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JOTTINGS
posted
7/28/2010
Dear Archive Supporter,
After months of uncertainty we are
prepared to issue this status report: The Archive is
intact and in operation. The disappointing fact is that
Dana has ceased to function as an academic institution.
Even the proposed transfer to a for-profit corporation
has fallen through. This has occurred because the
accrediting agency has refused to transfer Dana’s
academic accreditation to the for-profit corporation.
This resulted in our being notified
that we, The Archive, must completely vacate the area in
the Dana library that we had occupied for the past two
decades in three days! That task seemed impossible. Then
in response to an appeal over seventy volunteers, mostly
from Blair and surrounding areas, but also from
elsewhere in Nebraska and from Iowa, Arizona and
Colorado joined our regular volunteers. The
Archive/Library holdings were boxed, sealed, labeled and
loaded, the furniture and equipment moved, the shelves
dismantled, and important items with a strong UELC, Dana
or Danish connection rescued from oblivion. All this was
more demanding than ordinary moving because the books,
periodicals, and archival collection had to be kept in
their correct classification order. By putting in
twelve-plus hour days, Sharon and Tim Jensen, Sandra
Wigdahl, Jill Hennick and I assisted by others performed
this essential task.
Fortunately temperature controlled
storage has been rented from Professional Forms, Inc.
for the books, periodicals and archival collections.
Phil and Florence Larsen have provided space for the
metal shelving, and Bee Krantz has allowed the use of
her double garage for our furniture and an
air-conditioned room in her house for sensitive
materials. First Lutheran in Blair has generously
offered Jill and me office and working space. They are
also making it possible for us to continue with our
Thursday morning coffee session. This will enable us to
maintain contact with our volunteers until we acquire a
facility of our own.
Because of the tremendous task of
moving, we do not want to make more moves than
necessary. Efforts are underway now to locate a more
permanent site – preferably for at least the next five
years in Blair or vicinity. The ideal location for the
extended future must be carefully considered. We are
grateful that truly concerned individuals are not only
rallying to our cause, but also taking a much-needed
initiative.
Vital to the immediate continuation
of The Archive is the work that John Mark Nielsen, the
Director of The Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn,
Iowa, is doing on our behalf. In order that donors can
still get tax credit for their contributions to The
Archive, the Museum will serve as middleman for
financial gifts to us. They will also do all the
clerical work that such service demands as well as
covering stationery, postage, and related expenses. For
this service they will receive 10% of funds handled,
which initially may seem like a lot, but actually is a
very moderate charge. Make all checks for which you wish
to claim a tax deduction payable to “The Danish
Immigrant Museum” with “Danish Archive” on the memo
line. Send such checks to The Danish Immigrant Museum,
PO Box 470, Elk Horn, IA 51531.
The Archive itself is in the
process of becoming incorporated and receiving 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt status. When that occurs we will administer
our own finances and inform you.
Currently it appears as though all
of our financial resources have been lost: endowment,
general fund, and special funds such as assistant
salary, endowment interest and Lur Publications. There
was $280,822.84 in endowment, $24,221.75 in general,
$4,509.25 in assistant salary, $7,754.51 in endowment
interest, and $5,934.50 in Lur Publications. Some of
this loss may be appealed.
The important thing is that The
Archive is in operation. Our phone number is
402-250-6691. Our emails are John’s
daaljwn@gmail.com
and Jill’s
daaljill@gmail.com. Our regular mail is PO Box 7,
Blair, NE 68008. Our website is
www.danishamericanarchive.com.
Finally, and I know I am violating
all correct fundraising procedures by tacking this on
the end of another long mailing, but we do need funds –
not only for regular operational costs but also new
expenses. Already there are storage bills coming in,
Jill’s salary to be paid, and mailing costs. Hopefully,
soon, we will have our own building. That will mean
rent, utilities, maintenance, equipment (scanner, copy
machine, etc.), besides our regular operational costs.
Are we up to it? I believe we are. Write your checks as
instructed in the earlier paragraph.
Thank you for your kindness to
Elizabeth and me during the recent weeks when we were
also confronted with Tom’s death. It was appreciated.
Best regards,
John W. Nielsen
Director
THE DAAL LIVES!
posted
7/14/2010
Through a tremendous effort by a
team of volunteers, all the documents, books and
artifacts belonging to The Danish American Archive and
Library have been moved to temporary storage facilities
in Blair. When the DAAL was given notice on Friday, July
9 that we had two and a half days to vacate the space
that we had used for many years in the Dana College
Library, it appeared to be an impossible task. But then
mainly through word of mouth more than seventy
volunteers appeared on the scene with trucks, manpower
and offers of storage space to help us.
The result is that even though Dana
College has closed its doors, and The DAAL is
temporarily without a permanent home, the thousands of
pictures, records, clippings and publications that make
The DAAL the country’s largest repository of materials
pertaining to the Danish American experience not only
survive, but will soon be accessible again to scholars,
genealogists and others with an interest in Dana College
and Danish American history and culture.
Efforts are underway to find a
suitable building for our new home and to complete the
process of becoming an independent tax-exempt
organization. Plus we are working to replenish nearly
$350,000 in endowment and operating funds that were lost
when Dana College failed. In the short term, donations
for The DAAL can be made though the help of the Danish
Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa, which has generously
offered to act as our financial umbrella until we
receive our own tax-exempt status. If you wish to donate
to The DAAL, simply write your check to The Danish
Immigrant Museum with “DAAL” or “Archive” written in the
memo line.
Our interim contact information is
as follows:
The Danish
American Archive and Library
P.O. Box 7
Blair, NE 68008
E-mail:
daaljill@gmail.com
daaljwn@gmail.com
In order to keep our corps of loyal
volunteers together and engaged, we are meeting for
coffee every Thursday at 10 a.m. at First Lutheran
Church in Blair. This gives the volunteers a chance to
hear about the progress being made in getting The
Archive up and running again, as well as to make
suggestions and share information that may be helpful.
Please continue to check our web
site for updates about our progress. We are happy with
what has been accomplished so far and intend to push
forward until we are up and running as before…or perhaps
even better!
Archive Future
posted 7/9/2010
By now you have probably learned
that Dana College is closing its doors. The Higher
Learning Commission refused to allow Dana's
accreditation to continue under the new ownership and
administration. Most people were surprised by this
sudden turn of events, but others had remained skeptical
that the conversion of Dana to a for-profit liberal arts
college would be a viable option.
Dana’s demise does not mean the end
of The Archive. In fact, distinctly hopeful signs are
arising that the Archive can continue, even if it does
not continue at Dana. On Tuesday, July 6, 2010, we will
meet with John Mark Nielsen, Director of the Danish
Immigrant Museum, and Marnie Jensen, a most sympathetic
member of Dana’s Board of Regents, and others who can
help sort out the available options.
In the light of the rapid changes
now unfolding, and the opportunities that may be arising
for the Archive to move to a good place, The Archive’s
Board of Directors is also meeting on Tuesday, July
27th. There will be a lot to discuss and a lot to do.
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