Records of the Founding Congregations

Records of the Founding Congregations, 1844-2021 | Luther College Archives

By Sasha Griffin

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Collection Overview

Title: Records of the Founding Congregations, 1844-2021

ID: LCA/RG13/Series 2

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

Extent: 65.4 Linear Feet. More info below.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 27 series:

1) Big Canoe Lutheran (1857-1989)

2) Calmar Congregation (1851-1920)

3) East Clermont Lutheran Church (1926-1986)

4) Coon Valley Lutheran Church (1853-2003)

5) Decorah Lutheran Church (1863-1997)

6) First Lutheran Church (1863-1996)

7) Glenwood Congregation (1854-1961)

8) Hesper Lutheran (1865-1986)

9) Immanuel Lutheran (1881-1982)

10) Paint Creek (East and West) Lutheran (1851-1987)

11) Little Iowa Congregation (1851-1930)

12) Madison and Lincoln Lutheran (1866-2001)

13) Orleans Lutheran (1868-1987)

14) Ossian Lutheran (2003)

15) Our Savior's Lutheran Church (1955)

16) Peace Lutheran (1873-1986)

17) The Ridgeway Parish (1951-1976)

18) Saint Benedict of Decorah (1992)

19) Saint Joseph's First Lutheran (1860-1886)

20) Saint Paul Lutheran Church (1863-1988)

21) Stavanger Lutheran Church (1870-2003)

22) Trinity Lutheran (1854-1995)

23) Washington Prairie Lutheran (1854-2021)

24) Waterloo Lutheran (1867-1977)

25) Vangen (undated)

26) Founding Congregation Histories (1885-2001)

27) Other Congregational Records (1844-1996)

Subjects: Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church - History, Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, Norwegian Synod, Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Forms of Material: Correspondence, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Sound recordings, Video Recordings, Videotapes

Languages: English, Norwegian

Abstract

This collection contains church histories, records, and audiovisual material from the founding congregations of the Norwegian Synod.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This series contains church histories, records, and audiovisual materials from the founding congregations of the Norwegian Synod. Congregational histories and records include correspondence, ministerial and communion records, membership information, scrapbooks, meeting minutes, financial records, brochures and pamphlets, photographs, videocassettes (VHS), reel-to-reel audio recordings, vinyl LPs, and 16mm film. Dates range from 1844 to 2003. Though most information is in English, some early materials are in Norwegian.

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 rpidly 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

Evangelical Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church - History
Norwegian Lutheran Church of America
Norwegian Synod
Women's Missionary Federation (Evangelical Lutheran Church)

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Sub-Series:

[Sub-Series 1: Big Canoe Lutheran, 1857-1989],
[Sub-Series 2: Calmar Congregation, 1851-1920],
[Sub-Series 3: East Clermont Lutheran Church, 1926-1986],
[Sub-Series 4: Coon Valley Lutheran Church, 1853-2003],
[Sub-Series 5: Decorah Lutheran Church, 1863-1997],
[Sub-Series 6: First Lutheran Church, 1863-2013],
[Sub-Series 7: Glenwood Congregation, 1854-1961],
[Sub-Series 8: Hesper Lutheran, 1865-1986],
[Sub-Series 9: Immanuel Lutheran, 1881-1982],
[Sub-Series 10: Paint Creek (East and West) Lutheran, 1851-1987],
[Sub-Series 11: Little Iowa Congregation, 1851-1930],
[Sub-Series 12: Madison and Lincoln Lutheran, 1866-2001],
[Sub-Series 13: Orleans Lutheran, 1868-1987],
[Sub-Series 14: Ossian Lutheran, 2003],
[Sub-Series 15: Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1955],
[Sub-Series 16: Peace Lutheran, 1873-1986],
[Sub-Series 17: The Ridgeway Parish, 1951-1976],
[Sub-Series 18: Saint Benedict of Decorah, 1992],
[Sub-Series 19: Saint Joseph's First Lutheran, 1860-1886],
[Sub-Series 20: Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 1863-1988],
[Sub-Series 21: Stavanger Lutheran Church, 1870-2003],
[Sub-Series 22: Trinity Lutheran, 1854-1995],
[Sub-Series 23: Washington Prairie Lutheran, 1854-2021],
[Sub-Series 24: Waterloo Lutheran, 1867-1977],
[Sub-Series 25: Vangen, undated],
[Sub-Series 26: Founding Congregation Histories, 1885-2001],
[Sub-Series 27: Other Congregational Records, 1844-2000],
[All]

