Hello--So glad this forum exists. I have run into many deadends trying to find out what happened to Kirk Frederick, my Danish grandfather, born Theodor Aage Frederick. He was born in 1888 in Denmark and came over to the US in 1908. He enjoyed a fairly successful concert career as a concert violinist and conductor of silent movie house orchestras in New York City and later St. Louis, Missouri until the Great Depression hit. We understand that he ended up leaving--at least for a time--his music career and--by the 1930 census----he was listing his employment as auditor with a brokerage house. We think he worked for a time in Washington DC as an auditor. We also know--based on a letter written by a family friend--that he lived with Corinne, his wife, and his son (our father), also Kirk Frederick, until the early 1930's after which he left for Borden, Texas. We don't know what happened to him after that.
We know the names of some of his relatives based upon an old address book that my mom kept that belonged to my dad's mom--Corinne. Kirk (Theodor) Frederick's father and mother were Peter and Marie Frederiksen who lived in Frederiksborg. Kirk and Corinne met in the US but came to Copenhagen to give birth to my father, Kirk George Wilhelm Frederick, December 21, 1921 and baptized at Simeons Kirke February 26, 1922. His father, my grandfather, is listed on the birth certificate as Konzert Violinist Theodor Aage Frederick married to Corinne Caroline Schroder. We were surprised to discover the "Theodor Aage" on the birth certificate as he was always known as "Kirk". We do not know if Kirk and Corinne got married in the states or Denmark.
We also have a letter written completely in Danish along with birth certificate which was issued to them by the Frederiksberg Kommunes Dyrtidskontor at Howitzvej 26, Stuen. The address book we had states that my father's godmother was Emilie Kroldrup Slotsgade 19 St. 4760 Vordingborg Denmark. I suspect she may have been Kirk (Theodor's) sister. Emilie had a daughter named Eva Orslev who lived at Knudskoving 62 4760 Vordingberg Denmark and would be the most recent Danish relative we know about. (Though--if she were still alive--she would most likely be in her late 80's or 90's).
My efforts to locate Kirk (Theodor) have been complicated by having found--through Ancestry.com and elsewhere--a Danish violinist of some repute whose name was Aage Theodor Fredericks who also went by Kirk and lived in the US around the same time. I don't think it is the same person. This man's musical career is fairly well documented in the local newspapers in the areas he concertized in. There is no mention of his being married to my grandmother--though he was married to another woman--Myra Elizabeth Ake--also a pianist--who performed with him. My grandmother, Corinne, went on to achieve some musical reknown playing with the St. Louis Symphony, the Mexico City Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony and in Edinburgh Scotland. She was a highly sought after chamber music player. So, if her first husband Kirk continued as a successful musician himself--it doesn't make sense that she wouldn't have known about it. (Especially as this other Kirk--or Aage, as he was known as-- regularly appeared in the papers).
Sorry if this is too long. I don't know what would or could be helpful leads in Denmark. My 84 year old mother really wants us to hook up with our Danish relatives as long as she is well enough to travel. Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts or leads. Best, Logan
this family??
http://www.familytreenow.com/search/census/results?first=Corinne&last=Frederick&dobyyyy=1898&rid=0s0&smck=Ve1A98tSxTGx96rHj6GA0w
Corinne Frederick
Age 32
Birth Year 1898
Birth Place Illinois
Gender Female
Marital Status Married
Census Year 1930
Census Country Us
Event County St. Louis (Independent City)
Event Date 1930
Event Place St Louis (Districts 1-250), St. Louis (Independent City), Missouri
Event Township St Louis (Districts 1-250)
Language English
Father's Birthplace Illinois
Mother's Birthplace Illinois
Race White
Household Role Wife
Relationship Code Wife
Household Members
Name Age Birth Yr Role
K A Frederick 38 1892 Head
K A Frederick 8 1922 Son
SOURCE: FAMILYTREENOW.COM. 1930 US CENSUS RECORDS [ONLINE].
ORIGINAL DATA: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. RECORD GROUP: MISSOURI, FILM NUMBER: 2340976, LINE NUMBER: 90, NARA PUBLICATION NUMBER: T626, NARA MICROFILM ROLL NUMBER: 1241, SHEET LETTER: B, SHEET NUMBER: 2, RECORD NUMBER: 40442.
