrative centre of Telemark county....
in Telemark county
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, 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...
. Anundsen immigrated to the United States during 1864 settling first in to La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
. Anundsen served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
between 1864 and 1865.
Career
Anundsen, who had learned the printers trade in Norway, worked for the Norwegian language newspapers Emigranten in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
and Fædrelandet og emigranten of La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
. In 1867 he moved to Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
where he established Ved Arnen, a Norwegian language literary magazine in 1866 and a newspaper, Fra Fjærnt og Nær in 1869.
On September 18, 1874, Anundsen started Decorah Posten. It was a well-edited newspaper, its size and familiar format developed gradually. The publisher avoided areas of political and religious controversy, which had destroyed so many earlier papers. Anundsen made a success of the Decorah Posten and went on to establish the Anundsen Publishing Company. Anundsen was a founder of the Norwegian Society in America (Norwegian: Det Norske Selskab i Amerika). In 1895, he was chosen president of the Norwegian-Danish Press Association of the United States.
Personal life
In 1865, Anundsen was married in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Esther Mathilde Charlotte Hofstrom, a native of SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. She died during 1899. Following the death of his first wife, he married Helma Beatha Hegg in 1901. In 1906 he represented the state of Iowa at the coronation of Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
and Queen Maud
Maud of Wales
Princess Maud of Wales was Queen of Norway as spouse of King Haakon VII. She was a member of the British Royal Family as the youngest daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark and granddaughter of Queen Victoria and also of Christian IX of Denmark. She was the younger sister of George V...
and was made a Knight First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav by King Haakon VII. Anundsen was an active member of the United Lutheran Church of Decorah.
Related Reading
- Øverland, Orm The Western Home: a literary history of Norwegian America (Norwegian-American Historical Association. 1996)
- Andersen, Arlow W. Rough Road to Glory: The Norwegian-American Press Speaks Out on Public Affairs, 1875 to 1925 (Balch Institute Press. 1990)
- Bailey, Edwin C. Past and present of Winneshiek County, Iowa: A record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement (1913)
- Nelson, O. N. History of the Scandinavians and Successful Scandinavians in the United States ( O.N. Nelson & Co. 1904)