Sub-Series 6: First Lutheran Church, 1863-2013

Box 1: Governance and Meeting Records, 1873-1973

Folder 1: Correspondence, 1976
Folder 2: Levyna Juve Estate, Documents to Correct Property Description, 1972, 1952
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1971-1973
Folder 4: Board of Parish Education Minutes, 1971-1973
Folder 5: Board of Trustees Minutes, 1971-1972
Folder 6: Deacons Minutes, 1971-1973
Folder 7: Congregational Meetings Minutes, 1970-1971
Folder 8: Constitution and By-Laws, 1957
Folder 9: Deeds, 1930-1950
Folder 10: Articles of Incorporation, 1930, 1937
Folder 11: Korens as Property Trustees, L. Larsen, and L.S. Reque Request Deed, Koren's Cover Letters, 1877-1914
Folder 12: Articles of Incorporation, 1873
Item 1: Board of Parish Education Minutes, 1954-1967
Item 2: Constitution and By-Laws, 1909-1957
Folder 13: From Bud to Branch: A History of First Lutheran Church, Undated
Folder 14: Luther College: A Priority of Pioneer Congregations, Undated
Folder 15: Centennial of First Lutheran Church Bulletin, 1976

Box 2: Financial Records, 1891-1978

Folder 1: Financial Documents, undated
Folder 2: Receipts, 1958-1960
Folder 3: Savings Account Passbook, 1948-1951
Folder 4: Annual Reports, 1940-1949: Note: Missing reports from 1940-1941, 1942-1943, 1947-1948, 1948-1949, and 1949-1950
Folder 5: Annual Reports, 1930-1939
Folder 6: Financial Statements, 1920-1929
Folder 7: Financial Statements, 1910-1919
Folder 8: Financial Statements, 1903-1909
Folder 9: Loan Repayment Schedule, undated
Item 1: Treasurer's Journal, 1972-1978
Item 2: Norse Radio Fund, 1960-1961
Item 3: Checking Account Register, 1959-1960
Item 4: Cemetery Journal, 1907-1932
Item 5: Pledge Payment Books, 1891-1921

Box 3: Congregational Treasurer Journal, 1961-1973

Item 1: Congregational Treasurer Journal, 1961-1973
Item 2: Treasurer Book, 1964-1968
Item 3: Treasurer's Book, 1929-1943
Item 4: Treasurer's Book, November 1901 - June 31, 1920
Item 5: Treasurer's Book, 1902-1908

Box 4: Receipts from Renovation, 1975

Folder 1: Receipts from Renovation, 1975
Folder 2: Receipts from Renovation, 1975
Folder 3: Receipts from Renovation, 1975

Box 5: Pastor's Records, 1900-1947

Item 1: Pastor's Daily Records, 1944-1947
Item 2: Pastor's Daily Records, 1940-1944
Item 3: Pastor's Daily Records, 1934-1940
Item 4: Pastor's Daily Records, 1928-1933
Item 5: Pastor's Daily Records, 1915-1928
Item 6: Pastor's Daily Records, 1900-1914

Box 6: Pastor's Records, 1949-1972

Folder 1: Annual Reports, 1957-1972
Folder 2: Annual Reports, 1949-1956

Box 7: Membership Records, 1889-1974

Folder 1: Confirmation Class List, 1944-1951
Folder 2: Confirmants List, 1863-1926
Item 1: Communion Records, 1922-1929
Item 2: Communicats, 1901-1946

Box 8: Membership Records, 1968-1974

Folder 1: New Members by Transfer, 1968-1973
Folder 2: Membership / Communicats, 1919-1920
Folder 3: Members Documents, 1903-1928
Folder 4: Member Contributors, 1890-1925
Item 1: Membership Directory, 1996
Item 2: Membership Directory, 1989
Item 3: Membership Directory, 1970, 1974
Item 4: Membership Directory, 1968, 1969
Item 5: Membership Directory, undated

Box 9: Membership Records, 1889-1927

Item 1: Membership Book, 1926-1927
Item 2: Membership Book, circa 1900
Item 3: Membership Book, circa 1900
Item 4: Membership Book, 1900
Item 5: Membership Book, 1889-1906
Item 6: Membership Book, 1889

