Arthur Sorensen was born August 21, 1908, at Sandefjord, Norway, the son of Oscar and Elisa (Andersen) Sorensen. He had a sister, Ruth, born in 1906 in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Oscar, worked as a ship's carpenter. The family, together and individually, made several trips between New York City and Norway in the early 1900's.
By 1922 the parents had obtained a divorce in Norway, leaving Elisa and the children in Kristiania, Norway; and Oscar living on 53rd Street in Brooklyn. In 1924, at the age of 16, Arthur crossed the Atlantic to join his father, traveling on the Bergensfjord. He was described as a student, "fair, 5'9", with dark hair and blue eyes."
One year later found Arthur and his father living at 278 President Street in Brooklyn, with Oscar working as a carpenter, and Arthur as a "packer". In 1927 Oscar applied for U.S. citizenship, and re-married, to another Norwegian immigrant named Hedvig. At that time Arthur was already living on his own, at 505 65th Street in Brooklyn.
Arthur was granted his U.S. citizenship on April 29, 1952 by the U.S. District Court at Brooklyn. He was then living at 528 48th Street in Brooklyn.
Arthur Sorensen died November 4, 1993, at New York Methodist Hospital, and was buried on Hart Island.
Sources: U.S. Social Security Death Index; U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; U.S. WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Oscar); New York, State Census, 1925; U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995; Selected U.S. Naturalization Records- Original Documents, 1790-1974.