Johan Andreas Holvik
Encyclopedia
Johan Andreas Holvik was an author and professor at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota
.
to immigrants Peder Holvik and Eli Jonsdatter from Nordfjord
, Norway
. Holvik attended Madison State Normal School in Madison, South Dakota
. He graduated from St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
(BA. 1907). He subsequently studied at the University of Oslo
and at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Holvik graduated from St. Olaf College
(MA. 1913).
Holvik taught at Waldorf College
in Forest City, Iowa
from 1913 until 1919. Holvik relocated to Concordia College in 1923. Holvik was an author of several textbooks dealing with the Norwegian language
. In additional to teaching in the Norwegian department, Holvik also served as Concordia College band director for twenty-two years. He had the privilege of leading the college band on a tour of Norway during 1935.
In 1925, Holvik served as the secretary of national administration committee of the Norse-American Centennial
. Holvik was subsequently knighted by King Haakon VII of Norway
as a member of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. Additional he served as the translator of a number of books which were originally written in the Norwegian language. These included works by both Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
and Henrik Ibsen
.
Holvik also became involved in the national debate over the authenticity of the Kensington runestone
. Holvik had participated in the Minnesota Historical Society
investigation in 1910. Holvik formulated several key arguments used by those who contested the stone's authenticity. UCLA professor Erik Wahlgren, referenced many of Holvik's ideas in his 1958 book The Kensington Stone: A Mystery Solved.
on April 12, 1912. Holvik died in November 1960. He is buried on the campus of Concordia College.
Moorhead, Minnesota
Moorhead is a city in Clay County, Minnesota, United States, and the largest city in northwest Minnesota. The population was 38,065 at the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Clay County....
.
Background
Johan Andreas Holvik was born in Miner County, near Howard, South DakotaHoward, South Dakota
Howard is a city in Miner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 858 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Miner County.-Geography:Howard is located at ....
to immigrants Peder Holvik and Eli Jonsdatter from Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Holvik attended Madison State Normal School in Madison, South Dakota
Madison, South Dakota
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.-Geography:Madison is located at ....
. He graduated from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
(BA. 1907). He subsequently studied at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
and at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Holvik graduated from St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
(MA. 1913).
Career
Holvik was a Faculty Member of the Norwegian Department at St. Olaf College during 1907 - 1908.Holvik taught at Waldorf College
Waldorf College
Waldorf College, located in Forest City, Iowa, is a four-year liberal arts, for-profit college.Founded in 1903, the college was affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America until 2009, when, due to financial problems, the college was sold to for-profit Mayes Education, owner of...
in Forest City, Iowa
Forest City, Iowa
Forest City is a city in Hancock and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, and the county seat of Winnebago County. The population was 4,151 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 4,362 population in the 2000 census....
from 1913 until 1919. Holvik relocated to Concordia College in 1923. Holvik was an author of several textbooks dealing with the Norwegian language
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
. In additional to teaching in the Norwegian department, Holvik also served as Concordia College band director for twenty-two years. He had the privilege of leading the college band on a tour of Norway during 1935.
In 1925, Holvik served as the secretary of national administration committee of the Norse-American Centennial
Norse-American Centennial
The Norse-American Centennial celebration was held at the Minnesota State Fair from June 7–9, 1925.The event served to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival during 1825 of the Norwegian immigrant ship Restauration. The arrival of this ship is generally considered the first organized...
. Holvik was subsequently knighted by King Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
as a member of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. Additional he served as the translator of a number of books which were originally written in the Norwegian language. These included works by both Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
and Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
.
Holvik also became involved in the national debate over the authenticity of the Kensington runestone
Kensington Runestone
The Kensington Runestone is a 200-pound slab of greywacke covered in runes on its face and side which, if genuine, would suggest that Scandinavian explorers reached the middle of North America in the 14th century. It was found in 1898 in the largely rural township of Solem, Douglas County,...
. Holvik had participated in the Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a private, non-profit educational and cultural institution dedicated to preserving the history of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was founded by the territorial legislature in 1849, almost a decade before statehood. The Society is named in the Minnesota...
investigation in 1910. Holvik formulated several key arguments used by those who contested the stone's authenticity. UCLA professor Erik Wahlgren, referenced many of Holvik's ideas in his 1958 book The Kensington Stone: A Mystery Solved.
Personal life
Holvik married Caroline Heltne in Lake Mills, IowaLake Mills, Iowa
Lake Mills is a city in Winnebago County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,140 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Mills is located at ....
on April 12, 1912. Holvik died in November 1960. He is buried on the campus of Concordia College.
Selected works
- Beginners' Book in Norse (Minneapolis, Minn. Augsburg Publishing House. 1910)
- Second Book in Norse: Literary Selections (Minneapolis, Minn. Augsburg Pub. House. 1912)