Box 10: Ladies Aid, 1904-1963

Folder 1: Scrapbook, 1963
Folder 2: Scrapbook, 1963
Folder 3: Scrapbook, 1963
Item 1: History of First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (F.N.E.L.), 1926
Item 2: History of the First Lutheran Church Ladies' and Society, 1935-1945
Item 3: History of the First Lutheran Church Ladies' and Society, 1926-1936
Item 4: Minutes, 1904-1927
Item 5: History of First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church (F.N.E.L.), 1926
Item 6: Constitution, undated

Box 11: Luther League, 1908-1957

Folder 1: HI League Minutes, 1953-1957
Folder 2: Convention Report, 1927
Folder 3: Luther League Minutes, 1923
Folder 4: Young People's Society Minutes, 1923-1926
Item 1: Young People's League Minutes, 1928-1943
Item 2: From Church to Home, 1917-1918
Item 3: Young People's Society Minutes, 1908-1922

Box 12: Brotherhood Choir, Young Men's Association., Young Women's Association, 1900-1971

Item 1: Choir, Minutes, 1923-1927
Item 2: Choir, Minutes, 1903-1923
Item 3: Choir, Minutes, 1955-1971
Item 4: Young Women's Society, Minutes, 1917-1928
Item 5: Young Men's Association, Minutes and Constitution, 1906-1927
Item 6: Young Women's Aid Society, 1900-1917

Box 13: Women's Organizations, 1905-1993

Folder 1: History of Ladies Aid Association, 1926-1936
Folder 2: Chronological History of First Lutheran Church Women, 1963-1993
Folder 3: Ladies Aid Society, 1963-1993
Folder 4: Papers of Kay Hanson, 1962-1964
Folder 5: Papers of Kay Hanson, 1961-1963
Folder 6: Lambda Delta Rho, Financial, 1955-1960
Folder 7: Lambda Delta Rho, 1953-1960
Folder 8: Mother's Club Budget Book, 1952-1958
Folder 9: Lambda Delta Rho, 1950s-1960s
Folder 10: Lambda Delta Rho, Budget Book, 1949-1960
Folder 11: Lambda Delta Rho, Minutes, 1949-1953
Folder 12: Lambda Delta Rho, Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation, 1949-1952
Folder 13: Mother's Club Minutes, 1948-1959
Folder 14: Ladies Aid, 1905-1945
Folder 15: Lambda Delta Rho Constitution and By-Laws, undated

Box 14: Building Committee Records, 1900-1992

Folder 1: Archives Committee Minutes, 1992
Folder 2: Specification for Repairing Exterior of First Lutheran Church, 25 August 1958
Folder 3: Remodeling Files, 1958-1959
Folder 4: Remodeling Files, Building Proposals, 1958-1959
Folder 5: Parish House Building Finances, 1952
Folder 6: Files, 1951-1953
Folder 7: Parish House Appeal, 1951
Folder 8: Parish House, Dedication Files, 1950-1951
Folder 9: Parish House, Building Correspondence, 1948-1960
Folder 10: Minutes, 1923
Folder 11: Cemetery Association Report, 1907-1910
Folder 12: Pension and Poor Aid, 1900
Folder 13: Hymn Book Information, undated
Folder 14: Agreement with City of Decorah, Survey Mortgage Authorization, Agreement to Build Organ, 1929-1950

Box 15: Organ Fund Committee Records, 1970-1977

Folder 1: Organ Fund, 1970-1973
Folder 2: Organ Fund, 1970-1973
Folder 3: Organ Committee, 1970-1973
Folder 4: Organ Committee, 1970-1973
Folder 5: Dedication of the Casavant Organ Program, 1973
Folder 6: Organ Recital Programs, 1975-1977

Box 16: Parish School Records, 1879-1919

Folder 1: Parochial School Class Schedule, 1904-1905
Folder 2: School Board Minutes, 1905-1908
Folder 3: Student Grade Card, 1906
Item 1: Installation of Rev. T. A. Hoff, 6 April 1930
Item 2: Course of Study for Iowa Schools, 1912-1916
Item 3: Teacher's Daily Register, 1916-1919
Item 4: Teacher's Daily Register, 1907-1908
Item 5: Teacher's Daily Register, 1905-1906
Item 6: Teacher's Daily Register, 1903-1905
Item 7: Teacher's Daily Register, 1890-1895
Item 8: Teacher's Daily Register, 1879-1881

