This series holds materials relating to the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, as collected by Luther College Archives. Included are letters, photographs, memorial service programs, realia, and published materials. Not only do these boxes document the history of the United States, but also its affect at Luther College and within the Decorah-area community.

Biographical Note

Located in the small northeast Iowa town of Decorah, Luther College is an undergraduate liberal arts institution of about 2,500 students. The college is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Founded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther offers more than 60 majors and preprofessional and certificate programs leading to the bachelor of arts degree. Its mission statement emphasizes faith, leadership, and community service. Luther College provides equal opportunity for all qualified persons in its educational programs and activities.

Subject/Index Terms

Luther College (Decorah, Iowa)
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - History
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students
Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) - Students - Organizations
United States - History
United States - History - Civil War, 1861-1865
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1914-1918 - Correspondence
World War, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 - Correspondence
World War, 1939-1945 - Memorials
World War, 1939-1945 - Personal Narratives
World War, 1939-1945 - Photographs - Europe
World War, 1939-1945 - Photographs - Pacific

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 7 boxes

Access Restrictions: All materials are available for research.

Use Restrictions: Though we may hold the property rights, Luther College Archives does not hold the copyrights for all materials. Individuals may use materials for non-commercial, private use, but commercial users must secure permissions from the copyright holders and/or Luther College Archives to reproduce, publish, or quote protected materials and photographs. For more information about the Luther College copyright and fair use policy, please visit https://www.luther.edu/copyright/.

Original/Copies Note: Many of the materials in this collection are photocopies or reproductions of published materials, such as newspaper clippings and letters. Originals may be held by the originating publisher or creator. Please note that Luther College may hold property rights to these materials, but may not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation:

Cite unpublished materials: War Letters and Memorabilia, RG00 History Relating to Luther College, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Cite published materials as required by your chosen citation style (Chicago, MLA, APA, etc.).

Finding Aid Revision History: 4/11/2019: Hayley Jackson updated link to copyright policy.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Civil War, 1861-1981],
[Sub-Series 2: World War I, 1916-1956],
[Sub-Series 3: World War II, 1944-1946],
[Sub-Series 4: Vietnam War, 1970-1973],
[All]

Sub-Series 3: World War II, 1944-1946

Materials relating to World War II, including Luther College Memorial programs, photographs of Luther College service men, and AP and Sovfoto photographs from Europe and the Pacific.

Related Material: See also RG15, Papers of Chellis Evenson.

Box 1

Folder 1: Special Commencement for Service Men, 1943

Item 1: Special Commencement Exercises for Service Men Program, 25 March 1943

Folder 2: Luther Memorial Plaque - Copy, 1918, 1945

Item 1: Luther Memorial Plaque, undated: Flyer with an image of the Luther College Memorial Plaque

Folder 3: Luther College Bulletin for Servicemen, 1945

Item 1: Luther College Bulletin for Servicemen, 1945: Creator: Luther College

Folder 4: VE Day Notice - Decorah, IA, Community Program of Thanksgiving at Luther, 1945

Item 1: V-E Day Event Flyer, 1945: Large flyer of V-E Day events, including a parade, community Thanksgiving, church services, and notification of stores closing, courtesy of the Decorah Chamber of Commerce.; Creator: Decorah Chamber of Commerce

Folder 5: Educational Programs for Veterans - Lutheran Colleges, 1945-1946

Item 1: "Educational Programs for Veterans offered by the Luther Colleges of America", 1945: Creator: The National Lutheran Council

Folder 6: Memorial Service - Luther College, 1945-1946

Item 1: Memorial Service - 1945, 13 May 1945
Item 2: Memorial Service - 1946, 31 March 1946

