Peter Sørensen Vig
Encyclopedia
Peter Sørensen Vig commonly known as P. S. Vig, was a Danish American pastor, educator, and historian in the Lutheran church. He was integral to the formation of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America (the North Church) and the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (United Church).
, Vejle Municipality
in South Jutland
, Denmark
. He attended Askov High School
(Danish: Askov Højskole) from 1872 to 1877 and went on to study under the Rev. H.F. Feiberg. In 1879 he came to America and then spent two years in Chicago
. In 1882 he returned to Denmark to continue his studies. He also served as an educator at the Missionary Institute in Copenhagen
.
by the Danish American Mission, and on September 20, 1885, he was ordained a minister at Clinton, Iowa
. He spent several years at Bowmanís Grove, Iowa, as a minister and an instructor in the high schools. From 1885–88, he was the pastor of the Lutheran church in Jacksonville, Iowa. In 1888 he was sent to the seminary at West Denmark, Wisconsin, where he taught for four years and at the same time he took a pastorage at Luck, Wisconsin
. From 1894 to 1909 he was principal and instructor at the high school and seminary in Elk Horn, Iowa
. He then served as President and Professor of Theology at Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska
, until 1928.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America (or North Church) was formed in 1894 when Peter Sorenson Vig and Kristian Anker
, along with a number of pastor and congregations, left the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over theological differences. In 1896, two small groups of Danish Lutherans in America – known as the Blair Church and the North Church – came together to form the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (commonly known as the United Church). This church body was a part of the Danish Lutheran "Inner Mission" movement, and strongly opposed the influence of the ideas of Danish Lutheran theologian Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
.
Led by Peter Sorenson Vig and C. X. Hansen, one of the United Church's first priorities was to establish an educational system. Dana College
in Blair, Nebraska, was begun as a preparatory school. Vig was the president of Trinity Seminary at Dana College and the president of Dana College from 1897-1899. By the early 1910s – in cooperation with the University of Nebraska – Dana College was awarding Associates Degrees.
, Kr. Anker, C. X. Hansen, P. S. Vig, G. B. Christiansen, and many other faithful men and women who contributed to the development and influence of Dana College and Trinity Seminary.”
He published the following works (all in Danish):
Background
Peter Sorenson Vig was born in Bøgvad, Egtved SognEgtved
Egtved is a village with a population of 2,207 near Vejle, Denmark in Vejle municipality in the Danish Region of Southern Denmark.Nearby is Tørskind Gravel Pit, a spectacular sculpture park....
, Vejle Municipality
Vejle municipality
Vejle Municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark on the Jutland peninsula in southeast Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,055 km², and has a total population of 106,383...
in South Jutland
South Jutland County
South Jutland County is a former county on the south-central portion of the Jutland Peninsula in southern Denmark....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He attended Askov High School
Folk high school
Folk high schools are institutions for adult education that generally do not grant academic degrees, though certain courses might exist leading to that goal...
(Danish: Askov Højskole) from 1872 to 1877 and went on to study under the Rev. H.F. Feiberg. In 1879 he came to America and then spent two years 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...
. In 1882 he returned to Denmark to continue his studies. He also served as an educator at the Missionary Institute in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Ministry
In 1884, Vig was sent to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Danish American Mission, and on September 20, 1885, he was ordained a minister at Clinton, Iowa
Clinton, Iowa
Clinton is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26231as of 2010. Clinton, along with DeWitt, Iowa , was named in honor of the seventh governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton. Clinton is the principal city of the Clinton Micropolitan Statistical...
. He spent several years at Bowmanís Grove, Iowa, as a minister and an instructor in the high schools. From 1885–88, he was the pastor of the Lutheran church in Jacksonville, Iowa. In 1888 he was sent to the seminary at West Denmark, Wisconsin, where he taught for four years and at the same time he took a pastorage at Luck, Wisconsin
Luck, Wisconsin
Luck is a village in Polk County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,210 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Luck is located at ....
. From 1894 to 1909 he was principal and instructor at the high school and seminary in Elk Horn, Iowa
Elk Horn, Iowa
Elk Horn is a city in Shelby County, Iowa, United States. The population was 649 at the 2000 census. Elk Horn is known as a center of Danish ethnicity and is home to The Danish Immigrant Museum...
. He then served as President and Professor of Theology at Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska
Blair, Nebraska
Blair is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,990 at the 2000 census. Blair is a part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
, until 1928.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America (or North Church) was formed in 1894 when Peter Sorenson Vig and Kristian Anker
Kristian Anker
Kristian Anker was a Lutheran minister who served as the first president of the combined Trinity Seminary and Dana College.-Background:...
, along with a number of pastor and congregations, left the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over theological differences. In 1896, two small groups of Danish Lutherans in America – known as the Blair Church and the North Church – came together to form the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (commonly known as the United Church). This church body was a part of the Danish Lutheran "Inner Mission" movement, and strongly opposed the influence of the ideas of Danish Lutheran theologian Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig
Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig , most often referred to as simply N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher, and politician. He was one of the most influential people in Danish history, as his philosophy gave rise to a new form of nationalism in...
.
Led by Peter Sorenson Vig and C. X. Hansen, one of the United Church's first priorities was to establish an educational system. Dana College
Dana College
Dana College is a now defunct baccalaureate college located in Blair, Nebraska. Its rural 150-acre campus is approximately 25 miles northwest of Omaha, and overlooks a portion of the Missouri River Valley....
in Blair, Nebraska, was begun as a preparatory school. Vig was the president of Trinity Seminary at Dana College and the president of Dana College from 1897-1899. By the early 1910s – in cooperation with the University of Nebraska – Dana College was awarding Associates Degrees.
Memorial
At the suggestion of United Evangelical Lutheran Church president Dr. N.C. Carlsen, Pioneer Memorial at Dana College was dedicated to the founders of Dana College. Outside the office of the President of Dana College, is a plaque that reads: “This building is named Pioneer Memorial in memory of A. M. AndersenAnton Marius Andersen
Anton Marius Andersen was an American Lutheran minister and the founding President of Trinity Seminary at Dana College.-Background:...
, Kr. Anker, C. X. Hansen, P. S. Vig, G. B. Christiansen, and many other faithful men and women who contributed to the development and influence of Dana College and Trinity Seminary.”
Historian
In addition to his roles as a church leader and educator, Peter Sorenson Vig was one of the key early chroniclers of the life of Danish immigrants in America. His focus was primarily on the role of the Lutheran church in the lives of Danish-American immigrants, but his work included Danish-Americans from all walks of life.He published the following works (all in Danish):
- Danske i Amerika ("Danish in America")
- Elk Horn i Iowa ("Elk Horn, Iowa")
- Nordboerne finder vej til Amerika ("The Norse find a way to America")
- Trinitatis Seminarium ("Trinity Seminary"). Blair, NE, 1911. A history of the United Church seminary.
- Den forenede danske Ev. Luth. Kirke i Amerika ("The United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America")
- Den Danske Udvandring til Amerika ("The Danish Immigration to America")
- Dens Aarsager og Veie ("Its Aarsager and Veie")
- Danske i Kamp i og for Amerika ("Danish in Action in and for America"). Omaha, NE: Axel H. Andersen, inc., 1917. A history of Danish soldiers who fought in and for America, covering the years 1640 through 1865.
External links
- Peter Sorensen Vig papers at the Nebraska State Historical SocietyNebraska State Historical SocietyThe Nebraska State Historical Society is a Nebraska state agency, founded in 1878 to "encourage historical research and inquiry, spread historical information .....
- Dana College Official Website
- The Danish Immigrant Museum
- The Danish American Archive and Library