Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Source |
Grout Museum District |
Iowa History Era Tag |
Statewide Settlement (1869-1896) |
Chronological Tag |
Expansion and Reform (1801-1861) |
Catalog Number |
2018.038.008 |
Credit line |
Grout Museum District - Waterloo, Iowa |
Description |
This is a photograph of Maren Christensen Olesen, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa. Maren came to the United States in 1890, at the age of 17. She arrived in New York and was processed at Ellis Island. She then traveled by train from New Jersey to Waterloo, where she knew other Danish immigrants had settled. After arriving in Waterloo, she met a man named Mr. Jensen and lived with his family for a year as she learned English and got settled. In 1901 Maren married Jens Oleson, another Danish immigrant who lived in Waterloo. The couple had two children. In 1921 Jens Oleson and his son, J. Peter Oleson, founded Jens Oleson & Sons Construction Company. Both Maren and Jens Oleson are buried in Waterloo. Content can be used with the following standards: 3rd grade SS 3.27 Immigration and Migration in a lesson on immigrants to Iowa and the early settlers of the Waterloo area. For any use other than instructional resources, please check with the organization that owns this item regarding copyright restrictions. |
Additional Research & Sources |
Ellis Island, located in the New York Harbor, was the gateway many immigrants during the late 19th century (1855-1890) arrived through to America. Nearly 8 million immigrants from mainly Northern and Western Europe passed through the immigration station and underwent medical and financial/legal checks before allowed admittance into the country. The inspection typically lasted from three to five hours. |
Notes on Related Objects |
Object is related to the following library resources, which can be found by searching the catalog number in the advanced search section: Catalog #: 2018.045.028 Crossroads on the Cedar: A Story of Two . Cities 2018.045.071- A History of Danes in Iowa 2018.045.078 The Middle West in American History 2018.045.107- Danish Cedar Falls: The Immigrants' Experience 2018.045.138- History of Iowa from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century 2018.045.184- Iowa: The Pioneer Heritage 2018.045.191- Iowa: The Home for Immigrants |
County Tag |
Black Hawk |
People |
Olesen, Maren Christensen Olesen, Jens |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Multimedia Links |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Search Terms |
Immigrants Settlers/Pioneers Ellis Island Denmark Women |
Legal Status |
Ownership of this resource is held by the Grout Museum District and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney. |
