Adam Dan

Adam Dan, Danish-American pastor and poet, was born on February 8, 1848 in Odense, Denmark. He attended Gedved Seminary, the University of Copenhagen and the St. Chrischona Missionary Institute at Basle, Switzerland. From 1868-1870 he served as a missionary in Africa and Jerusalem before emmigrating to the United States in 1870. After his ordination on July 6, 1871 in Racine, Wis., he served as pastor in Racine, 1871-1880; Salinas, Watsonville and Chualar, Calif., 1880-1884; Minneapolis, Minn., 1884-1893; Chicago, Ill., 1893-1896; Fredsville and Cedar Falls, Iowa, 1896-1900; Boston, Mass., 1900-1902; and Chicago, 1902-1928. He died in Clinton, Iowa, on May 6, 1931 and is buried in Chicago. His marriage to Signe Sorensen, which last from 1871 until her death in 1895, produced five children. He remarried in 1903 to Marie Petersen. She passed away in 1946.

Pastor Dan was one of the founders of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, later the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, in 1872, serving as president of that body from 1872 to 1874. He was also the founder of Kirkelig Samler, serving as editor from 1872-1874, 1886-1887, 1906-1907, 1912-1913, 1917-1920, and 1922-1928. In addition to numerous articles and poems, he was also the author of the following works:

1868 - Til de Sørgende; Taarer og Smil
1871 - Alperoser
1872 - Kors og Kærlighed
1878 - Emaus Menigheds Historie
1881 - Kanaan
1882 - Sejrende Kræfter
Herren har besøgt sit Folk
Juleaften i Børneskolen
1887 - Julesange
1889 - Kilder i Dalen
Solglimt
1892 - Prærierosen
1901 - Maleren
1902 - Vaarbud
1903 - Sommerløv
1923 - En Kaffetaar

He was knighted by the King of Denmark with the order of Danebrog in December 1912.

The Archives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has one box of personal papers from Pastor Dan. This collection consists of personal correspondence and photographs, as well as a few volumes of his published works.