Census 1940 without hosbond
http://www.familytreenow.com/search/census/results?first=Corinne&last=Frederick&dobyyyy=1898&rid=0sl&smck=Ve1A98tSxTGx96rHj6GA0w
Full Name Corinne Frederick
Image View Census Image
Age 42
Birth Year abt 1898
Birth Place Illinois
Gender Female
Marital Status 7
Relation to Head Head
Census Year 1940
Census Country Us
Address 5264 A Waterman Ave St Louis City, Mo
Enumeration District 96-642
Event State Missouri
Event County St Louis City
Event Place St Louis City, , Mo
Number of Household 28
Race W
Incorporated Place St Louis
Respondent X
Household Members
Name Age Birth Yr Role
Kirk W Frederick 18 1922 Son
SOURCE: FAMILYTREENOW.COM. 1940 US CENSUS RECORDS [ONLINE].
ORIGINAL DATA: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BUREAU OF THE CENSUS. BATCH NAME: M-T0627-02207, SHEET: 1B, LINE NUMBER: 72.
Hi Bente--Thanks so much for your response. Yes, these are the same census records I have of Kirk and Corinne. As you can see, Kirk Sr. (Theodor) is not listed on the 1940 Census. They had separated--and I am trying to discover if he remained in the States or returned to Denmark. Any thoughts or leads are greatly appreciated. Best, Logan
Since my initial entry is so long--I thought I would try and be more concise. I am trying to determine what happened to Theodor post-separation from his wife, Corinne (did he remain in the States? Did he return to Denmark?). I would also like to locate any relatives in Denmark. The only actual record I have for my grandfather--Theodor Aage Frederick (or perhaps Frederiksen, which was the name of his father)--is the baptismal record for his son, my father, Kirk W G Frederick that took place in Copenhagen. My grandmother did eventually divorce Kirk (Theodor) in order to re-marry in the States. But I have not found a record of the divorce. Nor do I have a record of their marriage--which might have taken place in Denmark or the US. (I'm not sure how to search the Danish databases because of the language barrier.) My mother believes that the actual divorce didn't occur until years after they had separated. The last record of Theodor and Corinne that I have come across is from the US 1930 census that lists them and their son living in St. Louis Missouri. I also have names of relatives--grandparents and godparents--addresses and phone numbers from back then. Logan
Hi Logan
I have sent an email to Gerda Nielsen.
Hej
Hans søster Josepha Jørgensen rejste sept. 1894.
Han brors 3 sønner:
Niels Emil Henry Jørgensen rejste maj 1903
Johannes Julius Jørgensen rejste sept. 1908
Carl Joseph Daniel Jørgensen rejste 1917
En anden søsters søn:
Theodor Aage Frederiksen, der som Aage Fredericks blev en berømt musiker i USA, rejste omkring 1900.
mvh Gerda
Hej Gitte
Theodor Aage hører ikke til min slægt, men til min veninde Eva, som jeg har lavet noget slægtsforskning for.
Så vidt jeg fandt ud af, så døde Theodor Aage i USA 19/10 1980 - 91 år gammel.
Venlig hilsen
Gerda
Hi Gitte
Theodor Aage does not belong to my family, but my friend Eva , as I have done some genealogy for .
As far as I found out , then Theodor Aage died in USA 19/10 1980, 91 years old.
sincerely
Gerda
They are married in Belleville?? USA
21. January 1921
Baptism
http://www4.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=155515#155515,25980066
NB "faddere" = Otto Krøldrup + Emilie born Frederiksen + Marie Frederiksen
Born here.
Nr 80
http://www4.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=155949#155949,26088387
From Gerda
You can use Google translate.
Gerda will contact Eva, and maybe then Eva will contact you.
[vedhæfting slettet af admin]
From Gerda
[vedhæfting slettet af admin]
It is too big.
I have sent it to you by mail.
(Indfødselsret)
Hi Gitte--I am overwhelmed and so grateful for your efforts to help me locate our grandfather. Thank you! I am also a bit confused as to a few pieces of information and wonder if you could help clarify.
First, I still wonder if the Aage you are referring to could be the same as our grandfather. I understand that Myra, his first wife, whom he divorced in 1920 lived in the South. My grandmother and Theodor most likely met in the northeast of the USA--New York City, Washington DC--while my grandmother was studying piano. They married in Belleville--my grandmother's home town outside of St. Louis, Missouri--as it states on the baptismal record. As we know, they were married in January 1921 and she gave birth to my father in December of that year. With such a short time line following the divorce of his first wife--and marrying a second he would have had to have met and courted in an entirely other part of the country-- I wonder how this Aage could be one and the same person!
