The Papers of Orville Running

The Papers of Orville Running, 1991 | Luther College Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: The Papers of Orville Running, 1991

ID: LCA/RG15/Running, O

Primary Creator: Running, Orville (1910-2012)

Extent: 10.21 Linear Feet. More info below.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Documentation consists of correspondence regarding St. Olaf honorary degree; newspaper clippings, 1991.

Biographical Note

Orville Magnus Running was born September 19, 1910, in Veblen, South Dakota, to the Rev. Alfred Running and Julia Sophia Olson Running. His father was a Lutheran pastor and his mother a teacher and musician. While his parents were born in America, the family had ties to the Trondheim and Nordfjord areas in Norway. After living in Montana and Idaho, the family moved to Zumbrota, Minnesota, in 1925 where he graduated from high school before earning a bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN) in 1931. He graduated from Luther Theological Seminary in 1934 and was ordained in July of that year.

Running served as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Tacoma, Washington, and Christ Lutheran Church in Chicago, where he renewed his interest in art by attending night classes at the Chicago Art Institute. In 1946 he signed a contract with Luther College to "instruct in art and religious education," and for the next 30 years worked as head of the art department to build a viable art program at the college. The faculty senate voted to institute an art major at Luther in 1957. As part of his efforts to develop the art major, he expanded the faculty and equipment for the Art Department. Along with Dean Schwarz, former Art Department faculty member, he handcrafted 42 potter’s wheels using a design by master potter Marguerite Wildenhain. He also helped build easels for painting and tables for drawing. He oversaw construction of a kilnhouse and designed a press that allowed the College to offer classes in printmaking.

In 1950 he earned an M.F.A. degree from the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa, Iowa City) where he studied under James Lechay, Stuart Edie, and Mauricio Lasansky, among others. He returned to the Chicago Art Institute during the summer of 1956 to work with Briggs Dyer, and attended the Art Students League of New York during 1956-57 where he received instruction from Robert Beverly Hale, Louis Bouché, and Harry Sternberg. He also studied printmaking with Malcolm Myers at the University of Minnesota during the summer of 1957. On a semester-long sabbatical in 1972. he studied under portrait painter Jerry Farnsworth in Sarasota, FL.

Along with teaching and leading the Art Department at Luther College, he managed the Fine Arts Festivals, annual festivals for the arts at the College, which extended from 1957-1966. These festivals yielded 100 works of art which were added to the Fine Arts Collection. As an ordained Lutheran minister, he also taught courses in the Religion Department, delivered chapel talks, and preached in area churches. In 1976 he retired from full-time teaching, but for the next 10 years taught printmaking part-time at Luther College, where he continues to serve as professor emeritus of art and college artist. In 1987 Running was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from St. Olaf College. He was married to Marjorie Olney Running in 1934 for whom the Running Gallery was named, located in Loyalty Hall. They were the parents of four children (Marit; George; Marjorie; and, Kristi). Marjorie is a faculty member at Luther in French and Music. His second wife, Mildred, died in 1999. Running’s brother, Cyrus Running, the long-time chair of the Art Department at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, also has several works in the Fine Arts Collection. Another brother, Paul D. Running, was on the Art Department faculty at Bowling Green State University and also has works in the Fine Arts Collection.

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 8 boxes, 1 folder

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/library/copyright

Preferred Citation: Cite unpublished materials: Orville Running Papers, RG15 Manuscripts, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Finding Aid Revision History:

6/15/24: Abby Bates updated copyright policy link.

11/26/19: EC updated the preferred citation.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Notes & Oversized Materials],
[Box 2: Correspondence & Speeches, 1816-1996],
[Box 3: Design, undated],
[Box 4],
[Box R: Personal Papers Single Files],
[Box 5: Sermons, 1934 - 1980],
[Box 6: Personal Papers, 1929-2003],
[Box 7: 1950],
[Box 8: Class Notes and Drawings, 1945-1949],
[All]

Box 1: Notes & Oversized Materials

Folder 1: Messiah Poster, College Seal, and Incomplete Designs, undated
Item 1: Sketchbook Pencil Drawings and Notes, 1956-1957
Item 2: Diplomas, 1934, 1987
Item 3: Posters, Sketches, and Notes, 1997
Item 4: A Retrospective on Orville Running, 11 October-8 November 1987

