Skandinaven
Encyclopedia
Skandinaven was a Norwegian language
newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois from 1866 until 1941.
, Knud Langeland and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the business side of the newspaper. Iver Lawson was the landlord who provided a location and facilities. Knud Langeland was the first editor of Skandinaven.
Knud Langeland was an immigrant from Samnanger
, Hordaland
County, Norway
. In 1843 Langeland, arrived in the United States, settling in Racine County, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1849 Langeland and his brother-in-law, O. J. Hatlestad, bought the printing press of the weekly, Nordlyset, from Even Hansen Heg and James DeNoon Reymert
. This pioneer Norwegian newspaper publication ceased for financial reasons during October 1851. In the fall of 1859, Langeland was elected by Racine County voters to the Wisconsin State Assembly
. Langeland occupied the editorial chair of Skandinaven until 1881. He died during 1883.
Iver Lawson was an investor who came to prosperity buying and selling real estate in Chicago during the mid-19th century. He also entered city politics, becoming a member of the city council in 1864. After the death of Iver Lawson in 1872, his son Victor F. Lawson took over the administration of his father's estate, which included his interest in Skandinaven. Victor Lawson would become the owner and publisher of the Chicago Daily News
, the most widely read publication in Chicago during the late 19th century.
John Anderson, who was brought by his parents from Voss
, in Hordaland
County, Norway
to Chicago in 1845, had worked initially for the Chicago Tribune
. Anderson decided in 1866 to leave the Chicago Tribune to start his own Norwegian-language newspaper. Anderson purchased the subscription lists of Norske-Amerikanerne, a failing Norwegian language newspaper. Langeland and Lawson briefly established a rival paper, Amerika. Skandinaven merged with Amerika in 1873 to form Skandinaven og Amerika.
and Rasmus B. Anderson
. Skandinaven became one of the most influential and successful newspapers in the Scandinavian immigrant community. Through the success of the paper, Anderson was able to build a publishing business that became the largest venture of its kind. In 1890 the firm was incorporated as the John Anderson Publishing Company.
From 1892 to 1911, Nicolai A. Grevstad
was editor of Skandinaven. After 1900, the company began to suffer attrition. The gradual assimilation of Norwegian immigrants into the American population resulted in a dwindling reader base. Anundsen Publishing Company of Decorah, Iowa
bought Skandinavens subscriptions, with the intent of merging the subscription base with that of its own Norwegian language newspaper, the Decorah Posten
. The last issue of Skandinaven was published on October 31, 1941.
When Skandinaven suspended publication, Reidar Rye Haugan
established the Chicago based, Norwegian language newspaper Viking on which he served as both editor and publisher. In 1958, Chicago journalist Bertram Jensenius took over Viking, renamed it Vinland and published it until his death in 1976.
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...
newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois from 1866 until 1941.
Background
Skandinaven was established by three Norwegian immigrants; John AndersonJohn Anderson (publisher)
-Career:John Anderson was born in Voss, in Søndre Bergenhus Amt, Norway. He was brought by his parents to Chicago in 1845. John Anderson became a printer and in the 1860s he began to print books as well as job printing. Anderson worked initially for the Chicago Tribune...
, Knud Langeland and Iver Lawson. John Anderson administered the business side of the newspaper. Iver Lawson was the landlord who provided a location and facilities. Knud Langeland was the first editor of Skandinaven.
Knud Langeland was an immigrant from Samnanger
Samnanger
Samnanger is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. Samnanger was separated from Os on 1 January 1907. The municipality is located east of Bergen. Development of hydroelectric power plants started here in 1909.-Name:...
, Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
County, 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...
. In 1843 Langeland, arrived in the United States, settling in Racine County, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1849 Langeland and his brother-in-law, O. J. Hatlestad, bought the printing press of the weekly, Nordlyset, from Even Hansen Heg and James DeNoon Reymert
James DeNoon Reymert
James DeNoon Reymert was an American newspaper editor, mine operator, lawyer and politician. He was a pioneer settler in Wisconsin Territory, early elected official in the state of Wisconsin and founded the first Norwegian language newspaper to be published in the United States.-Background:Reymert...
