Exhibit at the Danish American Archive and Library Presented by The Danish American Archive and Library and The Rural Lit RALLY Initiative

Sophus Keith Winther was born in Denmark in 1893; his family moved to the United States in 1895, living first in Massachusetts, then moving to Nebraska, and finally settling in Oregon in The Winthers became naturalized citizens in His education included a B.A. in English and an M.A. at the University of Oregon, and he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in Winther married Mabel Eline Peterson that same year. After becoming an instructor at the University of Washington, he would remain there for 41 years. Although he taught courses in Victorian literature, he was interested in and urged the teaching of contemporary literature. This interest led him to the works of Eugene O’Neill; after Winther was granted an interview with O’Neill, the two men became lifelong friends. Winther was a prolific writer, producing the novels Take All to Nebraska (1936), Mortgage Your Heart (1937), and This Passion Never Dies (1939), which form a trilogy depicting the rural life of a Danish family in Nebraska experiencing fluctuating grain prices that ultimately drive them into bankruptcy, a common occurrence during the time. A fourth book in the trilogy was never published; the manuscript is housed in a collection of Winther’s works held by The Danish American Archive and Library. Among his other works are Beyond the Garden Gate and The Realistic War Novel. His one non-fiction work is Eugene O’Neill: A Critical Study (New York: Random House, 1934). In 1980, Winther received The Western Literature Association’s Distinguished Achievement Award. Terminally ill with cancer, Sophus Keith Winther ended his own life on May 10, 1983, in Seattle, Washington. Interesting facts: Winther adopted the middle name of “Keith” in order to have an Americanized name in hopes of not being teased so much in school. It did not have the desired effect. Dr. Winther was interviewed by the Canwell Committee as part of the Washington State Joint Legislative Fact- Finding Committee on Un-American Activities, Second Report: Un-American Activities in Washington State (Olympia, 1948). He was the only professor to provide names to the committee out of fear that he would lose his job if he did not testify against his colleagues. For more information, and to read his testimony, visit: ld%20War%20&%20Red%20Scare/VII.html