We have a letter from a family friend of my grandmother's sent to my mom after my grandmother--we called her Oma--died in 1980. He recalled spending time with my grandmother, grandfather and my father when they lived in Belleville together. According to this friend, they were together until my father was 9 or 10--a good 10 years. The friend states that my grandfather was having increased difficulty finding work in his field--conducting for movie/ theater houses--because of the advent of the talking pictures. They apparently moved from the East Coast back to the St. Louis/Belleville area where my grandfather found some work with the St. Louis Symphony and the Loew's theater. Eventually, he decided to train in another profession--as an auditor (which is also stated in the 1930 Census in which he is reported to be living with his son and my grandmother in St. Louis. So this Census confirms the duration of their time together). The friend says that he left the family permanently in the early 1930s for a small town--Borden, Texas--and the friend does not know what happened after that.
My understanding from having read the many archived newspaper entries on Aage Fredericks is that he worked consistently--and successfully--as a reknowned violinist in the southern states--North Carolina, and that area. How could he have done that and also had a job as an auditor? Why would there have been no mention of his second wife and son--especially if they lived together for 10 years--in St. Louis! Can you see how I am confused and thinking this might not be the same person?
Thankfully--the one record that you sent to me does clearly document that his godparents were Otto Kruldrup, Emilie Fredericsen and Marie Fredericksen. Do you think there is a way to determine whether they were relatives or friends? Do you think this knowledge could help me to locate some existing relatives?
Thanks again so much for you help. I will look forward to receiving the larger document. Are you sending it by mail? I would be happy to reimburse for postage. It would go to--Logan Frederick 451 Wayne Ave. #2 Oakland, CA 94606. I look forward to staying in touch. Best, Logan
First.
I have send the document by email to ifsworker(snabela)gmail.com??
Second.
Gerda and Eva say, that it is the same man.
I will hope for you, that Eva contacts you, because I am just a messenger ;).
I really don't know much about him.
The parents to this man are Peter og Karen Marie Frederiksen.
Again, I hope, that Eva will contact you.
Karen Marie and Peter Frederiksen had a daughter, named Emilie Dagmar, born in 1892.
She was married to Otto Krøldrup.
They got a daughter, Eva.
Aage is her uncle.
I have sent more on email.
Marriage
Emilie + Otto Krøldrup
Nr. 79
http://www4.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=155523#155523,25982719
Dagmar Emilie
nr. 143
http://www4.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=157797#157797,26490190
Theodor Aage
nr. 138
http://www4.sa.dk/ao/billedviser?bsid=157788#157788,26488016
A little bit more from Gerda
U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 about Angus Frederick
Name: Angus Frederick ( Aage ? )
Birth Date: 7 Sep 1889
Death Date: 19 Oct 1980
SSN: 579014144
Branch 1: ARMY
Enlistment Date 1: 13 May 1918
Release Date 1: 13 Dec 1918
North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000 about James Theodore Frederick
Name: James Theodore Frederick
Event Type: Birth
Birth Date: 1920
Birth County: Mecklenburg
Parent1 Name: T A Frederick ( Theodor Aage Frederick ? )
Roll Number: NCVR_B_C065_66001
More
I have papers from later in 1920 where he is still giving concerts, so whatever the illness, it wasn't fatal. In fact, here's one from 20 Oct which has him and Miss Schroeder (his next wife) giving a concert in Alvarado, Minn.
This one, also from the Indiana Gazette, on 17 September 1920 mentions "Miss Ake" accompanying him during the Lyceum series. Maybe the end of that relationship had more to do with the cancellation than illness?
Here are some Fredericks informations from an earlier thread. see Gerda Nielsen, Kirsten Thomas and Verner.
https://www.slaegtogdata.dk/forum/index.php/topic,550.390.html
Aage Fredericks concert.
http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201918/Saratoga%20Springs%20NY%20Saratogian%201918%20-%200222.pdf
Verner
Great information. Thanks everyone! A couple of questions--Gitte I would love to see the two articles you refer to in your last entry--especially the one featuring Aage and Miss Schroeder. I did not see any links or attachments. Did I miss something? Mr. Bentsen--thank you for your contributions and links. I was not able to open the first link. Would you mind rechecking it?
I think seeing the article on Aage and Miss Schroeder will really enable me--in my head--to start putting these two together. (Would, of course, be great to have photos). Mr. Fredericks seems to have been quite the ladies man! With a preference for female accompanists......:)
Hi Logan.
Sorry, but my first link can only be opened by members and it's also in Danish.
Maybe Gitte and others can find useful informations.
