Background
Christianson, John Robert was born on January 21, 1934 in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. Son of Kenneth Orvin Christianson and Marian Christine Peterson.
Christianson, John Robert was born on January 21, 1934 in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. Son of Kenneth Orvin Christianson and Marian Christine Peterson.
Bachelor, Minnesota State University, 1956. Master of Arts, University Minnesota, 1959. Doctor of Philosophy, University Minnesota, 1964.
Assistant professor history University South Dakota, Vermillion, 1964—1966. Chair department Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, 1967—1983, associate professor, 1967—1972, professor history, 1972—1996, research professor history, since 1996. Vice president, executive board Norwegian-American History Association, Northfield, Minnesota, 1993—1999.
Assistant director, college liaison Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah, Iowa, 1969—1996. Commissioner for Iowa Nordmanns-Forbundet, Oslo, 1991—1996. Visiting assistant professor University Minnesota, Minneapolis, 1966—1967.
Private first class United States Army, 1958-1960.
Chairman, member steering committee 5 Norwegian royal visits, Decorah, Iowa, 1968—1999. Member of Institute Agricultural Biodiversity (board directors 1991-1997), Danish American Heritage Society 1998—2010, (editor journal, 1998-2002, 2009-2010), Norwegian-American History Association (executive board 1971—2004), Symra Literature Society (president 1967—2009), Phi Beta Kappa.
Married Birgitte Povelsen, June 20, 1964. Children: Erik-Kenneth Gyde, Paul Frederik Gyde.