 Rasmus
B. Anderson |
The Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
is the oldest such department in the country. Scandinavian settlers
began to arrive in Wisconsin in the early 1840's, and already in
1853 one of their pioneer newspapers suggested the possibility of
establishing a chair in Scandinavian Studies at the State University
in Madison. It was n ot until 1869, however, that the University
appointed its first instructor in Scandinavian languages, Rasmus
B. Anderson, who in 1875 went on to become the department's first
Professor. The University had not originally thought of setting up
a permanent chair; but when Anderson left in 1883, he was replaced
by one of his students, and the Department of Scandinavian Studies
has had an uninterrup-ted history ever since.
Rasmus B. Anderson was a man of uncommon enterprise. In 1872 he asked
the world-famous violinist Ole Bull to give a benefit concert at the
State Capitol, and from the proceeds he bought the Department's first
collection of books. He also persuaded the local industrialist John A.
Johnson to establish the University's first scholarship fund, which until
the year 1900 was reserved for students of Scandinavian extraction. Anderson
wrote, translated and edited a great number of books, often with provocative
content and titles, such as, America, Not Discovered by Columbus (1874).
 Julius
E. Olson |
Julius E. Olson, who succeeded Anderson, taught Scandinavian languages
here for almost 50 years. He was a colorful and lovable person, fond
of singing and much in demand on the committee organizing the annual
Commencement, also because (as the saying had it) "It never rains on
Olson."
After Olson retired in 193l, the department was headed by Einar Haugen,
internationally known linguist, who remained here until 1964. Haugen's
textbooks for Norwegian, his Norwegian-English dictionary and his definitive
study of the Norwegian language in America are used today by students
wherever Scandinavian languages are taught. In 1949 Haugen succeeded
in obtaining federal funds to establish an Area Studies Program which
would emphasize, in addition to languages, the history and social structure
of the Scandinavian countries.
After Haugen's departure to Harvard in 1964, the department entered
the "Naess era," under the distinguished Hamsun scholar Harald S. Naess,
who was chairman for long periods of time, and made an enormous contribution
to the intellectual life of the department, until his retirement in 1991.
 Harald
S. Naess |
In the 60's enrollments grew and the teaching staff burgeoned to its
present size. Course offerings enjoyed a comparable growth and diversification.
The department was able to employ, as it still continues to do, several
teaching assistants and readers each year, in response to demand. The
expansive 60's also saw the appearance of The Nordic Translation Series,
fifteen modern Scandinavian classics edited by the department and published
by the University of Wisconsin Press.
During the 70's and 80s an increasing number of the department's graduates
were well placed in such institutions as the Universities of Kentucky,
Oregon, Texas, California (Los Angeles); Luther and St. Olaf Colleges,
and in foundations and government work as well. The department celebrated
its centennial in 1975 in conjunction with the annual meeting of the
Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study. The Society met again
at Madison in 1990.
Courses in the following areas are currently offered by the Department
on a regular basis: Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, and Old Norse
Language; Scandinavian Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Scandinavian Folklore,
History and Political Science of Scandinavia, and Scandinavian Literature.
Advanced seminars and independent work are also offered in all these
areas.
The program is further strengthened by the recently established exchange
programs with the Universities of Copenhagen, Umeå (Sweden) and
Tromsø (Norway). |
