{"id":25278,"date":"2015-10-18T22:47:16","date_gmt":"2015-10-19T02:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitright.pmss.net\/?page_id=25278"},"modified":"2020-07-29T23:18:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-30T03:18:07","slug":"peder-moller-correspondence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/staging.pinemountainsettlement.net\/?page_id=25278","title":{"rendered":"PEDER MOLLER Correspondence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pine Mountain Settlement School<\/strong>
\nSeries 09: Biography – Staff\/Personnel
\nSeries 11: Farm<\/strong><\/p>\n

PEDER MOLLER<\/a> CORRESPONDENCE,\u00a01928-1931<\/h3>\n

PEDER MOLLER CORRESPONDENCE traces the process of hiring Peder Moller from Denmark to work as a PMSS gardener and farmer from 1930 to 1932. This page provides a list of excerpts from the letters and images of the letters dated 1928 to 1931.<\/p>\n

\n

CONTENTS: Peder Moller Correspondence<\/h3>\n

[moller_p_bio_001.jpg]<\/strong> \u00a0— Mar 20, 1929 — Mrs J.C. (Olive Dame) Campbell to Katherine Pettit<\/a>: Georg [Danish farmer at John C. Campbell Folk School] suggests that “it might be possible to get a Danish farmer from the Smallholders’ School, [a folk-school] where they teach gardening.” She has written to Mr. Jacob Lange, principal\u00a0of the Husmandsskole, Odense, Denmark, to ask about possibilities. Suggests that Pettit write him also with details.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_002.jpg]<\/strong> — Mar 26, 1929 — Pettit to Campbell: Asks for advice about salary.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_003.jpg]<\/strong> — Mar 26, 1929 — Pettit to Principal Jakob Lange at Husmandsskole in Odense, Denmark: Describes the type of gardener she is looking for and the nature of PMSS.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_004.jpg]<\/strong> — April 14, 1929 —\u00a0Lange to Pettit: (handwritten) “I think I have found the man you\u00a0want…” and provides\u00a0a description of Peder Moller. Agrees with $100 a month with board.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_005.jpg]<\/strong> — March 30, 1929 — Mrs. Campbell to Pettit: Provides salary advice.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_006.jpg]<\/strong> — Apr 30, 1929 —\u00a0Pettit to Lange (handwritten):\u00a0Directions to PMSS.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_007.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— May 18, 1929 —\u00a0Lange to Pettit:\u00a0(handwritten) Assures Pettit that Moller is a\u00a0non-smoker\u00a0and that Moller\u00a0will get an immigration permit in about\u00a04 months from the American Consul in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_008.jpg]<\/strong> — June 3, 1929 — Pettit to American Consular Service: Asks consul\u00a0to expedite Moller’s quota visa so he can\u00a0arrive at PMSS in mid-Aug when school starts.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_009.jpg]<\/strong> — June 3, 1929 — Pettit to Lange: Pleased that\u00a0Moller will be at PMSS in October; Sending letter to\u00a0American Consul.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_010.jpg]<\/strong> — June 3, 1929 — Pettit to Moller: Welcomes him\u00a0to PMSS in Oct; Asks\u00a0Moller to ask the Am. Consul\u00a0to let Moller know his decision.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_011.jpg]<\/strong> — June 20, 1929 — Am Consulate General to Pettit:\u00a0not enough info as to which Moller she’s referring to; Cannot take applications out of turn.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_012.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— June 24, 1929 — Pettit to Campbell:\u00a0Asks\u00a0advice on who should meet Moller in NY.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_013.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0[moller_p_bio_014.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0— [n.d., possibly July 1929] —\u00a0Moller to Pettit:
