Haldor Johan Hanson
Encyclopedia
Haldor Johan Hanson was an American hymn writer, publisher and author.
in the county of Hordaland
near Bergen, Norway to Hans Lammenaes and Herborg (Lønningdahl). He emigrated with his family in 1865, at the age of nine, to Grand Mound, Iowa
, where his parents farmed. Hanson enrolled at Luther College
graduating in 1883. Hanson studied at the Chicago Conservatory from 1883-1884.
, 1885-1887, before returning to Luther College to teach music and mathematics from 1888-1890. Hanson served as principal of Decorah School of Music in 1889 which was incorporated into the Luther College the following year. Hanson left Luther in 1891 to studied music in Weimar, Germany from 1891-1892.
Returning to Luther College in 1894, he was appointed as the first professor of music in 1895. He continued to serve on the faculty until 1904. Hanson served as organizer and conductor of the Luther College choirs from 1882-1883. He organized the Decorah Choral Union in 1889. In 1895 Hanson started the Luther College Musical Union. In October 1895, Hanson was placed in charge of the museum at Luther College where he served as Curator until 1902. Ultimately Hanson resigned his appointment at Luther in 1904 at least in part because of his disagreement with President College Christian Keyser Preus
.
Hanson moved to Chicago
where he became a book and music dealer, publisher and author. He was proprietor of the Northern Book and Music Company which published the monthly Norwegian-American magazine, Idun: Tidsskrift for Literatur, Musik, etc. Hanson served as its editor during the magazine’s run from 1908-1910. Among Hanson’s other activities was his service on the editorial staff of the Norwegian-American newspaper, Skandinaven. In 1904 he compiled an index to Maanedstidende and Kirketidende, the church paper for the Norwegian Synod. The first edition of an English-Norwegian-Danish dictionary compiled by Hanson was published in 1909 and reprinted in several subsequent editions. In 1916, he composed a Cantata for Christmas-tide and formulated the Norsk-Amerikansk Julebog in 1921. He also translated a poem by Henrik Ibsen
titled Terje Vigen.
After Hanson’s death his library collection of Norwegian Americana was donated to the Luther College Library. The Personal Papers and records of Haldor J. Hanson can be found in the Luther College Archives in the Preus Memorial Library.
Background
Haldor Johan Hanson was born in FusaFusa
Fusa is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Fusa was separated from Os in 1856. Hålandsdal and Strandvik were separated from Fusa on 1 January 1903, but they were both again merged with Fusa on 1 January 1964....
in the county of Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
near Bergen, Norway to Hans Lammenaes and Herborg (Lønningdahl). He emigrated with his family in 1865, at the age of nine, to Grand Mound, Iowa
Grand Mound, Iowa
Grand Mound is a city in Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 676 at the 2000 census.-Education:Grand Mound is part of the Central Community School District, based in DeWitt. Until 2001, elementary-aged students attended Grand Mound Elementary School with older students being...
, where his parents farmed. Hanson enrolled at Luther College
Luther College (Iowa)
Luther College is a four-year, residential liberal arts institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Decorah, Iowa, USA...
graduating in 1883. Hanson studied at the Chicago Conservatory from 1883-1884.
Career
Hanson taught at Willmar Seminary (academy) in Willmar, MinnesotaWillmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
, 1885-1887, before returning to Luther College to teach music and mathematics from 1888-1890. Hanson served as principal of Decorah School of Music in 1889 which was incorporated into the Luther College the following year. Hanson left Luther in 1891 to studied music in Weimar, Germany from 1891-1892.
Returning to Luther College in 1894, he was appointed as the first professor of music in 1895. He continued to serve on the faculty until 1904. Hanson served as organizer and conductor of the Luther College choirs from 1882-1883. He organized the Decorah Choral Union in 1889. In 1895 Hanson started the Luther College Musical Union. In October 1895, Hanson was placed in charge of the museum at Luther College where he served as Curator until 1902. Ultimately Hanson resigned his appointment at Luther in 1904 at least in part because of his disagreement with President College Christian Keyser Preus
Christian Keyser Preus
Christian Keyser Preus was an American Lutheran Minister who served as the second President of Luther College.-Background:...
.
Hanson moved to 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...
where he became a book and music dealer, publisher and author. He was proprietor of the Northern Book and Music Company which published the monthly Norwegian-American magazine, Idun: Tidsskrift for Literatur, Musik, etc. Hanson served as its editor during the magazine’s run from 1908-1910. Among Hanson’s other activities was his service on the editorial staff of the Norwegian-American newspaper, Skandinaven. In 1904 he compiled an index to Maanedstidende and Kirketidende, the church paper for the Norwegian Synod. The first edition of an English-Norwegian-Danish dictionary compiled by Hanson was published in 1909 and reprinted in several subsequent editions. In 1916, he composed a Cantata for Christmas-tide and formulated the Norsk-Amerikansk Julebog in 1921. He also translated a poem by Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
titled Terje Vigen.
After Hanson’s death his library collection of Norwegian Americana was donated to the Luther College Library. The Personal Papers and records of Haldor J. Hanson can be found in the Luther College Archives in the Preus Memorial Library.
Selected works
- Harpetoner : en udvalgt samling af tre- og firstemmige sange (Decorah, Iowa: B. Anundsen's forlag, 1892)
- Register til Kirkelig maanedstidende, mars 1855-december 1873 og Evang. Luth. kirketidende januar 1874-december 1902 (Decorah, Iowa: Lutheran Publishing House, 1904)
- Cantata for Christmas-tide : for soli, chorus, piano or organ (Decorah, Iowa: Lutheran Pub. House, 1916)
- Norsk-amerikansk julebog, 1921 (Chicago: Northern Book and Music, 1921)
- Norsk-Dansk-Engelsk ordbog : udarbeidet for "Skandinaven (Chicago: J. Anderson Publishing, 1925)
- Terje Vigen : translation of a poem by Henrik Ibsen (Chicago: Northern Book & Music, 1929)
Other sources
- Nelson, David T. Luther College, 1861-1961 (Decorah, Iowa : Luther College Press, 1961)
- Luther College Faculty, Luther College Through Sixty Years, 1861-1921 (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1922)
- Nelson, Marion J., Material Culture and People’s Art Among the Norwegians in America (Northfield, MN: The Norwegian-American Historical Association, 1994)
- Norlie, Olaf M.Olaf M. NorlieOlaf Morgan Norlie , also referred to as O. M. Norlie, was a Lutheran minister, educator and scholar. He was a prolific author who is most remembered as the translator of the Simplified New Testament.-Background:...
, History of the Norwegian People in America (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1925)