Box 2: Correspondence & Speeches, 1816-1996

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1966, 1967, 1996
Folder 2: Design of Kickwheel, undated
Folder 3: Bills, 1975, 1996
Folder 4: Designs, 1953
Folder 5: Certificate of Appreciation, undated
Folder 6: "The Acts", 1816
Folder 7: Grades and Notes, 1951-1953
Folder 8: "Church History" Manuscript, 1931-1932
Folder 9: Woodcuts Sold to Ambassador Ruppe -Norway, 1990
Folder 10: 65th Anniversary of Ordination, 1999
Folder 11: NE Iowa Traveling Show, 1984
Folder 12: Speeches, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1981-1988
Folder 13: Speeches, 1959, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1984
Folder 14: Speeches, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1992
Folder 15: Speeches, 1951, 1956, 1960, 1962, 1964-1967, 1969-1971, 1973-1978
Folder 16: Speeches, 1971, 1976
Item 1: Empty Audiotape Reel, undated
Item 2: Audiotape, undated
Item 3: Illinois Convocation Cassette Tape, 8 October 1987
Item 4: Chapel Singers Recording Tape, undated
Item 5: Orville Running Cassette Tape, undated
Item 6: Box of Slides, undated
Item 7: A.V. Sverdrup's Katelaismus, 1926
Item 8: Occasional Services Orville M. Running, 1932-1933
Item 9: Altar Book, undated
Item 10: The Liturgical Service of the Lutheran Church, undated
Folder 17: Orville Running Photos and Negatives, 1950

Box 3: Design, undated

Item 1: Incomplete Design for a Large Stained Glass Window, undated

Box 4

Item 1: The City of Northfield, Minnesota by Orville Running and Speech, 1987

Box R: Personal Papers Single Files

Folder 9: Papers involving St. Olaf Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, 1986

Box 5: Sermons, 1934 - 1980

Folder 1: Sermons, 1935 - 1961
Folder 2: Sermons, 1935 - 1966
Folder 3: Sermons, 1936 - 1964
Folder 4: Sermons, 1936 - 1970
Folder 5: Sermons, 1933 - 1957
Folder 6: Sermons, 1946 - 1964
Folder 7: Sermons, 1934 - 1980
Folder 8: Sermons, 1934 - 1980
Folder 9: Sermon Materials , Check Book with Check Stubs, and other Materials, 1934 - 1980

Box 6: Personal Papers, 1929-2003

Folder 1: Doodlings and Notes, Unknown
Folder 2: Doodlings and Notes, Unknown
Folder 3: English and Norwegian Homiletics, 1932-1933
Folder 4: Norwegian Lutheran Church of America Constitution, 1932
Folder 5: Holy Thursday/Good Friday Manuscript, 1935
Folder 6: Speech and Sermon, 1934-1936
Folder 7: Various Price Lists, Unknown
Folder 8: Art Sales and Expenses, 1960-1969
Folder 9: Decorah Luther Church Building Committee, 1956-1961
Folder 10: Contracts, 1947-1984
Folder 11: Miscellaneous Friends and Correspondences, 1960-1990
Folder 12: Art Sales Memorabilia, 1971-1976
Folder 13: Art Sales Memorabilia, 1977-1985
Folder 14: Girl Scout Commission, 1993
Folder 15: Prices and Commissions of Art, 1968-1987
Folder 16: Art Sales and Exhibits, 1986-1991
Folder 17: Letters, Orders, and Thanks, 1944-1994
Folder 18: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1933-1939
Folder 19: Miscellaneous Letters and Pictures, 1986-2003
Folder 20: Nordic Fest Show and Sale, 1992
Folder 21: Gallery Book, 1960-1979
Folder 22: Christ Lutheran Church - Chicago, IL, 1944-1993
Folder 23: Church Program Prints, 1961-1962
Folder 24: Chapel Talks, 1987
Folder 25: Commissions for Programs and Churches, 1970-1991
Folder 26: Bethlehem Lutheran Church - Tacoma, WA, 1944-1982
Folder 27: Personal Letters, 1955-1956
Folder 28: Personal Letters and Correspondences, 1930-1937
Folder 29: Art Prices and Shows, 1988-1998
Folder 30: 50th Anniversary Ordination, 1984
Folder 31: St. Olaf Art History Notes, 1929-1930
Folder 32: St. Olaf College Bulletins, 1932-1935
Folder 33: St. Olaf Memories, 1931-1933
Folder 34: Personal Documents, 1982-1995
Folder 35: University of Iowa Commencement Exercises, 1950
Folder 36: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Notes, 1946
Folder 37: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Medieval Art Paper, 1946
Folder 38: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Italian Renaissance Paper, 1946
Folder 39: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Contemporary Paper, 1946
Folder 40: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Romanesque Architecture Notes, 1946
Folder 41: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Oriental Art Notes, 1946
Folder 42: University of Iowa Masters Program Art Notes, Unknown
Folder 43: University of Iowa Master's Degree Program from Registrar, 1947-1950
Folder 44: St. Olaf History of European Culture Notes, 1931
Folder 45: Paul and Peggy, 1940

Box 7: 1950

Item 1: Book of Notes and Miscellaneous Doodlings, 1950

Box 8: Class Notes and Drawings, 1945-1949

Folder 1: Mechanics Drawings, Unknown
Folder 2: Art Class Notes, 1947
Folder 3: Contemporary Modern Art Outline, Unknown
Folder 4: Art 1:116 Northern Renaissance Notes, 1949