''Den Danske Pioneer'' (The Danish Pioneer) is the oldest
Danish-language newspaper published in the United States. ''Den Danske Pioneer'' is one of two remaining Danish-language newspapers in the United States. The other is ''
Bien
Bien may refer to:
* Bien (newspaper)
* Basic Income Earth Network
* Bień, Poland
{{disambiguation ...
'' (Danish for "the bee"), a weekly newspaper based in California.
History
''Den Danske Pioneer'' was founded in 1872 by Mark Hansen. Originally, the newspaper was published in
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...
and 75 percent of its subscribers were Danish-American farmers. Sophus Frederik Neble served as Editor from 1887 to 1931. Sophus Neble was a journeyman printer who had immigrated to the United States in 1883 from
Stubbekøbing
Stubbekøbing () is a town with a population of 2,268 (1 January 2022) ...
,
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
.
''Den Danske Pioneer'' secured a new press at the
Chicago Exposition in 1893. The press that was capable of printing 6,000 pages an hour. In 1903 the staff of ''Den Danske Pioneer'' numbered 16 and the newspaper moved into newly built offices in
Omaha
Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...
.
[''The Danish-Language Press in America'' (Marion Marzolf. Norwegian-American Historical Association. Volume 28: Page 274)] The Pioneer was developing and becoming the voice of the ethnic community. Datelines for stories were spread across the Midwest and journalist were sent as far east as Maine and Vermont in order to get stories.
In 1958 the newspaper relocated to
Elmwood Park, Illinois
Elmwood Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 24,521 at the 2020 census. The community has long maintained a large Italian-American population, with a more recent influx of Polish-American and Hispanic res ...
, where it was published until 1984. Hjalmar Bertelsen served as Editor from 1958 until 1981.
Queen Margrethe II
Margrethe II (; Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid, born 16 April 1940) is Queen of Denmark. Having reigned as Denmark's monarch for over 50 years, she is Europe's longest-serving current head of state and the world's only incumbent femal ...
of
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
visited the newspaper's Elmwood Park facilities during her visit to the United States in 1976. In 1997, Queen Margrethe II made then-editor Chris Steffensen a Knight of the
Order of Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known ...
to commemorate the newspaper's 125th anniversary.
Today the newspaper is a unit of Bertelsen Publishing Co., based in
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a village in Illinois, United States. The village is located primarily in Cook County, with a small section in Kane County. It is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 52,530.
The village now serves a ...
. Elsa Steffensen, wife of former editor Chris Steffensen, is publisher, and their daughter Linda Steffensen is editor.
See also
*
Danes in Omaha, Nebraska The Danish people in Omaha, Nebraska, were a predominant ethnic group in the city in the 1920s, and were notable for that compared to other cities across the United States. Omaha, as well as its neighbor, Council Bluffs, had "major colonies of Danes ...
References
Other sources
*Marzolf, Marion ''The Danish-Language Press in America'' (New York: Arno Press. 1979)
External links
''Den Danske Pioneer'' on the Web
{{DEFAULTSORT:Danske Pioneer, Den
Danish-American history
Danish-language newspapers published in the United States
History of Omaha, Nebraska
Publications established in 1872
Newspapers published in Omaha, Nebraska
Newspapers published in Illinois
Danish-American culture in Omaha, Nebraska
Non-English-language newspapers published in Nebraska