Andreas Nilsen Rygg


Andreas Nilsen Rygg was a Norwegian-American journalist, newspaper editor and author. He is most associated with his 1941 study, Norwegians in New York 1825–1925.

Background

Andreas Nilsen Rygg was born in Stavanger in Rogaland, Norway. He was a brother of Nicolai Rygg, Governor of the Central Bank of Norway. In 1888, the 20-year-old Rygg immigrated to the United States and located in Chicago. He first worked at a nickel plant and entered simultaneously in a trade school, then he studied law for a time at the Chicago College of Law. After three years he was employed as a cashier in the Skandinaven business department and stayed there for 12 years.

Career

In 1909 he became secretary and in 1911–21 served as chairman of The Norwegian Children's Home Association in Brooklyn. In 1915, he was elected to the board of the Norwegian Lutheran Deaconesses' Home and Hospital in Brooklyn and 1922 he became chairman. He was chairman of the Norwegian Immigrant Home commonly known as the Norway House in Brooklyn. He was also a founder and director of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Atlantic Chapter which was founded in New York City in 1915. He led the committee for the 150-year anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1926 and was chairman of the committee that arranged the memorial dinner for Roald Amundsen. He supported the Scandinavian Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by Ole Windingstad which were held in Brooklyn and New York. He was also active in The American-Scandinavian Foundation.
The Norwegian language newspaper Nordisk Tidende had been founded in Brooklyn in 1891, but had for many years find it difficult to reach a wider audience. In 1912, Rygg became co-owner with Sigurd John Arnesen, who served as business manager. Over the next 17 years, Rygg introduced a series of reforms, many of them influenced by the major U.S. daily newspapers. Rygg resigned as editor of the fall of 1929.
Rygg was appointed Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1920 and Commander 1933. That same year he was honored as an honorary doctor at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 1925, Rygg and a group of community leaders persuaded City Hall to create a new public park to be located in Bay Ridge. The site was named Leif Ericson Park. Rygg spoke as the opening ceremonies together with New York City Mayor John F. Hylan and Hans H. T. Fay, Consul General of Norway. In 1926 he was chairman of the collection committee to restore Stavanger Cathedral, Norway's oldest cathedral.
In 1941, Rygg completed and published his study Norwegians in New York 1825–1925. This book documented the history of Norwegian immigration and settlement in New York City over a hundred-year period. During World War II, Rygg was active in the American effort in provide support to the Norwegian people during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. His book American Relief for Norway served to document the nationwide efforts made on behalf of the people and nation of Norway.

Selected works