Jill Hennick

The Danish American Archive and Library closed 2010 having successfully met the first of three significant challenges, that of moving its vast store of materials and finding a new location for its operation. Two more, however, must be faced.

With the release of Gustaf Munch-Petersen: Selected Poems in June, Lur Publications launches a new publishing venture in which it will introduce American readers to significant works that have appeared in Denmark. This work of Danish poetry has been translated by Brian Young of Port Townsend, Washington.

In keeping with The Danish American Archive and Library’s goal to keep abreast of activities in the Danish American community in the United States, Associate Director Jill Hennick and her husband Michael will be attending the Farstrup-Mortensen Lectures in Solvang, February 26-28.

The ranks of DAAL volunteers were increased this October when seven new workers appeared. They were Pam Crowell and Diane Jordan, Elsie Moreau’s daughters from Maine; Julie Johnson, Dody Johnson’s daughter; from Ohio; Audrey Hanson from Idaho; Larry Plume, Palma Plume’s husband, from Colorado, and Jens and Eileen Simonsen from Nebraska.

At its July meeting the board of The Danish American Archive and Library promoted Jill Hennick from Archive Assistant to Associate Director and elected Dr. Timothy Jensen as Chairman of the Board. These two actions will offer additional relief to the Director with Tim being responsible for most DAAL external administrative relationships and Jill assuming even greater responsibility for internal operations.

Two three-year spots will be filled at the annual meeting of The Danish American Archive and Library during the Volunteer Week in October. Board members must attempt to be present at both the April and October archive weeks at their own expense.

DAAL Volunteers will assemble from many states in The Archive facilities during the days of April 20th through the 24th. Some will come for a single day, others for the entire week, but whether they come for a short stay or for five days, they will engage in the process of accessioning and preserving archival material.

Jill Jorgensen Hennick became an assistant to Archive director John W. Nielsen on September 29th. Jill is a 1986 Dana graduate who comes to The Archive with wide business experience and the highest recommendations.

You can only imagine our pleasure at the initial response to Pete Petersen’s suggestion in the May Jottings, as reported by Sandra Wigdahl, that if 52 donors gave $150 each, The Archive would have enough funds to hire a part-time assistant.