Victor L. Albjerg papers

Victor Lincoln Albjerg was a Professor of History in the Department of History at Purdue University. Dr. Albjerg joined the Purdue faculty in 1926 and was recognized for his distinguished teaching when he received the Sigma Delta Chi Best Teacher Award in the 1950s. He was also honored as one of the 11 foundation members when the Purdue Phi Beta Kappa chapter was organized in 1971. Dr. Albjerg was born on his parent's farm near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Jan. 4, 1892, and died in Lafayette, Indiana, on Jan 5, 1973. His parents, Niels and Karen Albjerg, had emigrated from Denmark to the United States in the 1880s. His home language was Danish, and he first learned English in the public schools. Upon completion of the eighth grade, Dr. Albjerg became completely self-supporting, financing his further education by farm work and by teaching in rural and later city schools. He attended Hamline University for three years and received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1918. Following graduation he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as an ensign during World War I with service overseas. After the war he worked for two years as Superintendent of City Schools, Gary, South Dakota. He then returned to his studies at the University of Wisconsin where he received his master's and PhD degrees. He was hired by the History Department in 1926, where he taught for thirty-seven years. In 1927 he was married to Dr. Marguerite Hall, who had been head of the history department at Alabama State College for Women. They met in a history seminar at the University of Wisconsin. She later taught at Purdue and served in the Dean of Women's Office until her retirement in 1962. Their daughter, Mrs. Patricia Graham, is a professor at Barnard and Teachers College, Columbia University. Upon retirement from Purdue in 1963, Albjerg taught three years at St. Norbert's College, West DePere, Wisconsin. St. Norbert's awarded him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in 1967. Dr. Albjerg was a member of numerous organizations including the American Historical Assoication, Alpha Phi Omega, and the Indiana Historical Society. He was the author of over 50 articles in professional journals and five books, including a biography of the first president of Purdue, Richard Owen.

Source: Obituary. The Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana). 5 January 1973, A-4. /www.shelbycountyindiana.org/obituaries/obit_albjerg.htm>