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Nielsen, Waldemar A., 1917 - 2005

 Person

Biography

Waldemar A. Nielsen was a Trustee of the Nightingale-Bamford School in the mid-1960s (approximately 1962 - 1964). He occasionally spoke to students about his causes, interests, and travels, such as contemporary Chinese politics and art and Yugoslavia. His wife, Marcia Nielsen, worked as a college advisor at Nightingale, and their daughter, Signe, graduated in 1968.

The Nielsens created the Nielsen Service Award in 1987, to be awarded annually to an Upper School student whose contribution and commitment to community service and engagement are outstanding.

In 1992, the Nielsens gifted Nightingale five works of art by young Chinese artists painted in China between the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1977 and the Massacre of Tienanmen Square in 1989.

It was Nielsen's original idea for Audrey Goode and Betty Hamilton to open a country store upon their retirement from the school and sell antiques and art. He even supplied some of the original inventory. (See Nightingale-Bamford Newsletter, Spring 1987, p. 2)

Professionally, Nielsen was considered an expert on philanthropy, authoring "The Big Foundations" (1972) and "The Golden Donors," (1985), influential books about charitable organizations and their operations. Nielsen worked for the U.S. government promoting the Marshall Plan, the Ford Foundation, and the African-American Institute, writing several books on issues facing Africa in the 1960s. He lated started his own firm consulting on corporate social policy. (See Wolfgang Saxon, 4 Nov. 2005, "Waldemar Nielsen, Expert on Philanthropy, Dies at 88," New York Times)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Photograph of Waldemar Nielson, Betty Hamilton, and Audrey Goode '39, 1987

 Item — Box: 01025
Identifier: 001 004 000 19 0067
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Group: Faculty and Staff Records consist of records mainly pertaining to Nightingale employees (excepting administration) and their roles within the school. Included are newsletters by and/or for faculty members, biographical information and news clippings about faculty/staff, photographs and video recordings featuring faculty/staff, correspondence, lists of faculty and staff members, faculty handbooks, minutes from faculty meetings and summaries or notes from such meetings, and curriculum-related...
Dates: 1987

Probate records and will of Waldemar A. Nielsen, 2002

 File — Box: 04040
Identifier: 004 005 003 04 0003
Scope and Contents From the Record Group: The External Relations Record Group is comprised of records related to the Nightingale-Bamford School's communications and relations with outside groups, such as students' parents, alumnae, media and the general public. These include records from the Institutional Advancement office related to the Alumnae Association and fundraising, Parents Association records, and Communications office records including those relevant to the school's branding and image, such as school news publications,...
Dates: 2002