Box 17: Booklets, Pamphlets, and Programs, 1896-1983

Folder 1: Donation Items from Orlando Qualley, 1983
Folder 2: Booklets and Pamplets, 1926-1976
Folder 3: Golden Jubilee Guest Book, 1926
Folder 4: Programs, 1896-1947
Folder 5: Booklets, Pamphlets, and Programs, undated

Box 18: Congregational Minutes, 1870-1930

Item 1: Congregational Minutes, 1921-1930
Item 2: Congregational Minutes, 1903-1920
Item 3: Congregational Minutes, 1870-1889

Box 19: Papers of Pastor O. Juul, 1873-1876

Item 1: Papers of Pastor O. Juul, 1873-1876

Box 20: Subject Files, 1898-1983, undated

Folder 1: Histories, 1926, 1935-1945
Folder 2: Discussion of a third church in Decorah, 1957
Folder 3: History of First Lutheran by Hexom Tingelstad, 1926
Folder 4: A. Bredeson's Reflection of Call, 1899
Folder 5: Events, 1898-1983
Folder 6: Directories, 1973, 1983
Folder 7: Papers, undated

Box 21: Photographic Slides, 1976-1979

Photographic Slides, color and black and white

Folder 1: Photographic Slides, 1979
Folder 2: Photographic Slides, 1976
Folder 3: Photographic Slides, 1976

Box 22: Scrapbooks, 1950-1977

Item 1: Scrapbook, 1950-1975
Item 2: Scrapbook, 1956-1977

Box 23: Audiovisual Materials, 1953-1988

Box 1: Cassette Tapes and Photographic Film

Item 1: J. Christiansen on Laur Larsen, cassette, 1976
Item 2: Christiansen on buildings, cassette, 1976
Item 3: First Lutheran's history, first quarter of 20th century as told by Esther Nelson, cassette, 11 May 1980
Item 4: Biblical Perspectives on Wealth and Poverty by Rev. Mark P. Gravrock, cassette, undated
Item 5: Filmstrip Narration for 174a The Easter Caterpillar, cassette, undated
Item 6: To Care is to Share, 1978
Item 7: Testament Tales On The Road, cassette, 1977
Item 8: War to End all Wars, cassette, undated
Item 9: War to End all Wars, 35mm filmstrip, undated
Item 10: 12 photographic slides "Cross Being Fixed On Steeple", November 1957

Box 2: Audio recording magnetic tape reel, undated

Item 1: Fifth Word, "I Thirst" by Dr. Field, audio reel, undated: Label says "First Word: Dr. Field"
Item 2: Fifth Word, "I Thirst" by Dr. Field, marked KWLC, audio reel, undated

Box 3: Audio recording magnetic tape reel, undated

Item 1: Third Word, by Dr. Field, audio reel, undated
Item 2: Sermon by R. Ofstedal, audio reel, undated

Folder 1: Guides for Audio Recordings and LPs, 1957-1973

Item 1: Booklet for Testament Tales, On the Road, undated
Item 2: Booklet for The Easter Catepillar, undated
Item 3: Booklet for Serendipity, Sacremental Life Unit 3, 1972
Item 4: Serendipity, Sacremental Life Unit 3, 33 1/3 LP, 1972
Item 5: "Will The Real Church Please Stand Up" 33 1/3 LP, 1971
Item 6: The Three Hermits / For All The Good Things, 33 1/3 LP, 1973
Item 7: Judy Collins, 33 1/3 LP, undated
Item 8: The Magic Sampo / Step Right Up, 33 1/3 LP, 1972
Item 9: Film Guide, A Clown is Born, undated
Item 10: Leader's Guide - Life In Those Days, 1965
Item 11: Study Guide and script, Triumphal Entry and Cleansing of the Temple, 1957
Item 12: Script, God's Word in our Language, 1965
Item 13: Projectionist's Handbook and Booklets, War to End all Wars, undated