Verner
Hi Logan
You will find many photos on this site:
http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/tc/id/24269/rec/1
and here:
http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/search/mode/all/?searchterm=aage+fredericks
Gerda
This newspaper with miss Schroeder
http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/84096855/
About Corinne Schroeder:
http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/tc/id/16211/rec/1
Gerda
Hi
Do you know ?:
On 29 May 1918 Myra end Aage married in New Orleans and they got in 1920 a son, James Theodore. Shortly after the boy's birth was Aage and Myra divorced and she took the boy into a new marriage with William Ivy Rankin, after which the boy got surname Rankin.
William Rankin said consistently that James was his son and Myra forbade James ever to contakt his biological father.
James died 89 year old.
Gerda
Hi Gerda--Yes, I did know about Myra remarrying William Ivy Rankin from the Rankin's family tree posted on Ancestry.com. Did not know about Myra forbidding the son James to be in touch with his father, Aage. Would be interested to know how you discovered that information? Best, Logan
Gerda--Thank you so much for the pictures via the University of Iowa archives. Especially the ones of my grandmother and her sister. Those have special meaning for me and my family. Thank you so much. Logan
Hi
I don't remember ! - sorry.
Gerda
Hi--Thanks to all who have helped me determine who my grandfather Theodor Aage was. It would have taken me forever to try and do on my own. I am now well-positioned for the next leg of the journey--to determine where he ended up after he and my grandmother split in the early 1930's. Wish me luck! Best, Logan
Hi Logan
I tried to send you an email with death certificates for Kirk Frederick and his last wife, but it came back.
I send to ifsworker@gmail.com what is your real email address ?
Gerda
Hej Gerda.
Tryk på konvolutten ved Logans navn, så får du den rigtige adresse.
Jeg tror der står lfs og ikke ifs
Verner
lfs@gmail.com kommer også retur ! - øv
Jeg har sendt og modtaget flere mails til/fra Logan fra den adresse der står ved kuvert, så den skulle være god nok.
Citat fra: Gerda Nielsen [1305] Dato 23 Jul 2015 - 19:26
lfs@gmail.com kommer også retur ! - øv
Gerda, hans adresse er lfsworker@
Hej
Ja, jeg havde kludret gevaldig, men nu er det ok
mvh Gerda
Quote from Logan's first message:
We also have a letter written completely in Danish along with birth certificate which was issued to them by the Frederiksberg Kommunes Dyrtidskontor at Howitzvej 26, Stuen. The address book we had states that my father's godmother was Emilie Kroldrup Slotsgade 19 St. 4760 Vordingborg Denmark. I suspect she may have been Kirk (Theodor's) sister. Emilie had a daughter named Eva Orslev who lived at Knudskoving 62 4760 Vordingberg Denmark and would be the most recent Danish relative we know about. (Though--if she were still alive--she would most likely be in her late 80's or 90's).
Unquote
Hello Logan,
Do you know when Eva ORSLEV lived at this address?
Are you sure of the name ORSLEV?
And about the name of the road i.e. Knudskoving ?
You have now learned a lot about your ancestors in Denmark.
These questions are to get back to your initial research to find and contact family members
in Denmark.
Hi again Logan,
Two futher questions to add to my former message.
Could the Eva's family name be Ørslev in stead of Orslev?
And the road where she lived be Knudsskovvej in stead of Knudskoving?
Wow. I didn't know people were still posting here on my and my family's behalf. Thanks everybody! My email--should anyone want to contact me--is lfsworker@gmail.com. This geneology stuff is not for the faint at heart. Persistence, persistence.....
Just for the record--even though my name sounds male, I am female. An old American Southern custom (on my Mom's Scots-Irish side) to name girls with family last names.
Re-the last post--I think it's very possible that the spellings we had of Kroldrup and the streets name could have been changed. We here in America--the land of reinvention--seemed to historically have no problem with changing people's names to something we could pronounce. (Aage Frederick was pretty good with that, as well. Though--I am impressed with how long he hung onto Aage--since the difficulty and strange soundingness of that name--in the States--I don't think would have contributed much to his career).
Eva Kroldrup most likely lived at the address I listed in an earlier post in the late teens and early 20's of the 20th Century. Corinne probably got to know them when she and Aage were in Copenhagen for the birth of my father, Kirk, and his christening.
Marian Hill here in California has suggested that I post who I'm looking for on the Ancestry.com Rootsweb Denmark list as a preliminary way to find current relatives. And, as someone on this forum suggested--if that doesn't work--to check the phone book in Copenhagen.
Thanks so much for all the help. I will definitely post on here when I make a connection with a (living!) Danish relative. Best, Logan
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