Peter Sorensen Vig, 1854-1929 [RG1048.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1048.AM: Peter Sorensen Vig, 1854-1929

Papers: 1832-1958
Blair, Washington County, Nebraska: Minister
Size: 4.25 cu.ft.; 6 boxes

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Peter Sorensen Vig was born in Bogvad, Egtved Sogn, Jutland, Denmark, on November 7, 1854, where he attended school and worked as a farm laborer until 1872. He then attended Askov High School in Denmark from 1872 to 1877 and went on to study for two years under the Rev. H.F. Feiberg. In 1879 he came to America, visited friends in Iowa, and then spent two years in Chicago. In 1882 he returned to Denmark to continue his studies. Two years later Vig was sent to the United States by the Danish American Mission, and on September 20, 1885, he was ordained a minister at Clinton, Iowa. He spent several years at Elkhorn and Bowman’s Grove, Iowa, as a minister and an instructor in the high schools. 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 Elkhorn, Iowa. He then served as President and Professor of Theology at Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska, until 1928.

Vig was the author of several books including Danes in America, (1900), Danes in America From 1640-1860 (1908), Danish Immigration to America, Danish Lutheran Mission in America up to 1884, and Danes in Battle in and for America.

On June 10, 1884, Vig was married to Karen Marie Madsine Christensen, who died in 1900. Of this marriage four sons survived: Soren T., James E.M., Peter G.A., and Bennet C. Vig then married Karen Oline Olsen on August 6, 1901, who bore him eight children: Eli M.M., Clemens H., Lars Einar, Clarence, Steen B., Arndt M., Ruth E., and Victor Vig.

Peter Sorensen Vig died at Blair, Nebraska, on March 21, 1929.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection of papers of Peter Sorensen Vig is arranged in nine series: (1) Correspondence, 1832-1958, (2) Manuscripts by Peter Sorensen Vig, (3) Biography of Peter Sorensen Vig, (4) Biographical and Genealogical Data on Danes in America, (5) Historical Data on Danish Congregations in America, (6) Church Records, 1893-1902, (7) Certificates, 1868-1929, (8) Printed Matter, and (9) Miscellany.

The collection consists of the personal papers of Peter Sorensen Vig as well as genealogical and historical material on Danes in America collected by both Vig and his son Lars Einar. Over half the collection is in Danish.

The correspondence of Series 1 includes letters of both P.S. and Einar Vig. One file contains correspondence relating to the transfer of most of Vig’s research notes on the Danes in America to the Dan-American Archives in Denmark. Another file concerns the Vig Memorial Archives, of which this manuscript collection forms a part.

Series 2 consists of manuscripts of sermons, speeches, and articles handwritten in Danish by P.S. Vig. Many of these concern a theological and liturgical controversy among factions of the Danish Lutheran Church in the United States. The biography of P.S. Vig by his son Einar, which comprises Series 3, describes this controversy and Vig’s role in it.

Series 4 and Series 5 contain notes and data on Danes and Danish congregations in America and were probably compiled by both P.S. and Einar Vig. Series 6 contains records of the school and church at Elkhorn, Iowa, as well as a cash book of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association of America, also known as the Blair Church.

Series 7 consists of one folder of certificates of P.S. Vig. Included are his confirmation and marriage certificates, diplomas, etc. The printed matter in Series 8 is composed primarily of clippings on Danes in America. The miscellany of Series 9 includes passports, calls, and other papers of P.S. Vig; school records of Einar Vig; birth and wedding announcements of the Vig family; several photographs; and some unidentified Danish manuscripts.

Note: See photo component (RG1048.PH) for additional photographs. Numerous publications by P.S. Vig are available in the Library.

INVENTORY

Series 1 – Correspondence, 1832-1958

Box 1
Folder

1. 1832-1879
2. 1880-1886
3. 1887-1896
4. 1899-1931
5. 1932-1958
6. J. Christian Bay, 1900-1932
7. Charles and Paulus Falck, 1929-1938
8. Vig Memorial Archives, 1931-1946
9. Dan-America Archives Society, 1931-1938
10. Undated

Series 2 – Manuscripts by Peter Sorensen Vig

1. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
2. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
3. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
4. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
5. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
6. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated

Box 2
Folder

7. Manuscripts in Danish of sermons, speeches and articles by P.S. Vig, undated
8. Poetry in Danish by P.S. Vig, undated

Series 3 – Biography of Peter Sorensen Vig

1. Biography of Vig by his son Einar Vig, in English
2. Biography of Vig by his son Einar Vig, in English (2^nd copy)
3. Biography of Vig by his son Einar Vig, in Danish

Series 4 – Biographical and Genealogical Data on Danes in America

1. Biographical and genealogical data on Danes in America
2. Vig Family
3. Bang Family
4. Beck, Lund, Bondo, Nyegard, Schandorf, Trandberg Families
5. Guldberg Family
6. Holst, Chabert, Kline Families
7. Nielson Family
8. Zane Family
9. Danes in Nebraska
10. Danes in South Dakota

Box 5 Index cards containing biographical data on Danes in America

Box 6 Index cards containing biographical data on Danes in America

Series 5 – Historical Data on Danish Congregations in America

Box 2 (cont.)
Folder

1. Historical data on Danish Congregations in America
2. Biographical data on Pastors of Danish Congregations in America
3. Biographical data on Pastors of Congregations of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church

Box 3
Folder

4. Notes on the Danish Church in Nebraska
5. Memoirs of N.P. Lang
6. Memoirs of A.M. Anderson

Series 6 – Church Records, 1893-1902

1. Proceedings of the Annual meeting of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1893; Records regarding a lawsuit at Elkhorn, Iowa, 1895-1896
2. Minute book of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elkhorn, Iowa, 1875-1887. (Part of this volume contains notes for sermons by P.S. Vig)
3. Cash account book of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association of America (aka Blair Church), 1884-1895
4. Journal of Cash Contributions to Elkhorn College, Elkhorn, Iowa, 1895-1902

Series 7 – Certificates, 1868-1929

1. Marriage and Confirmation certificates, smallpox vaccination certificate, diplomas, and membership certificates of P.S. Vig. 1868-1929

Series 8 – Printed Matter

1. Miscellaneous pamphlets and programs
2. Dana College and Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska, 1936
3. Clippings on Danes in America
4. Scrapbook of clippings on Danes in America
5. Scrapbook of clippings on Danes in America

Series 9 – Miscellany

1. P.S. Vig Miscellany: Passports; Ordination Oath; will; calls to various congregations; citizenship papers; papers relating to passages between Denmark and America; contract for printing of Danske I Kamp; bibliography of published works
2. Einar Vig Miscellany: school grade reports; commencement program; personal Bible studies; contract for employment by Dana College, Blair, Nebraska, 1945
3. Vig Family Miscellany: birth and wedding announcements

Box 4
Folder

4. Photographs (see photo component (RG1048.PH) for additional photographs)
5. Notes on Cordova, Nebraska
6. Notes on Blair College and Trinity Seminary, Blair, Nebraska
7. Rosters and other records of the Danish Army, 1878; Danish Passports; unidentified manuscripts in Danish
8. Inventory of the Vig Memorial Archives

Subject headings:

Dana College (Blair, Nebraska)
Danes in America
Danes in Nebraska
Danish Church in Nebraska
Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Elkhorn, Iowa)
Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church Association of America
Lutherans, Danish — United States
Trinity Seminary (Blair, Nebraska)
Vig, Lars Einar, 1905-1972
Vig, Peter Sorensen, 1854-1929

APD/ht 04-22-1975
Revised TMM 04-26-2007; 02-01-2017