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

Its origin may be traced to the appearance at La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1866, of the first Norwegian-American literary magazine, ''Ved Arnen'' ("By the Fireside"), which would later become a ''feuilleton'' supplement to ''Decorah-Posten''. Amundsen relocated his printing operation to Decorah, Iowa the following year. On September 18, 1874, Amundsen launched ''Decorah-Posten''. It was a well-edited newspaper, its size and familiar format developed gradually. The publisher avoided areas of political and religious controversy, which had destroyed so many earlier papers. Considerable credit has been given to Anundsen for his sound judgment and business sense. He kept abreast of the times in printing and distribution, and expanded the physical plant to meet growing needs.

A popular feature of the ''Decorah-Posten'' was news contributed by Norwegian immigrants and their descendants from many localities in the upper Midwest. The newspaper frequently featured, usually in the ''Ved Arnen'' section, Norwegian language stories and books in serial form, most notably the work of Hans Andersen Foss. The popularity of ''The Cotter's Son'' serial in 1899, has been credited with saving the ''Decorah-Posten'' from bankruptcy.

The comic strip ''Han Ola og han Per'' was introduced in the ''Decorah-Posten'' during 1918. ''Han Ola og han Per'' was an exclusive feature of the ''Decorah-Posten''. The comic strip was drawn by Peter Julius Rosendahl (1878-1942) from 1918 until 1935. The comic strip was reprinted almost continually until the newspaper ceased publication.

Author and journalist Johannes B. Wist was the editor of ''Decorah-Posten'' from 1901 until his death in 1923. During much of this period, he also served as editor of ''Symra'', a Norwegian language literary magazine which was also published in Decorah, Iowa. Kristian Prestgard served as editor-in-chief of ''Decorah-Posten'' from 1923 until his death in 1946. Simon Johnson served as co-editor from 1929 until his retirement in 1945.

To the ''Posten'' were incorporated the ''Minneapolis Tidende'' in 1935, and the ''Skandinaven'' in 1941. By 1948 the ''Posten'' claimed to have a larger circulation than all other Norwegian-American newspapers combined. The ''Decorah-Posten'' ceased publication in 1972 when it was purchased by ''Western Viking''. Now known as ''The Norwegian American'', this bilingual publication is the continuation of several former Norwegian language newspapers, including ''Decorah-Posten'', ''Ved Arnen'', ''Minneapolis-Tidende'', ''Minnesota Posten'', ''Washington Posten'', ''Norrøna'' and ''Skandiaben''.

It is not known if there is an index to the articles of this newspaper, and, if so, for what time period and where such an index can be found.

References

Other source

* Lovoll, Odd S.br>''Decorah-Posten: The Story of an Immigrant Newspaper''
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235610/http://www.naha.stolaf.edu/pubs/nas/volume27/vol27_5.htm , date=2016-03-03 (Norwegian-American Historical Association. Volume 27: Page 77)
*Bailey, Edwin C. ''Past and Present of Winneshiek County, Iowa. Volume II'' (S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. Chicago. 1913)

External links

Brynild Anundsen Hans Andersen Foss

Norwegian-language newspapers published in the United States
Defunct newspapers published in Iowa
Norwegian migration to North America
Norwegian-American culture in Iowa
Publications established in 1874
1874 establishments in Iowa
Publications disestablished in 1972
1972 disestablishments in Iowa
Non-English-language newspapers published in Iowa