Records of the Norwegian Synod, 1853-1917 | Luther College Archives

By Adam Frei

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Collection Overview

Title: Records of the Norwegian Synod, 1853-1917

ID: LCA/RG13/Series 1

Primary Creator: Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod (U.S.)

Extent: 28.11 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

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)

Subjects: Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Norwegian Synod

Languages: Norwegian, English

Abstract

A series of materials relating to the Norwegian Lutheran Synod.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This series contains the Records of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod and its founding congregations, which later became a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Materials include correspondence, meeting records, reports, church histories, and scrapbooks dating 1849-1998.

Collection Historical Note

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.

Subject/Index Terms

Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Norwegian Synod

Administrative Information

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 46 boxes and 10 books

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 Library and Information Services copyright and fair use policy, please visit http://lis.luther.edu/about/policies/copyright.

Technical Access Note: Some materials in this collection require the use of a microfilm reader.

Preferred Citation:

Cite unpublished materials: Records of the Norwegian Synod, RG13 Norwegian Synod and Founding Congregations, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

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

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Governance, 1850-1917],
[Sub-Series 2: Financial Records, 1859-1902],
[Sub-Series 3: Correspondence, 1849-1896],
[Sub-Series 4: Proceedings and Papers of Synod Meetings, 1863-1917],
[Sub-Series 5: Conference Records, 1863-1868],
[Sub-Series 6: District Meeting Records, 1874-1890],
[Sub-Series 7: Institutional Records, 1866-1912],
[Sub-Series 8: Special Events, 1903-1998],
[Sub-Series 9: Publications, 1877-1953],
[Sub-Series 10: Pastors' Papers, 1863-1918],
[Sub-Series 11: Congregation Records, 1850-1982],
[Sub-Series 12: Missions, 1880-1881],
[Sub-Series 13: Photographs, 1867-1910],
[Sub-Series 14: Lutheran Women's Caucus, The Well Woman, 1981-1983],
[All]

Sub-Series 7: Institutional Records, 1866-1912

Box 1: Children's Home and Concordia, 1866-1893

Folder 1: Children's Home, Background and Draft Documents for Orphanages, undated
Folder 2: Children's Home, Correspondence, 1888-1893
Folder 3: Concordia Seminary, Students, 1866-1876
Item 1: Concordia Normanna, Constitution, Minutes, 1866-1885
Item 2: Concordia Seminary, Corporation Minutes, 1886-1888

Box 2: Lutheran Normal School, Sioux Falls, 1888-1898

Folder 1: Contract, Lists of Vouchers, and Remittances, 1888
Folder 2: Correspondence, Quit Claim Deed, Abstracters Certificate, 1889-1891
Folder 3: List of Remittances, 1889
Folder 4: Financial Records, 1889-1890
Folder 5: Receipts, 1888
Folder 6: Receipts, 1891
Folder 7: Receipts, 1896-1898
Folder 8: Receipts, 1889-1890

Box 3: Lutheran Seminary, 1860-1897

Folder 1: Applications for Admission, 1860-1886
Folder 2: Financial Records, 1882-1884
Folder 3: Building and Financial Records, 1888
Folder 4: Financial Reports of J.B. Frich, 1890-1891
Folder 5: Receipts, 1890-1891
Folder 6: Financial Report, 1896-1897
Folder 7: Receipts, 1888
Folder 8: Receipts, 1889
Folder 9: Receipts, 1893
Folder 10: Report of Committee, undated

Box 4: Lutheran Seminary, 1887-1898

Folder 1: Receipts, 1894
Folder 2: Receipts, 1895
Folder 3: Receipts, 1892
Folder 4: Receipts, 1896
Folder 5: Receipts, 1897
Folder 6: Receipts, 1898
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1887-1898

Box 5: Pacific Lutheran University, 1878-1912

Folder 1: Note regarding Loan, 1892-1905
Folder 2: Correspondence regarding Loan, 1897-1912
Item 1: Loan, 1878

Box 6: First Lutheran Church, 1902-1939

Folder 1: Photographs, undated
Folder 2: Anniversary Service Photographs, 5 June 1888
Folder 3: Photographs, undated
Folder 4: Photographs, undated
Folder 5: Photographs, undated
Folder 6: Photographs, undated
Folder 7: Negatives, undated
Folder 8: Miscellaneous Photos, undated

Box 7: Cartoon and Reports, 1872-1883

Item 1: Newspaper Cartoon, undated
Item 2: Parochial Reports, 1874
Item 3: Parochial Reports, 1876
Item 4: Parochial Reports, 1883
Item 5: Parochial Reports, undated
Item 6: Parochial Reports Summarized, 1872
Item 7: Parochial Reports Summarized, 1874
Item 8: Parochial Reports Summarized, 1883
Item 9: Parochial Reports Summarized, undated

Box 8: First Lutheran, undated

Folder 1: Photographs, undated
Folder 2: Photographs, undated
Folder 3: Photographs, undated
Folder 4: Photographs, undated
Folder 5: Photographs, undated
Folder 6: Photographs, undated
Folder 7: Photographs, undated
Folder 8: Negatives, undated

Box 9: First Lutheran Church Photo Albums, 1947-1988

Item 1: 125th Anniversary, 8 September 1988
Item 2: Bridal Fashion Show, 1987
Item 3: Photobook Given to Professor Hoff from the Bible School, 1947

Box 10: Luther Theological Seminary, 1878-1893

Folder 1: Ballots in Election of Professors, 1878
Folder 2: Ballots in Election of Ylvisaker for Professor, 1879
Folder 3: Ballots in Election of Professors, 1887
Folder 4: Ballots in Election of Professors, 1893
Folder 5: Ballots in Election of 4th Professor, 1893