\n“From Miss [Lula] Hale, who is visiting the smallholders\u00a0highschool in Odense, I have heard so much about\u00a0your school, and I am quite sure it is the right place for\u00a0me.”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_015.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0— July 11, 1929 — Pettit to Moller at ‘Willumsdal’, Odense,\u00a0Denmark: “As regards to how long a\u00a0time you should stay here, I hope you will like it enough\u00a0and we shall like you enough for you to stay forever.”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_016.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0[moller_p_bio_017.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0— Aug 5, 1929 —\u00a0Moller to Pettit:\u00a0Acceptance letter; Asks what to bring; describes itinerary; won’t be able to stay at PMSS “forever”.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_018.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0 — Aug 7, 1929 — Pettit to Moller: Sent Moller the contract for\u00a0his signature.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_019.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0 — Aug 7, 1929 — Contract: “We agree to pay Mr. Peder Moller\u00a0$100.00 a month and living for his services as farmer\u00a0and out-of-door work at PMSS. Agreed to by me\u00a0[signed by Peder Moller]”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_020.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0 — Aug 9, 1929 — Pettit to Lange: Sending copy of letter from American\u00a0Consulate General at Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_021.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— Aug 29, 1929 — Pettit to Moller:\u00a0Position description.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_022.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 12, 1929 — Pettit to Moller: Asks for\u00a0date of his arrival.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_023.jpg] <\/strong>— Oct 14, 1929 —\u00a0<\/strong>Pettit to Campbell: Sends her latest
\ncorrespondence with\u00a0Moller.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_024.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 14, 1929 —\u00a0Angela Melville<\/a> to Mr. Chris L. Christensen,\u00a0Secretary, Federal Farm Board, Washington D.C.: Asks\u00a0help with getting\u00a0Moller to PMSS before Christmas.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_025.jpg]<\/strong> — [n.d.] — Moller to Pettit:\u00a0No visa yet.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_026.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 19, 1929 —\u00a0Christensen to Melville:\u00a0Cannot see a way to help.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_027.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0— Oct 22, 1929 — Pettit to Christensen:\u00a0Thank you.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_028.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct\u00a022, 1929 — Campbell (in West Medford, MA)\u00a0\u00a0to Pettit: (handwritten) Provides\u00a0Christensen’s address: “no immigrant is supposed to be\u00a0coming in to a job. I am not sure how your writing [Christensen]\u00a0would affect Mr. Moller.” Encloses a card from a\u00a0Danish woman with\u00a0a\u00a0nephew who is a farmer.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_029.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 26, 1929 — Pettit to Mrs. Eleonore Bang (in\u00a0Newton, MA): Referred to Pettit by Mrs. Campbell as\u00a0someone who might help PMSS\u00a0secure\u00a0an interim or\u00a0permanent\u00a0farmer.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_030.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 28, 1929 — Christensen to Pettit:\u00a0Returning Moller’s\u00a0postal card.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_031.jpg]<\/strong> [moller_p_bio_032.jpg]<\/strong>\u00a0— [n.d.] — Moller to Pettit:\u00a0Cannot get
\npermission until May or June 1930. The consul in Copenhagen told Moller that the quota (number of\u00a0people per year) has been reduced since his\u00a0application. he’s now #750.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_033.jpg]<\/strong> — Nov 5, 1929 — Moller to Pettit: He’s happy to hear\u00a0Pettit will still hire him at a later date.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_034.jpg]<\/strong> [moller_p_bio_035.jpg]<\/strong> — [n.d.] —\u00a0Moller to Pettit:\u00a0Christmas card showing flowers and Denmark stamp; (handwritten) note from Moller.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_036.jpg]<\/strong> — Dec 31, 1929 — Pettit to Moller:\u00a0See you next June. “In the