Item 1: Junior Senior Prom, 16mm, 1953

Item 2: R. A. Ofstedal Sermon, audio reel, undated

Item 3: Supper Hour Workshops with (side 1, 25 minutes) Myrus Knutson, A. Reuben Gornitzka, Walter Kloetzli, Joel Dobbe, (side 2, 30 minutes) Evangelism in Practice with Cameron Hoff and several laymen

Item 4: Eittreim and Ofstedal Ordination, 16 mm, June 1958

Item 5: Eittreim and Ofstedal Ordination, 16 mm, June 1958

Item 6: First Lutheran Church, 16mm, undated

Item 7: Confirmation, 16mm, 1957

Item 8: Confirmation, 16mm, 1956

Item 9: Confirmation, 16mm, 1955

Item 10: Congregational Meeting, audio reel, 9 September 1957

Item 11: R. A. Ofstedal Sermons, audio reel, 1957

Item 12: R. A. Ofstedal talks at Evangelical Lutheran Church Convention, audio reel

Item 13: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 14: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 15: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 16: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 17: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 18: First Lutheran Dedication, audio reel, 1953

Item 19: Sermons by Ylvisaker and Ofstedal, audio reel, 1957

Item 20: Cornerstone Laying, audio reel, undated

Item 21: Cornerstone Laying, audio reel, undated

Item 22: Services, including Pastor Alvon Nelson's Farewell Sermon, audio reel, 1966-1967

Item 23: R. A. Ofstedal Sermons, audio reel, 1957

Item 24: R. A. Ofstedal Sermons, audio reel, 1956

Item 25: J. A. Aasgaard Sermon, part 1, audio reel, 1955

Item 26: J. A. Aasgaard Sermon, part 2, audio reel, 1955

Item 27: Installation Service for Glenn Kappelmann, VHS tape, 10-Apr-88

Box 24: Plaques, Pictures, Cemetery, 1952-1973

Item 1: Memorial Organ Plaque, undated
Item 2: Acknowledgement with Gratitude for Contributions from The Board of Regents of Luther College, undated
Item 3: Levyna Juve at the Lecturn, 1973
Item 4: Two Portraits, undated
Item 5: "Second Miler" Luther League, 1952
Item 6: Memorium Plates (15), undated
Item 7: Cemetery Records, undated
Folder 1: Sanctuary Redecoration at First Church Photos, undated
Folder 2: Sanctuary Redecoration at First Lutheran Church Photos, undated

Box 25: Printing Blocks, 1960-1970

9 blocks

Box 26: Printing Blocks, 1960-1970

9 blocks

Box 27: Printing Blocks, 1960-1970

14 blocks

Box 28: Printing Blocks, 1960-1970

12 blocks

Box 29: Scrapbook, 1976

Item 1: Scrapbook, 1976

Box 30: First Lutheran Church Sesquicentennial Material, 2011-2013

Folder 1: First Lutheran Church Service Programs, 2012-2013
Folder 2: First Lutheran Church Service Programs, 2013
Folder 3: Sesquicentennial Materials for First Lutheran Church, 2013
Folder 4: First Lutheran Church Sesquicentennial Communication, 2011-2012
Folder 5: First Lutheran Church Sesquicentennial Communication and Information, 2012-2013
Folder 6: First Lutheran Church Sesquicentennial Information and History, 2012-2013

Box 31: First Lutheran Church Organ Materials, 1944-2009

Folder 1: First Lutheran Confirmation Photo, 7 October 2007
Folder 2: First Lutheran Church Organ Contract and Plans, 1971
Folder 3: First Lutheran Organ Information, 1969-1975
Folder 4: Organ Restoration, 2009
Folder 5: Correspondence and Papers Concerning the First Lutheran Church Organ, 1970-1976
Folder 6: Directory and A Cultural Analysis of First Lutheran Church, 1996, 2009
Folder 7: Correspondence, 1969-1975
Folder 8: 125th Anniversary Schedule, 1988
Folder 9: Programs, Histories, and Annual Report, 1944-2001

Box 32: Histories, 1903-1988

Folder 1: First Lutheran Church History, 1969
Folder 2: First Lutheran Church History, 1963
Folder 3: First Lutheran Church History, 1951
Folder 4: First Lutheran Church History, 1945
Folder 5: First Lutheran Church History, 1926
Folder 6: First Lutheran Church History, 1903
Folder 7: First Lutheran Church History, 1988
Folder 8: First Lutheran Church History, 1976