SPREADING "THE WORD"
  • Home
  • The Play
  • The Tour
    • Nebraska
    • Iowa
    • Illinois
    • Wisconsin
    • Minnesota
    • South Dakota
    • Return to Iowa and additional photos
  • The People
  • Dana College and WWII
  • About
1942: Dana College students getting ready to leave for the drama troupe tour and students in a car.

Spreading "The word": ​​
​the Dana College Theater troupe tour of 1942

An Online Exhibit from the Danish American Archive & Library
In May and June 1942, students from Dana College and Trinity Seminary in Nebraska went on a tour to 12 Midwestern Danish American communities in six states performing The Word, a Danish-language play about faith and miracles written by the controversial, outspoken Danish playwright Kaj Munk. This is an online exhibit about that tour, presented by the Danish American Archive & Library. ​
The exhibit offers insights into Danish American student life during the early 1940s, Dana College and Danish America during WWII, Kaj Munk's The Word and the impact of his assassination by the Nazis, and Danish American communities in Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota. Some of the cities, towns and villages that the students visited in 1942 still retain traces – or even pockets – of Danish American history and culture.  
Dana College drama club students in costumes for performing
The Dana students perform Kaj Munk's play "The Word," which takes place in rural Denmark and depicts the deep conflict between two branches of Lutheran churches in Denmark. The characters' faiths and beliefs are put to the ultimate test when one of the characters dies – and is resurrected.
"The Word" tour program. The students performed in 12 locations across six states.
Picture
Ticket to the performance.
A woman puts makeup on a male student actor.
Backstage: Getting ready for a performance, a woman puts makeup on one of the male actors.
The performance of The Word is part of the effort to care for and continue our rich heritage and keep the Danish language alive. ... We who have Viking blood in our veins should, not least at this time when Mother Denmark is in chains, show an interest in the land of our fathers and for Nordic culture.
Dana College's The Word tour program, 1942. 
begin the exhibit: the play
© The Danish American Archive and Library, 2021. 
  • Home
  • The Play
  • The Tour
    • Nebraska
    • Iowa
    • Illinois
    • Wisconsin
    • Minnesota
    • South Dakota
    • Return to Iowa and additional photos
  • The People
  • Dana College and WWII
  • About