Hartvig Nissen (gymnast)

Hartvig Nissen in 1921

Hartvig Nissen (1857-1924) introduced the study of Swedish Gymnastics to the United States in 1883.

Nissen School

President of the Posse Nissen School of Gymnastics 1915 - 1921

Childhood

Born on a Sunday, mid July, 1857, [probably July 19] in "Kongshavn" -- King's Haven near Christiana (Oslo), Norway, close by the fjord with Ekeberg—a small mountain—right behind it. His father was owner and head principal of a private school with 700 boys and 300 girls. Hartvig was the 8th child in a family of 10 children. He graduated high school in 1872. An injured eye, from a childhood snow ball fight, prevented him from entering military school.

Youth

He was confirmed in the church in spring of 1872. As a young man he joined the following clubs: the Merchant's Club, Singing Club, Christiania [Oslo] Turnforening or Gymnastics Club. The first class that he taught in physical training was on April 15, 1875. He taught gymnastics as Instructor of Gymnastics in the Latin School of Drammen, and in the Gymnastic Clubs of the Cites of Drammen, Holmestrand. and Kongsberg in Norway, Europe. Later he was Assistant Teacher and Principal of [Turnforening].

In about 1879 he studied the German system of gymnastics in Dresden, Saxony. In the late 1870s until he left Norway in January 1883 he was considered the strongest gymnast in Norway.

His father, Hartvig Nissen, was made chief of public schools of Norway in 1867. His father died on February 4, 1874 of heart failure. Hartvig left Christiana [Oslo] on January 26, 1883 for the USA. He arrived in New York City on February 15, 1883.

He recalls his youthful life year later in the United States: "Why did I leave my nice home, my dear mother, sisters and brothers, my many friends? I was already considered an authority on physical training in Norway. I had a fairly good income, and my private business was growing was well as my reputation. I was well satisfied and enjoyed life in that beautiful country. Why then take such a sudden decision, break off everything, and start a new struggle in a big strange country? ...

My idea was to stay in the United States a few years, make a fortune and go back to Norway as an experienced and rich man. I have got the experience and I am a rich man in many ways but not in gold. ... Often have I had my bitter hours and remonstrated with myself for being so hasty and foolish in my younger days. I have worked ten times harder here in this country, than I ever did in Norway and many a time felt tired out. And especially so when I noticed how my pupils, born Americans, would go ahead, take the honor and fat places, while I, the foreigner, who had taught them, was kept back. ...

But I am satisfied. I found an excellent, dear wife, and we raised four fine boys, who all are settled and have families.

And since I became the President of 'Posse' School I feel happy, these young people make me young, and I live and work for their interest. That fills my life now."

Working Days in Washington, D.C.

New York City was too noisy for him and he soon decided to go to Washington, DC where he arrived Sunday, March 4th, 1883. "...early Sunday morning, everything was quiet except for some chickens in the yards."

He hired two nice rooms on the first floor in 1314 "I" Street, N.W. and began to study English up to one and tow o'clock at night. Through the Swedish and Norwegian minister he got a couple of good patients the next day, and also good letters of recommendation to several physicians.

A few days after arriving in DC he visited the German Gymnastic Club and obtained a position teaching a class of 14 ladies. In a couple of weeks he had 50 students, women from the ages of 13 to 50. He also gave classes in the Franklin School until spring of 1885.

The following September 1883 he opened a gymnasium in an armory on "E" street between 9 and 10 N.W.

The 4th of January, 1884, he gave an exhibition in his gymnasium by high school girls and boys, --- Swedish gymnastics, wands, dumbbells, fancy steps, folk dances and games. This was the first time Swedish gymnastics and folk dances were exhibited in the United States.

He read about General Grant's fall in New York on Xmas Eve, 1883, and the diagnosis of rheumatism. When Grant came to Fort Monroe, Virginia for treatment, he got a letter of introduction via the Swedish and Norwegian Minister. (Hartvig was Vice-Consul for those countries.) He treated the general with massage for about five weeks.

He became very busy, working 18 hour days treating Diplomats, Secretaries, Senators, Congressmen and their wives and daughters. In September 1883 he hired the three-story building at 903 16th street, two blocks from the White House, and named it "The Swedish Health Institute." He married a Swedish lady, Miss Helene Peterson, in summer 1884. She had been his assistant since he opened the institute. They spent their honeymoon making repairs and painting apparatus at the institute.

In Boston

Director of Massage Department of Boston City Hospital
Posse Nissen School
girls field hockey in high schools
Four children

Mottoes

"If you want a thing well done, do it yourself."
"If a thing is worth doing, do it well."
"Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do to-day."
"Always be on time, and don't let others keep you waiting."

He said that "I may have lost on some of these, but in the long run I have gained, ..."

Bibliography

Nissen has an extensive bibliography. His best know books include:

• ABC of the Swedish System of Educational Gymnastics: A Practical Hand-Book for School Teachers and the Home
• Gymnastic Systems
• Health by Exercises without Apparatus
• Practical Massage and Corrective Exercises with Applied Anatomy
• Rational Home Gymnastics
• School Gymnastic-Card System
• A Manual on Swedish Movements and Massage Treatments

References

• AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Hartvig Nissen, February 15, 1921 (privately published
• ABC of the Swedish Educational Gymnastics. A PRACTICAL HAND-BOOK FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS AND THE HOME. by Hartvig Nissen, 1892 by the Educational Publishing Company, Boston.