Folder 7: List and Photos of Luther Students Killed in WWII, ca. 1946

Item 1: Listing of Luther College Gold Stars, 1945: Listing of Luther College and area men who were killed in action.
Item 2: Cards with World War II Luther College Gold Stars, 1946: Cards with names of Luther College men who were killed in action. Includes the years they were at Luther.
Item 3: Photo of Almlie, Jofred, undated
Item 4: Photo of Bakken, Ira Odell, undated
Item 5: Photo of Baarstad, Clifford Raymond Theophil, undated
Item 6: Photo of Bickle, Junior, undated
Item 7: Photo of Boe, George Alton, undated
Item 8: Photo of Bolmgren, Donald A., undated
Item 9: Photo of Branae, Harold C., undated
Item 10: Photo of Danks, Olneyu Adelbert, undated
Item 11: Photo of Drew, James Seebach, undated
Item 12: Photo of Eberhart, Richard Thomas, undated
Item 13: Photo of Evjen, Norris Bernett, undated
Item 14: Photo of Gorder, Claremont Ferdinand, undated
Item 15: Photo of Haugrud, Harold Alexander, undated
Item 16: Photo of Ingegretson, Kenneth Leroy, undated
Item 17: Photo of Mace, Maurice Claud, undated
Item 18: Photo of Numedahl, Richard John, undated
Item 19: Photo of Opsvig, John Thomas, undated
Item 20: Photo of Stalland, Knute Preus, undated
Item 21: Photo of Sundahl, George Arnold, undated
Item 22: Photo of Symonds, Robert William, undated
Item 23: Photo of Torgerson, Sydney Marvin, undated
Item 24: Photo of Vail, Homer Wayne, undated
Item 25: Photo of Vold, Herman O., undated
Item 26: Photo of Waggoner, Paul Robert, undated
Item 27: Photo of Wilson, Oswald Richard, undated
Item 28: Photo of Wulfsberg, Rolf Olaf, undated

Folder 8: Scuttlebutt Papers, 1944-1945

Folder 9: Record of Military Service, n.d.

Folder 10: Correspondence, n.d.

Folder 11: War Department Pamphlet, 1945

Folder 12: Maps, n.d.

Item 1: "Luther College Goes to War: Scuttlebutt and the World War II Letters" Volume 1, Edited by Marvin G. Slind, 2008

Item 2: "Luther College Goes to War: Scuttlebutt and the World War II Letter" Volume 2, Edited by Marvin G. Slind, 2008

Box 2: World War II Photographs - Europe, 1944-1945, undated

Originals or Copies Note: These photographs are reproductions and the originals and rights do not belong to Luther College Archives.

Folder 1: AP Photographs - WWII, Europe, January - October 1944: Holds 21 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in Europe.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 2: AP Photographs - WWII, Europe, November - December 1944: Holds 23 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in Europe.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 3: AP Photographs - WWII, Europe, January - March 1945: Holds 49 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in Europe.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 4: AP Photographs - WWII, Europe, March - April 1945: Holds 45 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in Europe.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 5: AP Photographs - WWII, Europe, undated: Holds 5 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in Europe.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 6: Sovfoto - WWII, Europe, undated: Holds 37 Sovfoto, black and white photographs of the Soviet infantry from World War II in Europe.; Creator: SOVFOTO
Folder 7: Sovfoto - WWII, Europe, undated: Holds 32 Sovfoto, black and white photographs of the Soviet infantry from World War II in Europe.; Creator: SOVFOTO

Box 3: World War II Photographs - Pacific, 1944-1945, undated

Originals or Copies Note: These photographs are reproductions and the originals and rights do not belong to Luther College Archives.

Folder 1: AP Photographs - WWII, Pacific, February - December 1944: Holds 30 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in the Pacific.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 2: AP Photographs - WWII, Pacific, January - February 1945: Holds 38 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in the Pacific.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 3: AP Photographs - WWII, Pacific, February - April 1945: Holds 24 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in the Pacific.; Creator: The Associated Press
Folder 4: AP Photographs - WWII, Pacific, undated: Holds 4 AP, black and white photographs from World War II in the Pacific.; Creator: The Associated Press

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Civil War, 1861-1981],
[Sub-Series 2: World War I, 1916-1956],
[Sub-Series 3: World War II, 1944-1946],
[Sub-Series 4: Vietnam War, 1970-1973],
[All]