A unique insight into colonial history
For almost 250 years Denmark was a colonial power in the West Indies. From the founding of the colony in 1672 to the sale of the islands to the USA in 1917. This is an introduction to aspects of the history of the Danish West Indies, which will be helpful to you if you would like to know more about the subject or if you want to search the digitized records from the colony.
History
For almost 250 years Denmark was a colonial power in the West Indies. From the founding of the colony in 1672 to the sale of the islands to the USA in 1917. This is an introduction to aspects of the history of the Danish West Indies, which will be helpful to you if you would like to know more about the subject or if you want to search the digitized records from the colony.
Search the records
This is where you can search in about 5 million image files of records from the Danish West Indies across the databases of the Danish National Archives. The 5 million image files of digitally scanned records are made up of 15,000 series of images and contain 130,000 transcribed entries. Before you begin your search, take a look at the search guides.
About
In 2017 it is 100 years ago Denmark sold the Danish West Indies to the USA. This website marks the year by presenting the original documents and sources, and by communicating the history of the colonial era. Here you find more information on the structure of the website, the digital scanning of the records, which records are held in the Danish National Archives and in other institutions, and about how volunteers work to transcribe the records and make them easier to search.
Teaching
Online teaching material with historical sources about the Danish slave trade. There are sources about the purchase of slaves in Africa, the voyage across the Atlantic, and the slave trade on the three West Indian islands. The material can be used in history teaching in the primary school.
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Personal history
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Ownership history
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Slavery
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Colonial power
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Trade and shipping
Temaer
Personal history
Here you can read about the population in the colony. The texts focus on the demographic development through the colonial era and on how significant events in the lives of individual people were recorded, such as births, marriages and funerals.
Personal history