\nmeantime we have secured one of our old boys to\u00a0come and manage the outside work….”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_037.jpg]<\/strong> — Jan 10, 1930 — Melville to Christensen:\u00a0Can you help\u00a0Moller get here in June?<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_038.jpg]<\/strong> — Jan 14, 1930 — Christensen to Melville: Moller\u00a0will have to wait his turn. If he were a professor maybe\u00a0he could get an exemption.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_039.jpg]<\/strong> — Jan 20, 1930 — Melville to Christensen: Moller\u00a0is not a professor, but a farmer.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_040.jpg]<\/strong> — Jan 31, 1930 — Pettit to Moller: We need a\u00a0definite arrival date by end of April if you’re coming in\u00a0June. Otherwise, we’ll have to hire someone else.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_041.jpg]<\/strong> — Feb\u00a021, 1930 — [in Danish] American consulate to Moller.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_042.jpg]\u00a0[moller_p_bio_043.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— March 2, 1930 — Moller to Pettit: Translates
\n2\/21\/1930 letter from consulate\u00a0which states he is\u00a0#420, and will get\u00a0visa about 1931.\u00a0Moller asks, Can you please wait? Handwritten note from Lange echoes\u00a0Moller’s plea.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_044.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— March 14, 1930 — Pettit to Moller: Trying to get a\u00a0Danish man in US to fill in until Moller\u00a0arrives. Pettit\u00a0writes that she’s leaving Pine Mt.\u00a0and\u00a0will be\u00a0replaced by [Hubert] Hadley<\/a>;\u00a0visiting California, then\u00a0returning to PMSS\u00a0to fill in at the\u00a0extension center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_045.jpg]\u00a0[moller_p_bio_046.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— April 13, 1930 — Moller to Pettit: Maybe
\nwe’ll meet in 1932 when you return. Sent his photo.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_047.jpg] <\/strong>— June 13, 1930 — Moller to Pettit:\u00a0Heard from\u00a0consular service that if he passes the\u00a0exams\u00a0he\u00a0can go to\u00a0US in Sept.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_048.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— June 27, 1930 — Hadley to Moller:\u00a0Pettit no\u00a0longer at Pine Mt.; trying to get a temporary farmer until end of\u00a0January. We need to know whether Sept is definite.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_049.jpg]<\/strong> — July 25, 1930 — Moller to Hadley: Passed the\u00a0exams and\u00a0have the papers for US arrival middle of\u00a0Nov.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_050.jpg]<\/strong>— Aug 13, 1930 — Hadley to Moller: Letter of\u00a0welcome; keep us informed; bring warm clothing and\u00a0flashlight.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_051.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— Sept 1930 — Moller to Hadley: Will arrive in KY\u00a0Nov 15. Will catch steamer out from Southampton on\u00a0Oct 30, arrive in NY six days later, stay with Danish\u00a0friend in NY.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_052.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— Sept 1, 1930 — Hadley to Moller: We\u00a0need you\u00a0before end of Oct; we are understaffed; need to “make money in woodworking dept to help pay for the\u00a0manual training work we give our boys.”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_053.jpg]<\/strong> — Oct 5, 1930 — Moller to Hadley: Cannot arrive earlier: “…the last year I have been\u00a0working in the distributing department of a firm dealing\u00a0with agricultural products, and besides that I have my\u00a0mother’s farm to take care of….”<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_054.jpg]<\/strong>— May 18, 1931 — Campbell to\u00a0Evelyn Wells<\/a>\u00a0[Acting Director]:\u00a0Moller should visit with Georg to learn\u00a0about managing many tasks.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_055.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— June 1, 1931 — Contract between PMSS\u00a0and\u00a0Peder Moller: “…salary of $110.00 a month and living\u00a0(Laundry $1.00 a month) with one month’s vacation\u00a0with pay in every twelve months.” Signed by Wells\u00a0and Moller.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_056.jpg]\u00a0<\/strong>— June 1, 1931 — Memo from Wells to the Director:\u00a0“Mr. Moller says that we must have a new bull as\u00a0soon as possible.” Decided that “Ayrshire cattle are\u00a0the most practical breed” for the School.<\/p>\n

[moller_p_bio_057.jpg]<\/strong> — PHOTO OF PETER MOLLER<\/p>\n

\n

See Also\u00a0PEDER MOLLER<\/a>\u00a0[MUELLER] Biography<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GALLERY: Peder Moller Correspondence<\/h3>\n\n\t\t