H. J. Berndt as a Guard for Kaiser Wilhelm

Color photograph of a black and white portrait of a man in a military uniform posed next to an elaborate piece of furniture. He is identified as H.J. Berndt, who served as a guard for Kaiser Wilhelm in Germany when Germany occupied the Southern part of Denmark. His uniform consists of a single-breasted jacket with a row of buttons down the center. At his waist, he is wearing a belt. He is also wearing light colored pants and boots. His right ankle is crossed over his left ankle and one of his hands rests on the table beside him.
Date: 1890
Creator: Lange, Paul
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Hans Nickolas Hansen

Bust portrait postcard of a man identified as Hans Nickolas (Nicole) Hansen. He is in front of a light-colored backdrop wearing a bow tie and suit jacket over a light-colored shirt. Because of a probable mistake in the way the postcard was developed, there is a large black mass that covers the bottom part of the image. On the back, the postcard has been addressed to "Mrs. Gertrude Hansen" at "D & R, El Campo, Texas 77437 63-4330 C."
Date: 1890/1900
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

J. C. Evers and Family

Studio photograph of J. C. Evers and his family posing in front of a light-colored backdrop and a set of pulled curtains. J. C. Evers himself is sitting on a chair on the far left. He wears a three-piece suit with a dark tie. A young woman is behind him on the right wearing a turtleneck top with a dark, belted skirt. Two children are in the middle, a girl and a boy; presumably siblings. A fourth person, an older woman dressed in dark clothing, is seated on the far right in a wicker chair. The photograph has been pasted on a stiff, cardboard matte surface that is chipping on the top left corner. Hand-written text on the back of the photograph reads, "From Abelona Wind Harton. Friends with family in Danevang. Evers lived in 424 East corner of second [difficult to read] from right."
Date: 1890/1895
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Jens and Paul Berndt]

Photograph of two men in suits, one sitting and the other standing with a hand on the other's shoulder. Jens and Paul Berndt were bothers of Helvig Berndt. They first came to Wisner, Nebraska then moved to Danevang, Texas. Paul then moved to South Dakota.
Date: 1890
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Lauritz, Niels, and Otto Lauritzen]

Photograph of an older man and two boys surrounding a small table. The man on the left is Lauritz Lauritzen, the father of Laura Lauritzen Berndt. Two of his five sons, Niels and Otto, stand and sit at the table.
Date: 1890
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Lauritz, Niels, and Otto Lauritzen 2]

Photograph of an older man and two boys surrounding a small table. The man on the left is Lauritz Lauritzen, the father of Laura Lauritzen Berndt. Two of his five sons, Niels and Otto, stand and sit at the table.
Date: 1890
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Mr. & Mrs. H. P. Jensen

Copy print of an oval picture frame with a photograph inside it of husband and wife Hans Peter Jensen and Maren Jensen. The frame has ornate floral motifs on the top, bottom, and sides, as well as beveled edges and a continuous pattern of decorative circle reliefs running near the edge of the frame glass. The man and the woman in the photograph are both dressed in formal attire. The man wears a blazer and a waistcoat. The woman wears a light-colored, tied neck-piece over a dark-colored top.
Date: [1890..1920]
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nebengesetze der unentwegt Loge No. 160 (open access)

Nebengesetze der unentwegt Loge No. 160

This short pamphlet constitutes the bylaws of the O. D. H. S. steadfast lodge number 160, a chapter of the Order of the Sons of Hermann which was devoted to the preservation of German heritage and culture. The document describes rules for calling meetings, intake of new members, collecting membership dues, electing officers, attendance at member funerals, and making changes to the bylaws. The last page lists the officers of the lodge at the time the bylaws were approved.
Date: 1890~
Creator: O. D. H. S.
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Jens Lauritzen]

Photograph of a man in a sailor uniform. This man is Jens Lauritzen.
Date: 1890
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Unknown Man in Uniform]

Photograph of a man in a a dark uniform with two piping stripes at the collar. The man's identity is unknown, but may be Jens Berndt.
Date: 1890
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gesetze und Nebengesetze der Deutsch-Amerikanische gegenseitige Unterstützungs-Gesellschaft bei Feuerschäden in Travis und angrezenden Counties (open access)

Gesetze und Nebengesetze der Deutsch-Amerikanische gegenseitige Unterstützungs-Gesellschaft bei Feuerschäden in Travis und angrezenden Counties