. This pioneer Norwegian newspaper publication ceased for financial reasons during October 1851. In the fall of 1859, Langeland was elected by Racine County voters to the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
. Langeland occupied the editorial chair of Skandinaven until 1881. He died during 1883.
Iver Lawson was an investor who came to prosperity buying and selling real estate in Chicago during the mid-19th century. He also entered city politics, becoming a member of the city council in 1864. After the death of Iver Lawson in 1872, his son Victor F. Lawson took over the administration of his father's estate, which included his interest in Skandinaven. Victor Lawson would become the owner and publisher of the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, the most widely read publication in Chicago during the late 19th century.
John Anderson, who was brought by his parents from Voss
Voss
is a municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Voss. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Vossevangen....
, in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
County, 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...
to Chicago in 1845, had worked initially for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
. Anderson decided in 1866 to leave the Chicago Tribune to start his own Norwegian-language newspaper. Anderson purchased the subscription lists of Norske-Amerikanerne, a failing Norwegian language newspaper. Langeland and Lawson briefly established a rival paper, Amerika. Skandinaven merged with Amerika in 1873 to form Skandinaven og Amerika.
Operations
Starting the 1870s Skandinaven published a magazine that contained articles of interest, stories, and poetry. It carried works by Norwegian-American writers including Hjalmar Hjorth BoyesenHjalmar Hjorth Boyesen
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen was a Norwegian-American author and college professor.-Biography:He was born at the Norwegian naval base Fredriksvern, near the village of Stavern in Vestfold County, Norway. Boyesen grew up in Fredriksvern, then in Kongsberg, and, from 1854, at Systrand in Sogn...
and Rasmus B. Anderson
Rasmus B. Anderson
Rasmus Bjørn Anderson was an American author, professor, and diplomat. He brought to popular attention the idea that Viking explorers discovered the New World and was the originator of Leif Erikson Day.-Biography:...
. Skandinaven became one of the most influential and successful newspapers in the Scandinavian immigrant community. Through the success of the paper, Anderson was able to build a publishing business that became the largest venture of its kind. In 1890 the firm was incorporated as the John Anderson Publishing Company.
From 1892 to 1911, Nicolai A. Grevstad
Nicolai A. Grevstad
Nicolai A. Grevstad was an American diplomat, politician and newspaper editor. -Background:Nicolai Andreas Grevstad was born in Sunnmøre, the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. He graduated with a degree in law from the University of Christiania...
was editor of Skandinaven. After 1900, the company began to suffer attrition. The gradual assimilation of Norwegian immigrants into the American population resulted in a dwindling reader base. Anundsen Publishing Company of Decorah, Iowa
Decorah, Iowa
Decorah is a city in and the county seat of Winneshiek County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,172 at the 2000 census. Decorah is located at the intersection of State Highway 9 and U.S...
bought Skandinavens subscriptions, with the intent of merging the subscription base with that of its own Norwegian language newspaper, the Decorah Posten
Decorah Posten
Decorah-Posten was a notable Norwegian language newspaper published in Decorah, Iowa. It was founded in 1874 by Brynild Anundsen, a native of Skien, Norway, and widely read by Scandinavian immigrants in several states.-History:...
. The last issue of Skandinaven was published on October 31, 1941.
When Skandinaven suspended publication, Reidar Rye Haugan
Reidar Rye Haugan
Reidar Rye Haugan was an American newspaper editor and publisher.-Background:Reidar Rye Haugan was born the youngest of eight children born in Trondheim, Norway. Together with his mother and sister, Haugan immigrated to the United States at 21 years of age, arriving in New York City on April 3,...
established the Chicago based, Norwegian language newspaper Viking on which he served as both editor and publisher. In 1958, Chicago journalist Bertram Jensenius took over Viking, renamed it Vinland and published it until his death in 1976.
Additional sources
- Story of Chicago in Connection with the Printing Business (Regan Printing House. Chicago, Illinois. 1912)
- Larson, Laurence M. Skandinaven, Professor Anderson, and the Yankee School (The Changing West and Other Essays, 116-146. Northfield, MN: 1937)
- Øverland, Orm, The Western Home - A Literary History of Norwegian America (Norwegian-American Historical Association. 1996)