The Danish West Indies - the short story of a vast history

The Danish National Archives has digitized the historical sources of the Danish West Indies. The Virgin Islands were a Danish colony for nearly 250 years before they were sold to the United States in 1917.
In this film Erik Goebel, a senior researcher and archivist at the National Archives i Denmark, gives a short introduction to the history of the colony.
Explore the sources and get the stories of the Danish West Indies here: www.virgin-islands-history.org/
Would you like to key or tag the sources from the Danish West Indies? Read about the National Archives crowdsourcing here: cs.sa.dk/

[@classiclistener01]

Very informative video...concise and to the point. Thank you for posting! :)

[@michelelorken1895]

My ancestry hails from Danish occupation of St Croix from the 1700s. Thank you for making these records available. I’ve now located my great, great grandfather. Although he was a European plantation overseer on St Croix, I’m not proud of the slavery aspect of the time. Slavery displaced so many people, a massive human rights violation.

[@guffeluffe5987]

There is not a single person on the planet who has no ancestors who did bad things

[@ppickering]

My family comes from st Thomas by way of being
With a branch from st Croix

[@SusannaRichards]

My grandfather stood beside the flagpole as the Danish flag came down and the American flag rose up. His grandfather was Danish, but he is primarily a mystery to my generation. I have been researching our African and Danish roots and have found it daunting to learn more about our Danish roots. Thank you kindly for posting!

[@miguelgeorgemorales6133]

Are you related to the Richards , Neptune , Aston Richards family in Saint Thomas

[@SusannaRichards]

@@miguelgeorgemorales6133 The Danish ancestor was called Tah Wollah. He and his three brothers spelled there surnnames three different ways: Millen, Milliner and Mylner. Two married black women who were former slaves.

[@miguelgeorgemorales6133]

@@SusannaRichards that’s why I’m having difficulty to build up my family tree , but yes I’m related to the Richards and Sprauve family

[@abrahamdiegogaudramirez]

Lovely work guys! Thanks

[@cvxcfv]

Appreciate the upload. I learned something new today!~

[@guayames]

Interesting, the historic books of my area of Puerto Rico, southeastern Guayama, has a history of comercial connections with Saint Thomas more important than with the capital of San Juan during the early 19th century. It was easier to reach Saint Thomas by boat than San Juan by land. The hacendados depended on the Saint Thomas banks during that time. By the way, my ancestor reached Guayama by traveling from France to Denmark and then by boat to Saint Thomas and crossing from there to Guayama. Thanks for this video. Dr. Andres Anglade Delannoy

[@makisov]

Thank you.

[@ppickering]

I used to hear my Grandparents talk about BACK IN DAIN MAN TIMES

[@stephenchristensen4323]

My Great Grand Father Christian Thomas Christensen was born in the Danish West Indies, can anyone please give me any information as to try and track down his family and history. I am really interested in finding my family roots. I am a 20 year defence member in the Royal Australian Air Force.

[@masbeetleboy9169]

Sounds like your great grad father might have lived on St.Criox. The Danes only gave two names to their kings, Christian and Frederick. St.Croix has two townships, Fredericksted on the west end and Christiansted on the east. Each town had and still has a fort. I hope this helps you out.

[@fernandadiaz1132]

You should try Family search to track down your grand father history

[@marlene97280]

Hello from Martinique !
I dont knew before Trump after Maria, thats Virgin island was Danisj

[@miguelgeorgemorales6133]

My name is Miguel I’m interest in knowing a littler bit more about Neptune Richards and his family in Saint John and about the Sprawve Family in the island im working with my family tree

[@christianprottenuldrich1512]

Wulff joseph wulff

[@jasonpalacios2705]

All I think about is Lars Ulrich from Metallica.

[@henrikpersson1962]

If Denmark had kept the Danish Westindies it could have been a vacation paradise for the Danish.

[@gatheringleaves]

Should Denmark give reparations for the descendants of people enslaved in the Danish West Indies?

[@Vestegnenforlife]

No

[@genrichyagoda715]

Dont worry we will turn denmark islamic

[@jonasolsen1668]

No

[@HebrewHakaishin]

You Danes didnt get away with slavery of my ancestors! Karma exist and God will bring it!

[@Impact36027]

nobody cares about scheeetskins

[@calmish5090]

Hours of speech... successfully avoid the mention of Slavery, congratulations.

[@guffeluffe5987]

He litteraly talks about it?