This short pamphlet contains the laws and bylaws of the German-American Mutual Fire Insurance Association for Travis and Neighboring Counties. The document describes the association's structure and rules for conducting business including: its purpose, titles and duties of officers, election of officers, intake of new members, types of insurance offered, procedures for investigating claims, and making changes to the laws and bylaws. The sitting president and secretary are named on the second to last page, and the last page contains a table of contents.
Date: 1891
Creator: Deutsch-Amerikanische gegenseitige Unterstützungs-Gesellschaft bei Feuerschäden in Travis und angrezenden Counties
Object Type: Pamphlet
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Confirmation Certificate] (open access)

[Confirmation Certificate]

Certificate from a confirmation ceremony in 1891 written in Danish. An illustrated image of Jesus Christ holding the Eucharist is at the very top of the document. Below this is both printed and written text listing Martin Skjoldborg Kristiansen's name, who was presumably the person in the confirmation. Pastor S. H. Madsen's signature is at the bottom of the document. Flanking the portion of the text on the right and left sides are illustrated images of two angels inside circular motifs that are emerging from foliage. The very bottom of the document has one final illustration: an open book accompanied by a cross and chalice, also inside a circular motif, and flanked on either side by foliage. Accompanying information indicates that Martin was a "brother to Anne Marie Christiansen who is Doyle Schaer's grandmother - married to Peter Blasuis Nielsen."
Date: January 2, 1891
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History

[H. J. Berndt in Military Uniform]

Photograph of Helvig J. Berndt, who served in the German army in Potsdam when Germany took over the Southern part of Denmark.
Date: 1892
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[H. J. Berndt in Uniform]

Photograph of a man in a dark military uniform with two white piping on the collar. His name is H. J. Berndt.
Date: 1892
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Kaiser Wilhelm and His Guards in Potsdam

Copy photograph of a black and white photograph depicting Kaiser Wilhelm II walking by a line of his guards in Potsdam, Germany. Visible on the left, he and his officers are dressed in full military uniforms which include jackets, pants, boots, and sashes. Kaiser Wilhelm II is the most decorated man in the group; various medals are strewn across his chest. A long line of guards stand at attention on his right, one of whom is H.J. Berndt, denoted by an arrow that has been penned in on the photograph's surface. They are all standing near a large building whose exterior is in the classical style. On the left hand corner of the photograph, a handwritten note reads, "...on a visit by Kaiser Wilhelm II, in Potsdam, by Berlin, in 1892, by H.J. Berndt."
Date: 1892
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Photograph of Christian Berndt]

Photograph of a man in a German military uniform. This man is Christian Berndt.
Date: 1892
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[H. J. Berndt]

Photograph of a man wearing a dark coat. His brothers first came to Wisner, Nebraska in 1893 before coming to Danevang.
Date: 1893
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Jens Berndt]

Photograph of the portrait of a young man wearing a suit with short blonde hair.
Date: 1893
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Portrait of Paul Berndt]

Photograph of Paul Berndt, H. J. Berndt's brother. Paul went to South Dakota while Jens and H. J. were pioneers of Danevang, Texas.
Date: 1893
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Children of Paul Claussen]

Photograph of three young boys, all the sons of Paul Claussen and Christine Berndt. Their names are Andreas, Edward, and Niels Claussen.
Date: 1894
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

Community Hall

Postcard of exterior of the Danevang community hall. Five cars are parked outside, within the confines of a small chicken wire fence. A small secondary, adjacent, single-story structure lies just to the right of the community hall. There are a series of three tombstones a few feet from each other in front of the building. On the back of the postcard, hand-written text in blue ink reads, " No 10 from Helga Thyssen for archives".
Date: 1894/1950
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Postcard
System: The Portal to Texas History

[First Danevang Lutheran Church]

Photograph of the church altar, set with white cloth, two candlesticks, and a religious painting.
Date: 1894~
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Marie, Magda, and Agnes Berndt]

Photograph of three young girls in a dark dress with white lace collars. These three girls, Marie, Magda, and Agnes Berndt are sisters to Andrea, Nissen, and Simon Berndt and children of Christin Nissen Berndt.
Date: 1894
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Monserretta Street El Campo]

Photograph of a large group of men standing in a row in front of several wooden buildings. The men are wearing suits and hats.
Date: 1894
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History