- Danish Brotherhood in America
-
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African Americans Czechs Danes Germans Greeks Irish Italians Jews Mexicans Poles Swedes Racial tension Timeline of racial tension Civil rights movement Danish Brotherhood in America is a fraternal organization that was founded in 1882 in Omaha, Nebraska. It has about 8,000 members in 2010.[1] A period report said of the Danish Brotherhood, "This is by far the strongest and most influential secular organization about the Danes in America."[2]
Contents
History
Thousands of immigrants from Denmark landed in the United States and Canada in the 1870s. Founded in Omaha in the 1870s, Danske Vaabenbrodre, or Danish Brothers in Arms, was among the first fraternal organizations founded in North America. An organization for Danish veterans, this organization emphasized the experiences military service members had in common.
In 1881, it was proposed that those local groups join together in a national organization. Five other Danish veteran groups agreed to unite, and they planned the first convention of the new group for 1882. The members there founded The Danish Brotherhood with the purpose of reaching out to "honorable men, born of Danish parents or who were of Danish extraction." The new Danish Brotherhood in America conducted social activities, nurture the use of the Danish language and songs, and provided financial help to their members with survivor's insurance and sickness and death benefits. The Brotherhood grew rapidly, with 200 members in six lodges the first year, and 41 lodges with 2,000 members by the tenth. By 1925, the Danish Brotherhood in America had 21,000 members.
The organization merged into Woodmen of the World in August of 1995.[3]
Notable buildings
Columbia Hall, in Dannebrog, Nebraska
Notable buildings of the group include:
- Washington Hall (Seattle, Washington), built in 1908, renovated in 2010
- Columbia Hall, in Dannebrog, Nebraska, also built in 1908
- Danes Hall, 303 N. Main St., Waupaca, Wisconsin, built in 1894, NRHP-listed, also known as De Danskes Hjem
See also
- Danes in Omaha, Nebraska
- Den Danske Pioneer
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ Nelson, O.N. (1899) History of the Scandinavians and successful Scandinavians in the United States. p 44.
- ^ "Danish Brotherhood in America", Woodmen of the World. Retrieved 10/5/10.
Further reading
- Denmark our heritage, America our home, Danish Brotherhood in America. 1981. (Available at Danish American Archive & Library - Dana College)
- Danish Brotherhood in America twentieth national convention. Ohio History Central.
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- Fraternal service organizations
- Organizations based in the United States
- Organizations established in 1882
- American people of Danish descent
- Danish people in Omaha, Nebraska
- United States organization stubs
- Omaha, Nebraska stubs
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