This series is arranged into 14 sub-series:

1) Governance Records (1850-1917)

2) Financial Records (1859-1902)

3) Correspondence (1849-1896)

4) Proceedings and Papers of Synod Meetings (1863-1917)

5) Conference Records (1864-1917)

6) District Meeting Records (1874-1890)

7) Institutional Records (1866-1912)

8) Special Events (1903-1998)

9) Publications (1877-1943)

10) Pastor's Papers (1863-1918)

11) Congregational Records (1849-1947)

12) Missions (1880-1881)

13) Photographs (1878-1910)

14) Lutheran Women's Caucus (1981-1983)

The Norwegian Lutheran Synod was organized October 3-7, 1853.  This synod organized 18,000 Norwegian immigrants who had immigrated to southeastern Wisconsin since 1825.  Pastor A. C. Preus was elected as the first synod president.  The synod was founded with the purpose of encouraging the growth of sound, orthodox Lutheranism in America.

The Norwegian Synod grew rapidly after the American Civil War, when Norwegian immigration increasd.  In 1903, the synod had 280 pastors serving 900 congregations with 140,000 members.  The synod established Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1861.  In 1876, it opened a seminary in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 1917, 338 of the 351 synod pastors withdrew to merge with two other Norwegian synods and form the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America.  The thirteen remaining pastors reorganized as the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Pastor B. Harstad served as the first president.

In 1958, the synod changed its name to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, as a result of many congregations losing their Norwegian character.  The Evangelical Lutheran Synod has been involved in missionary work around the United States and around the world.