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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.