Title: The Papers of Ernest Espelie

ID: LCA/RG15/Espelie, E

Primary Creator: Espelie, Ernest M. (1908-1994)

Extent: 0.01 Linear Feet. More info below.

Languages: English

Documentation consists of papers, articles, obituaries and miscellaneous clippings. Including "A New Athens"; "Report to Faculty Senate on Matters of Library Use and Misuse"-October 21, 1970; "Fine Books in a College Library"-February 24, 1969; "Children's Books at Augustana," Illinois Libraries (41:7), September 1959, pp. 543-545.

Ernest Marvin Espelie was born on June 22, 1904 in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He graduated from Luther College in 1931, before earning both a bachelors degree and master's degree in library science from the University of Michigan in 1932 and 1935. Espelie worked as a librarian at the University of Michigan (1935-1937), Concordia College-Moorhead (1937-1938), and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1938-1958). In 1958, he became a librarian at Augustana College - Rock Island, where he continued until his retirement in 1974 as Professor and Emeritus Librarian. During his time at Augustana, he oversaw the microfilming of Swedish-American newspapers, church records, and fraternal society records that led to the establishment of the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center in 1981. He was awarded the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1963 from Luther College and made a Knight of the Royal Order of Vasa by the King of Sweden in 1975. He served on the Board of the Vesterheim Museum of Norweigan-American History, and belonged to a number of cultural and professional societies.

Espelie married Mary Belle Whitten in 1933. They had three children: M. Solveig, Mary, and Karl. He passed away on August 6, 1994.

Repository: Luther College Archives

Alternate Extent Statement: 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

Related Materials:

The Ernest Marvin Espelie collection of books in Luther College Special Collections can be viewed in WorldCat Discovery.

The Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center holds the Ernest M. Espelie Papers, which focus on his work microfilming Swedish-American newspapers.

Preferred Citation: Cite unpublished materials: Ernest Espelie Papers RG15 Manuscripts, Luther College Archives, Decorah, Iowa

Finding Aid Revision History:

6/10/24: Abby Bates updated copyright policy link.

8/28/20: HRJ updated the biography/historical note and creator information, collection language, and information about related materials.

11/15/19: EC updated the preferred citation.