Pieter Vandenbergh was born in Bussum, The Netherlands on January 9, 1886. He emigrated to Winnipeg, Canada in 1906 with his parents and eight younger brothers and sisters. In 1908 the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where Vandenbergh would remain for the majority of his life. On March 25, 1916, Pieter married Edith Sylvania Blomquist.
Vandenbergh was an active member of the community in Minneapolis, particularly the labor and cooperative movements. Both Vandenbergh and his wife were active members of various cooperative organizations such as credit unions, insurance cooperatives, and related consumer groups. As a painter at the Nicollet Hotel, Pieter was an active member of the Painters' Union Local 386. He was also a member of the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis.
Vandenbergh and his wife moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1966. Pieter Vandenbergh died on October 1, 1981 — his wife died that same year. Both are buried in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Collection Description
The collection consists of two boxes containing various letters, notes, clippings, correspondence and related archival materials from Mr. Vandenbergh's life. Major topics include the labor and cooperative movements in Minneapolis as well as personal materials related to Vandenbergh's life and family.
Letter From Mary Vandenbergh Schwalbach October 11th, 1986
Scope and Contents note
Letter from Pieter Vandenbergh's daughter, Mary Vandenbergh Schwalbach, to Dorothy Burke at the Minneapolis Public Library. Provides a broad overview of the materials included in the collection.
Panoramic Photo June 1946
Scope and Contents note
"Minneapolis, Minnesota - Armory - Victory Sangerfest and Convenention - Norwegian Singers Association of America - Pieter Vandenbergh - Rear Middle Right"
Panoramic Photo (2) 1914(?)
Scope and Contents note
Photograph of the Painters Union dated 1914.
Cooperatives and Painters Union -- Box 1, Folder 1
Friends -- Box 1, Folder 2
Photos -- Box 1, Folder 3
Papers - Cooperatives -- Box 1, Folder 4
Papers - Cooperatives (2) -- Box 1, Folder 5
Papers -- Box 1, Folder 6
Papers - Social, Ethnic -- Box 1, Folder 7
Biographical -- Box 1, Folder 8
Photograph May 2nd, 1953 -- Box 2
General note
"Midwest Male Chorus Sing - May 2, 1953 - Milwaukee, Wis."
Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America Membership Certificate July 21, 1949 -- Box 2
Papers - Contents -- Box 2
General note
A complete item-by-item listing for each folder of materials written by Vandenbergh's daughter (ostensibly at the time they were donated).
Central High School -- Box 2
Group Health -- Box 2
Labor Movement, Painters' Union Local 386, Mpls. -- Box 2
Political -- Box 2
Sunset Memorial Park, Mpls. -- Box 2
Minnesota Memorial Society, 900 Mount Curve Ave. -- Box 2
Social Concerns -- Box 2
Minneapolis and Minneapolis History -- Box 2
Witter, Ella (Central High Teacher) -- Box 2
Vandenbergh's Golden Wedding Anniversary, Mar. 1966 -- Box 2
Co-op Movement -- Box 2
Musical -- Box 2
Musical (2) -- Box 2
Musical - Sheet Music -- Box 2
Musical - Sheet Music (2) -- Box 2
First Unitarian Society, Religious -- Box 2
Social Security -- Box 2
Nicollet Hotel -- Box 2
University of Minnesota -- Box 2
Metropolitan Life Insurance -- Box 2
Minneapolis Savings and Loan -- Box 2
Historical - Humphrey Clips -- Box 2
Labor Movement - Painters' Union Local 386 (2) -- Box 2
Educational -- Box 2
Emigration -- Box 2
Ethnics -- Box 2
Family - Relatives -- Box 2
Vandenbergh, Edith Blomquist -- Box 2
Credit Union -- Box 2
Mutual Service Insurance -- Box 2
Group Health - Mutual Life Insurance - Mid-America Mutual -- Box 2
Co-op Movement (2) -- Box 2
Friends -- Box 2
Wilson-McShane Corp, Mpls. Painting Industry, Health and Welfare -- Box 2
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